Prejudice and Racism 1960
EAE4U1-11
December 7 2012
Racism has been present in our societies from the time races first collided and were forced to live in each other’s presence. The Blacks were enslaved for many centuries before it was made illegal in most countries during the 1800s. However, racism and prejudice continue to be present in the 20th century, especially in the 1950s and 1960s. During these years, political triggers in England and the United States, drastically changed racism, with numerous consequences. The novel To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee explores the notion of racism in a small southern town in the United States during the depression whereas the novel To Sir With Love, by E.R Braithwaite deals with racism and prejudice in a post-war Britain. The history during the time these novels were written and published was very influential to the authors and success of the books. Both authors’ lives were very significant in the plot of these novels as both show autobiographical contents. The development of the main characters of both novels show the effect of prejudices in their behavior and thoughts and how this changes as they mature. The elements of fiction are present in both novel; the setting, themes and motifs contain important life lessons and deep connotations. Finally, the perspective from the prejudiced, the colored main character in both novels show their view and thoughts throughout the plot and we see their prejudices against the whites disappear. But what causes a person to hate and feel superior to another person simply based on the color of their skin? Fear and ignorance are the main reason for the segregation between races. Fear of the unknown is a natural concern, which is why many fearful people are racist. People like security, which is why fear intrudes when an abnormality becomes present in their lives.
The time in which the novel To Kill a Mockingbird was written, was a time of great revolution due to racism in the United States. The years 1950
December 7 2012
Racism has been present in our societies from the time races first collided and were forced to live in each other’s presence. The Blacks were enslaved for many centuries before it was made illegal in most countries during the 1800s. However, racism and prejudice continue to be present in the 20th century, especially in the 1950s and 1960s. During these years, political triggers in England and the United States, drastically changed racism, with numerous consequences. The novel To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee explores the notion of racism in a small southern town in the United States during the depression whereas the novel To Sir With Love, by E.R Braithwaite deals with racism and prejudice in a post-war Britain. The history during the time these novels were written and published was very influential to the authors and success of the books. Both authors’ lives were very significant in the plot of these novels as both show autobiographical contents. The development of the main characters of both novels show the effect of prejudices in their behavior and thoughts and how this changes as they mature. The elements of fiction are present in both novel; the setting, themes and motifs contain important life lessons and deep connotations. Finally, the perspective from the prejudiced, the colored main character in both novels show their view and thoughts throughout the plot and we see their prejudices against the whites disappear. But what causes a person to hate and feel superior to another person simply based on the color of their skin? Fear and ignorance are the main reason for the segregation between races. Fear of the unknown is a natural concern, which is why many fearful people are racist. People like security, which is why fear intrudes when an abnormality becomes present in their lives.
The time in which the novel To Kill a Mockingbird was written, was a time of great revolution due to racism in the United States. The years 1950