Racism In Harper Lees To Kill A Mockingbird - 1549 Words

In 1930’s Maycomb County, Alabama, ladies were expected to wear pretty dresses and gather with other women in the neighborhood to gossip over tea in the afternoon, men were expected to be hardworking, and not going to church every Sunday marked one as a social outcast. Additionally, the African-American population that lived in Maycomb at this time were expected to live on a separate side of town, attend a separate church, and be exceedingly polite to white people. If one were to not adhere to cultural standards such as these, they would be shamed by the town via gossip. A black person not following the cultural norms set for them by white people was inconceivable, and often led to punishment and torment. In the novel To Kill a†¦show more content†¦In a study carried out two professors of psychology, Gordon Hodson and Michael a. Busseri, they found that â€Å"lower general intelligence in childhood predicts greater racism in adulthood† (Hodson, Busseri, 2012). This does not justify Bob Ewell’s actions in any way shape or form, but it does show the link between poor education, ignorance and racial biases, to give an explanation in why Bob acted like this, and why many uneducated people still act like this. Bob Ewell was by far one of the most extreme racists in the town, but most townspeople in Maycomb strongly favored whites over blacks. There were different ways in which characters demonstrated this bias though, but it was very clear how the town as a whole felt when Atticus accepted the Robinson trial. Atticus was called names, and Jem and Scout were taunted in school for their father’s decision. Many people in the town were very surprised that Atticus would defend an honorable black man over a disgraceful white man. Mrs. Gates, Scout’s third grade teacher, exhibited her implicit bias when she discussed how in America, they â€Å"don’t believe in persecuting anybody,† when teaching about Hitler and the Holocaust, yet Scout witnessed her speaking badly about African-Americans after the trial (Lee, 329). Mrs. Gates said things such as â€Å"they were gettin’ way above themselves† referring to how she believed that the black population, as a w hole, were out of place, and needed to be reminded of their inferiority (Lee,Show MoreRelatedRacism in Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird584 Words   |  2 Pagespoliceman approaches the black male, swears and says, â€Å"Get your hands behind your back†. It’s in human nature to have this evil assumption that someone different from them is an immoral being. In this case, white skin to black skin. To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee takes place during the 1930’s in the small town of Maycomb. A quiet, humble, and respectable black man, Tom Robinson, is accused of raping a white girl, Mayella. No man steps up to defend this man, for blacks were deeply looked downRead MoreRacism, Injustice, and Discrimination in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird800 Words   |  4 PagesRacism, Injustice, and Discrimination in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird According to Shackleford, â€Å"The novel portrays a young girls love for her father and brother and the experience of childhood during the Great Depression in a racist, segregated society, which uses superficial and materialistic values to judge outsiders, including the powerful character Boo Radley† (Shackelford). The main character relates closely with her father because he is the superior role model in her life. Having herRead MoreHeartless Racism in Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird512 Words   |  2 PagesHarper Lee communicates the heartless universal racism through her book. Not only are the colored people evaluated from the whites but also the Radleys are part of the white society that was categorized. The Radleys lived inversely from the rest of the Maycomb people. However, just by living in a different style, the people believed that they were unusual people. Even Jeremy labeled Boo Radley as about six-and-a- half feet tall, judging form his tracks; he dined on raw squirrels and any cats heRead MoreRacism, Sexism and Socioeconomic Prejudice in Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird828 Words   |  4 PagesThere are many different types of prejudice. The three that are most current in the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee are racism, sexism and socioeconomic prejudice. Racism is a big problem in many people’s lives. Throughout history, many groups and cultures have been significantly affected by racism. African Americans are an example of a group of people who have suffered the effects of racism. In 1867 the â€Å"Ku Klux Klan, was founded as a secret organization terrorized the African AmericansRead MoreAnalysis Of Harper Lee s Kill A Mockingbird 1491 Words   |  6 PagesHarper Lee’s ​ To Kill a Mockingbird ​ is a critically acclaimed, Pulitzer Prize winning novel that instantly attained its position as one of the greatest literary classics (Editors).The story of Scout Finch’s childhood has become one of the most notable narratives that addresses controversial issues present in the early 20th century. Lee’s novel depicts themes of race, justice, and innocence throughout the novel. Although ​ To Kill a Mockingbird​ is regarded as a literary masterpiece in AmericanRead MoreThe South : Controversial Topics On Harper Lee s Kill A Mockingbird1475 Words   |  6 PagesTopics in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is a critically acclaimed, Pulitzer Prize winning novel that instantly attained its position as one of the greatest literary classics (Editors).The story of Scout Finch’s childhood has become one of the most notable narratives that addresses controversial issues present in the early 20th century. Lee’s novel depicts themes of race, justice, and innocence throughout the novel. Although To Kill a Mockingbird is regardedRead MoreHarper Lee862 Words   |  4 Pagesof the Life of Harper Lee and the Lasting Impact of To Kill A Mockingbird Harper Lee is considered one of America’s most enigmatic and influential writers of the twentieth century. Lee’s popular novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, offers readers deep insight into the dynamics of an unconventional family and Southern lifestyle in the1930s. Harper Lee was born Nelle Harper Lee on April 28, 1926, in Monroeville, Alabama (Sparknotes.com). According to the author’s official website, Harper Lee was a descendantRead MoreMoral Chaos in Harper Lees Maycomb Essay1134 Words   |  5 PagesHarper Lee argues in her novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, that the moral obligations of a court are thrown aside in favor of the law that lies in the minds of men. She describes her characters in such a manner that alludes to their inner thoughts. Through practiced repetition, the citizens of Maycomb force the existence of the social inequality that is white supremacy. Whether by following lead or by ignoring the problem altogether, it is the people alone who allow i njustices to occur. In a public appealRead MoreImpact Of Racism In To Kill A Mockingbird910 Words   |  4 PagesIn Harper Lee’s book â€Å"To Kill a Mockingbird† Jem , Scout , and Dill live in Maycomb , Alabama around the time of the 1930’s they all were struggling through racism and poor family’s trying to get by. Harper Lee’s first and only novel â€Å"To Kill A Mockingbird† was published during the civil right movements. In this book Jem, Scout, and Dill tend to have courage and loyalty through life and in their relationship toward one another . Jem and Scout are brother and sister, Dill is a friend of the familyRead MoreEssay on How Harper Lee Was Influenced by The Times 1473 Words   |  6 Pagesliterature. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is a classical work that reflects the Civil Rights and Women’s Movement of the 1950’s-1960’s through her depiction of the relationship between blacks and whites and her portrayal of female characters. The 1950’s and the 1960’s was a time of change and evolution. It brought on the Civil Rights Movement. This was a very influential time period were these new ideas were incorporated into everyday life and they became a part of American society. â€Å"[Harper Lee]