How Does Harper Lee Use Racism In To Kill A Mockingbird
Racism In To Kill a Mockingbird and America
Racism is the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races. Black people in America have been discriminated against since the start, although lessened, it is still happening to this day. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, racism plays a key role. A black man named Tom Robinson, is framed for the rape and assault of Mayella Ewell. The jury takes a surprisingly long time to reach a verdict, and Robinson is sent to prison, then later on killed by guards while attempting to escape. To Kill a Mockingbird shows how racism greatly affects a community.
Black people used to be seen as dirt, as far as the late 1900’s. Most people thought they were the lowest of the low. “Yes suh. I felt sorry for her, she seemed to try more’n the rest of ‘em-” “You felt sorry for her, you felt sorry for her?”(164). Tom Robinson makes the mistake of saying he felt sorry for Mayella. When he said that, he made himself to be above her, but in Maycomb, even the poorest, trashiest, whites are superior to blacks. Atticus had proven that Robinson wasn’t guilty of raping and assaulting Mayella, and everyone had felt sorry for her. However, the fact that …show more content…
All races endure racism, but blacks are most prominently affected in To Kill a Mockingbird. The prosecution and death of the innocent Tom Robinson, shows how racism affects a community. Many people of Maycomb believed that black people were barely human, and treated Robinson and his family as such. From the mistreatment, the disgusting racial slurs, to police brutality, black people have been through a lot in our history. In today’s society, all people are seen equally for the most part, but racism and discrimination will always be a part of our
Racism is the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races. Black people in America have been discriminated against since the start, although lessened, it is still happening to this day. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, racism plays a key role. A black man named Tom Robinson, is framed for the rape and assault of Mayella Ewell. The jury takes a surprisingly long time to reach a verdict, and Robinson is sent to prison, then later on killed by guards while attempting to escape. To Kill a Mockingbird shows how racism greatly affects a community.
Black people used to be seen as dirt, as far as the late 1900’s. Most people thought they were the lowest of the low. “Yes suh. I felt sorry for her, she seemed to try more’n the rest of ‘em-” “You felt sorry for her, you felt sorry for her?”(164). Tom Robinson makes the mistake of saying he felt sorry for Mayella. When he said that, he made himself to be above her, but in Maycomb, even the poorest, trashiest, whites are superior to blacks. Atticus had proven that Robinson wasn’t guilty of raping and assaulting Mayella, and everyone had felt sorry for her. However, the fact that …show more content…
All races endure racism, but blacks are most prominently affected in To Kill a Mockingbird. The prosecution and death of the innocent Tom Robinson, shows how racism affects a community. Many people of Maycomb believed that black people were barely human, and treated Robinson and his family as such. From the mistreatment, the disgusting racial slurs, to police brutality, black people have been through a lot in our history. In today’s society, all people are seen equally for the most part, but racism and discrimination will always be a part of our