Racism In To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee

Racism strongly affects the events that happen in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, and is seen constantly throughout the story. The novel starts out focused of Jem and Scout’s adventures in small town Maycomb. Both they and their friend Dill grow more curious of their mysterious neighbor. The kids try a number of times to see Boo Radley himself, getting in trouble time and time again. The novel then shifts to focus on Jem and Scouts’ father Atticus and his new trial. In this society, most people don’t bother with “Negros”, but when one colored man is accused of rape, the whole town gets involved. Atticus is assigned to defend Tom Robinson, the man accused of rape, and plans on trying his best to rightly defend him. During the trial you hear both sides of the story and see that Tom is innocent. But when the jury declares him guilty, the kids are confused. They are still trying to understand society, seeing no difference from a white man and a colored man. Tom
Mr. Dolphus is always drinking during the day, and sits with the colored folks. He sent his mixed kids to school up North so they could be treated better. While Dill and Scout took a break during the trial, Mr. Dolphus offered the Dill a drink from his brown bag; it turned out to be only soda. He confessed to the kids that he simply acted drunk so that the community could make sense of why he would be with a black women. “Maybe being from an old, rich family allows him to live how he likes without worrying about what other people think.” (Shmoop Editorial Team) The racist people in Maycomb essentially brought Mr. Dulphus to act in such a manner. “Mr. Raymond's double life shows Scout the compromises people have to make in order to live in communities where they don't quite fit in”. (Shmoop Editorial Team) This shows the lengths people go through to protect their family and try to fit into