To Kill a Mockingbird Summative Assessment Essay

Kyle Scanlan
English 10 Block 2
Mr.Esposito
28th March 2013
TKAMB Summative Assessment Essay
The book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee was a story about how Atticus was defending Tom Robinson who was a black man. Martin Luther King’s I Have a Dream speech took place on August 28, 1963 in Washington, D.C.. Martin Luther King and Atticus both believe in a nonviolent resolution to problems, standing in someone else’s shoes before judging them, and they both want the races to be equal. Martin Luther King and Atticus don't use violence to solve their problems.
Most people like the resolution of their problem not to be solved violently. “We must not allow our creative process to degenerate into physical violence”(MLK). It means that they don't want to use violence to achieve freedom. “In our courts, when it’s a white man's word against a black man’s, the white man always wins”(251). Atticus is saying that it isn't fair that they don't care what the black man says. Black men don't get as fair of trials that white men get. They should base the decision on what the person is really like.
You shouldn’t judge a person until you stand in their shoes.”I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character”(MLK). It means he wants people to be judged based on what they act like and not judge based on the color of their skin. “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view”(33). Atticus is saying that you don't know a person until you know what their life is like. He says you have to get to know a person before making any judgements about them. He is saying everyone should be treated fairly. Everybody should be treated the same way as everyone else.
The races should be equal.”I have a dream that one day down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of “interposition” and “nullification”, one day right down in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers”(MLK). It means he wants what's best for the children of the future. He wants the races to be able to get along. “Our courts have their faults, as does any human institution, but in this country our courts are the great levelers, and in our courts all men are created equal”(233). Atticus is saying that the courts juries shouldn’t base their conclusions on the color of the defendant’s skin but on the evidence itself. Atticus believes that law supposed to be applied fairly to everyone. The law should be applied fairly no matter what your skin color is.
Martin Luther King and Atticus believe in a nonviolent resolution to problems, standing in the other person's shoes before judging them, and the races to be equal. The juries in courts should base if the defendant is guilty or not based on the evidence provided and not based on the color of their skin. If a jury is all white and they are racist the black man won't get a fair trial in court. Everyone should be able to have a fair trial in court. You have to know what the person is like before making any judgements about them. In the old south if you were black you never got treated fairly. They thought in the old south if you were black you were found guilty no matter what even if there is no sufficient evidence. You are supposed to have a good amount of evidence to be able to find the defendant guilty or not.