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thesis statement about racism in to kill a mockingbird

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thesis statement about racism in to kill a mockingbird

Thesis Statement For To Kill A Mockingbird Essay

Literary analysis on to kill a mockingbird.

Throughout To Kill A MockingBird, by Harper Lee there are many acts of courage. This is shown in Atticus Finch, Jem Finch, and Boo Radley. Atticus shows the most courage in the book but all three of these characters show true courage in some way, shape, or form. Boo Radley showed a lot of courage, but he was not in the storyline as much as Atticus. Throughout To Kill A Mockingbird, courage is defined as standing up for people and doing what’s right.

Argumentative Essay To Kill A Mockingbird

The book To Kill a Mockingbird is based out of the town of Maycomb, Alabama. The residents in Maycomb are extremely racist and see minor inequalities as major differences and reasons to segregate. The families of Maycomb have their own hereditary social classes and are pretty much stuck in their class based on occupation and race`. People in Maycomb are born into significance or are born into less fortunate situations. Many of the characters use these social classes to boost their self esteem. Due to the social classes and stigmas surrounding these classes the citizens have limited their ability to develop fully as humans.

Theme Of Isolation In To Kill A Mockingbird

In To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee teaches us about the town of Maycomb County during the late 1930s, where the characters live in isolation and victimization. Through the perspective of a young Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, readers will witness the prejudice that Maycomb produces during times where people face judgement through age, gender, skin colour, and class, their whole lives. Different types of prejudice are present throughout the story and each contribute to how events play out in the small town of Maycomb. Consequently, socially disabling the people who fall victim from living their life comfortably in peace. Boo Radley and his isolation from Maycomb County, the racial aspects of Tom Robinson, and the decision Atticus Finch makes as a lawyer, to defend a black man has all made them fall in the hands of Maycomb’s prejudice ways.

To Kill A Mockingbird Comparison Essay

In the small town of Maycomb, Alabama, why must an honorable black man die for a white man’s actions? The book To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, takes place in the 1930s in Maycomb, Alabama. Atticus Finch, father to Jem and Scout, has been assigned a legal case to defend a black man. Tom, the black man, was accused of raping a white woman, Mayella. The story is about how his kids, Jem and Scout, live during this time, and everything Atticus does to fight for Tom. In all adaptations, there are differences between a book and its movie, and in the movie version of To Kill a Mockingbird, which was directed by Robert Mulligan, many crucial scenes are left out.

To Kill A Mockingbird Argumentative Essay

Racial equality and discrimination is a founding issue that has been spread throughout every part of the world, To Kill A Mockingbird was written and published by Harper Lee in 1960, this time was dominated by civil rights protests and some of the first hippie movements following the crushing reality of the Vietnam War, the 60s also saw the struggle against segregation and racial equality. It is no surprise that the extreme political conflict affecting her life and world would greatly impact her writing and influence how she perceived the world during the writing of To Kill a Mockingbird. the influence of the fight for racial inequality is shown greatly in her book as she depicts the everyday life

To Kill A Mockingbird Thematic Statement

The theme of this novel is "Not everything is the way you predict it is". I believe this thematic statement suits the story because throughout the book there are lots of surprises, and most situations don't go the way people predict they will. For example, Aunt Alexandra was first seen as mean, according to her attitude towards Scout. At the end of the book Aunt Alexandra hands Scout her overalls, as mentioned in the story, "the garments she most despised." Because she always wanted Scout to be a lady and wear dresses. This proved that Aunt Alexandra is not as mean and as close-minded as she seemed at first.

To Kill A Mockingbird Argumentative Essay Argument

“Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win”. Atticus Finch decided to defend Tom Robinson when he was accused of raping a white woman. I would’ve done the same thing as Atticus because I believe that back then it wasn’t a very fair world. As soon as a white person blamed a black person Police or the Judge would automatically take the word or the white person. In my opinion that is truly unfair.

To Kill A Mockingbird Literary Analysis

“To kill a Mockingbird” is a novel in which Harper Lee, the author, presents forth various themes among them the unheard theme of social molarity. Harper dramatically uses a distinctive language through Scout, who is the narrator of the story to bring out the difficulties faced by children living in the southern Alabama town of Maycomb. Harper has dramatically displayed use of bildungsroman throughout the story; this helped to give the story a unique touch of a child’s view to bring out a different type of humor and wit. It has also used to develop and thrive the theme of morality in the society. Scout, being a child, she thinks the society is free of evil and it’s pure basically because she hasn’t been in contact with evil. Just like any other child she engages in several activities oblivious of the ramifications that follows. As a child she doesn’t understand the injustice that is enshrined the society and the glimmering racism.

To Kill A Mockingbird Quote Analysis Essay

“Nobody actually wants to grow up. We just want the freedom to use our youths.”-Unknown. This quote represents Scouts character. How she wants to understand the world yet she doesn’t want to grow up. Scout is learning how the world is THESIS

To Kill A Mockingbird Point Of View Essay

In society, there are very few people who have the unwavering dedication to stand up for what they believe. In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, a black man was convicted and accused of a crime he didn 't commit, raping a white women, which is not in anyway tolerable in society. In Harper Lee 's To Kill A Mockingbird, the author used point of view and symbolism to acknowledge how the the several social divisions which make up much of the adult world are shown to be both irrational and extremely destructive.

Thesis Statement For To Kill A Mockingbird

Background: Tom Robinson is a black person who’s was accused of raping a white girl named Mayella Ewell which he has never done. For this reason, Atticus Finch was appointed to be his lawyer. As a result, Atticus takes a stand for him by approving his case and standing up for him, but Tom was still found guilty.

To Kill A Mockingbird Theme Essay

To Kill a Mockingbird is a book mainly about the coexistence of good and evil. The book stresses and emphasizes on the exploration of moral nature in humans. There are many themes in this novel including courage, innocence, racism, femininity, etc. However the most prevalent theme in the book is innocence. Not just innocence in itself but the danger and harm evil poses to the innocent. You can see in the book as Jem and Scout go from a childish perspective, one that only sees good in people because they’ve never faced evil. To a more adult perspective who have confronted evil and learn to integrate it into their world.

Social Issues In To Kill A Mockingbird Essay

Harper Lee touches upon many social issues in To Kill a Mockingbird. Among these issues is the matter of racism in America during the 1930s. This novel focused on the issue of racism through the case of Tom Robinson which conveyed the strong hostility towards African-Americans in Maycomb, Alabama. Other various occasions in the novel exhibit racism’s potential and influence in this country including Aunt Alexandra's disapproval of Calpurnia, and Mr. Dolphus Raymond’s hidden life. Through the results of these instances, Harper Lee shed a new light on racism and how it will always persist in America.

Examples Of How Scout Mature In To Kill A Mockingbird

Scout learns about the prejudice the black community faces during Tom Robinson’s case. Tom is a black man accused of raping Mayella Ewell and is ultimately given a guilty verdict. After news spread of Atticus being Tom’s lawyer, people around town began calling the Finch family derogatory names. This led to Scout understanding that society doesn’t respect the black community or even treat them as equals. They believed that Tom was guilty even before the trial just because he was black. After the trial and Tom Robinson’s death, Scout realizes the level of racial injustice and hypocrisy in her town. It was obvious that Tom was not guilty and the Ewells were lying, but the jury caved into social pressure. If they said Tom was not guilty, it would go against everything they ever knew and believed so they probably decided it was best to stick with what they already know. The fact that blacks were lower than whites. It’s just as Atticus said, “There’s something in our world that makes men lose their heads-they couldn’t be fair if they tried. In our courts, when it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s the white man always wins. They’re ugly, but those are the facts of life.” (Lee 295). Atticus inspired Scout during the case because he tried his best to give Tom a fair trial and didn’t treat him differently for being black. Even though his children were targeted by the town as well,

How Is Atticus Presented In To Kill A Mockingbird

Atticus defends Tom Robinson anyways because one of his concerns is the safety of the Ewell children. Atticus is also concerned about his two children, Scout and Jem. He wants his children to know that making the right choice is important. Atticus wants the Ewell children to be safe from their drunk and abusive father and for his own children to learn from this case. Atticus resembles a mockingbird in the specific instance when Bob Ewell spits at him. He makes the decision to not fight back. Atticus just wants to advocate for peace in the community of Maycomb. He wants peacefulness for Mayella and helps her out. This also shows Jem and Scout that they should both make the right decisions, even when placed in challenging situations because their choices will have an impact on others. If Atticus had fought back or had walked away, Mayella could have suffered even more. Atticus also represents a mockingbird accurately because he provides positive virtues and righteousness to the community. Scout describes how Atticus provides good deeds to the community during the house fires that strike Maycomb. Scout tells the reader exactly what she sees from her

More about Thesis Statement For To Kill A Mockingbird Essay

To Kill a Mockingbird Racism Essay

thesis statement about racism in to kill a mockingbird

Racism And Racism In To Kill A Mockingbird

The novel is renowned for its warmth and humor, despite dealing with serious issues of rape and racial inequality. To kill a mockingbird is unusual because it is both an examination of racism and a bildungsroman. Within the framework of a coming-of-age story, lee examines a very serious social problem. Lee seamlessly blends these two very different kinds of stories. It deals prejudice; civil rights; racism; defining bravery; maturity; feminine vs. masculine; women's roles in the south; effects of the mob mentality; perception; inconsistency of humanity; gender roles; integrity. The author brings the richly textured story alive by allowing the readers walk in the shoes of fully developed Southern character - Atticus finch represents the morality in the novel, Jim finch the elder brother undergoes transformation from a boy to a teenage boy, Boo Radley the elusive neighbor. On one hand is the black housekeeper Calpurnia who Scout and Jem see as a mother figure and is a gateway for the children to experience…

Racism In To Kill A Mockingbird

"I think there's just one kind of folks. Folks" (Lee). In the fictional novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee explains racism in the eyes of a young girl and how racism has affected society. This takes place in the 1900s in a small town in Alabama called Maycomb County. In chapter 7 when the knot-hole in the tree gets filled up, Jem learns from Mr. Nathan Radley’s excuse of the tree dying that people can manipulate the way they think. During the talk between Jem and Mr. Radley, Jem…

To Kill A Mockingbird Racism

matter the color of a person’s skin that they are equal and there is no difference between the two main ethnicities, which were white and black. Harper Lee, the author of To Kill a Mockingbird, grew up in the minute town of Monroeville, Alabama. Growing up in the South during one of the most racially unequal periods in recent history was very hard for a young girl like Lee because she didn’t understand the injustice happening to the African-Americans, just like Jean-Louise Finch, one of the…

“Racism is a refuge for the ignorant. It seeks to divide and to destroy. It is the enemy of freedom, and it deserves to be met head-on and stamped out” (Pierre Berton). Throughout the two famous books To Kill a Mockingbird and Go Set a Watchman Harper Lee constantly reminds her readers that Atticus is a true racist through hints. In both books it shows the struggle of growing up in the Southern states of the U.S. and how difficult it was for the black community. To Begin with, Atticus only…

To Kill A Mockingbird And Racism

Racism and hatred are learned beliefs that can be fought with people's brave actions. This idea is supported in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Atticus one of the main characters teaches his children that all men are created equal and not to be prejudice. Atticus represents the brave actions people take because he defended a black man in court while everyone was against him defending a man of color. In modern society ,children are influenced by what their parents believe , whether they…

"The Case against To Kill a Mockingbird." Race & Class 45.1 (July-Sept. 2003).: 99-110. Rpt. in Contemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. Jeffrey W. Hunter. Vol. 194. Detroit: Gale, 2005. Literature Resources from Gale. Web. 14 Jan. 2014. Shackelford, Dean. "The Female Voice in To Kill a Mockingbird: Narrative Strategies in Film and Novel." Mississippi Quarterly 50.1 (Winter 1996).: 101-113. Rpt. in Contemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. Jeffrey W. Hunter. Vol. 194. Detroit: Gale, 2005. Literature…

“Hating people because of their color is wrong and it doesn’t matter which color does the hating. It’s just wrong” -Muhammad Ali. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, is a heartwarming story of, the Finch family and how they deal with racism. This book discusses racism and shows what it was like for families to be living in the time of the Great Depression. Throughout the book the characters receive much racial, gender, socioeconomic and religious discrimination. Atticus Finch an attorney, who…

Kill A Mockingbird Racism

and acclaimed author for her very popular work, To Kill A Mockingbird. This story incorporates some very deep subjects in with its plot. One of those is racism, a routine problem exercised in the novel. Through her book, Harper Lee addresses the matter of racism through and by the characters in To Kill A Mockingbird. She does this first by the example of Tom Robinson, a character in this story. Tom was a humble black man who would never even dream of harming a white woman. He did his work…

To Kill A Mockingbird-Racism

The early to mid 1900s were a dark time. It was a period of extreme racism, and depression. Our town by Thornton Wilder, is a stage play that takes place in the early 1900s. It takes place in a town called Grover's Corners, NH. It is about a young girl named Emily Webb, who marries a young man named George Gibbs. She later dies in childbirth. After death, Emily Webb learns that the living don’t realize how much life is worth. To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel about a little girl named Scout…

Symbolism And Racism In To Kill A Mockingbird

consider To Kill a Mockingbird as a successful indictment of racism. However, should people really consider the text as a successful indictment of racism, while it uses racism to prove its points? The article, “Symbolism and Racism” by Adam Smykowski is one of the articles that think To Kill a Mockingbird successfully indicts racism. However, examples from the article “Racism in To Kill a Mockingbird” by Isaac Saney and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, may make a reader think towards the…

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Justice and racial prejudice

To Kill a Mockingbird and A Time to Kill illustrates the deep-rooted racism and discriminatory society in the timeline that was difficult to change the equal rights of blacks at that time. These prejudices make innocent people ineligible to justify anything they do, and most of them are black. In To Killing a Mockingbird, Harper Lee describes a story of Tom Robinson, who was accused of rape, just because he was a black man. Atticus Finch was commissioned by the District Court to defend him. In A Time to Kill by John Grisham is a story of Carl Lee Hailey is a black worker in a small town in the southern United States. His daughter was robbed and jealous by two white racists. He looked around for the murderer and killed them, then surrendered himself. Jack Brigance was assigned as a defense attorney. Both stories describe blacks seeking justice and equal rights in a society that is unfair to them. It also effectively proves racist injustices and social inequalities and prevents blacks from being treated equally with whites in society.

As a result, Tom Robinson had no rights or even a chance to defend themselves. Causes his life to be rejected and abandoned by others. A Time To Kill revolves around a black girl, who was raped by two whites. Jake Brigance asked the jury to imagine Tanya as a white girl, which he says: ‘Can you see her? Her raped, beaten, broken body, soaked in their urine, soaked in their semen, soaked in her blood, left to die. Can you see her? I want you to picture that little girl. Now imagine she’s white.'(156). This quote means Jack is telling the jury that if an innocent white girl experiences this, will you sympathize with her? This reminds us that we must transcend race, color, and faith and seek equality in the purest form. If you don’t have equality for every single person just by the color of their skin, you can’t feel the pain they suffer and let the real criminal escape. Therefore, equality in society does not exist and is determined by people because of their skin color. But in these two societies, it is necessary to face and change the situation of inequality, making life and the court a fair place.

To Kill a Mockingbird and A Time to Kill illustrates that justice is not always color-blind. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Tom Robinson has been arrested under false accusations, however, even though the jury knew he was innocent, they still declared him guilty, which shows the justice system is an injustice. As Atticus explains to Jem, “The one place where a man ought to get a square deal is in a courtroom, be he any color of the rainbow, but people have a way of carrying their resentments right into a jury box”(221). In the court, Finch proved that Robinson’s left hand was disabled, had no ability to violence against others, asked the court to sentence him to acquittal, and righteously appealed to people to respect the facts and safeguard human dignity and equality.

However, in the face of a series of facts, prosecutors and juries with deep racial prejudice still believe in the plaintiff and insist on robbing Robinson. Learning to cope with injustice is an ongoing struggle for the book’s main characters, who must continue to fight for justice even as they recognize the difficulty of their quest. In A Time to Kill, the jury think Carl Lee is guilty, but the crimes committed by these two whites are unforgivable. This has stated when one of a citizen and days: “If convicted may have been free in only ten years”(208). This quote describe when jury hears the terrible event that happens to his daughter Tony, the jury expressed sympathy to him, which affects the jury’s decision and states him as innocent. As a result, neither story has a background in equal rights and justice for black people, but both lawyers in both stories are willing to stand up and change societies that are deeply rooted because of injustice against black people. This is where people start changing the view of prejudices, and equal rights for every person.

In both stories, Tom Robinson and Carl Lee could not be tried fairly because of the existence of racism. When Atticus was willing to defend a black defendant as a white lawyer, almost all whites were unacceptable. Which is presented when a child tells Scout and says: “My folks said your daddy was a disgrace”(76). The reason everyone opposes Atticus is that blacks have no right to let whites speak for them. In addition, the very serious racism in the town is that the older generation believes that the existence of black people has no value at all. This idea is passed on to the younger generation, which will affect their future views on racial discrimination. In A Time To Kill, since Carl Lee Hailey lives in a predominantly white county, a great chance will be tried by the all-white jury.

Jake Brigance tells him the fact by saying “I could probably get off…I’m white, and this is a white county…I could get an all-white jury, which will naturally be sympathetic”(60). Jack aware that he and Carl Lee’s situation has reversed, and he is more likely to be acquitted because if Jack murdered two black men, the jury would reduce the crime because he was white. Therefore, the sympathy of whites against white murderers is more sympathetic than blacks. In general, no matter who sins, it does not benefit the blacks. In both stories, individuals are not treated equally in both societies.

Today, racial equality and social and civil rights are all coordinated and helped. But discrimination limits many opportunities, such as housing, employment, health care, education, and etc, which cause many blacks and other minorities to yearn for an equal life. In order for many innocent people to receive the same treatment as ordinary people, we must correct the impact of discrimination on society. For example, blacks, as agricultural workers, are mostly suppressed by their bosses and lower income. Although we have made great progress now, there is still a long way to go in some areas. Due to the racism in the two stories, the preconceived notion of the person who ultimately determines his own destiny. In general, racism has become such a profound problem in our society that it has the power to influence our judicial system, society, and the new generation.

In the time period of the two stories is located, where racism, inequality, and injustice dictated the norms of society. To Kill a Mockingbird and A Time to Kill are similar in the way that Atticus and Jack both stand up for what they think is right even if it isn’t what everyone else believes. They both believe in equality and don’t believe in discrimination. Everyone has a desire for fairness, justice, and kindness in their hearts. Even in the harsh racial discrimination and the destruction of human nature in the context of the Great Depression, this desire is the same, but people sometimes may not dare to speak out their inner voice because of fear of the dark forces. Overall, it teaches people how to treat people equally no matter what skin color we have, accumulate righteousness in unfairness, how to shape their moral bottom line in a world full of ugliness and problems, and maintain a spiritual decent. 

To Kill a Mockingbird Racism essay

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The Theme of Racism in To Kill a Mockingbird Essay

To Kill A Mockingbird Essays: The Evils Of Racism

The Evils of Racism, using the Power of words, and growing up pain or pleasure are the main themes of this novel. When you are accused of something you didn't do, it's hard getting out of that situation. Especially the fact that people would side with the person based on his skin color, which was very discouraging for the opposing person. I think in the future we won't have to deal with the racial problems as we did before, because we don't discriminate each other based on skin color anymore. If you were in the shoes of Tom Robinson, how would you feel? Also how would you deal with all of the criticism thrown at you?

Examples Of Discrimination In To Kill A Mockingbird

Firstly, characters in the black community are constantly put down and criticised by others. Calpurnia is a housekeeper who is loved and adored by Jem and Scout but is racially discriminated and judged by Aunt Alexandra. When Aunt Alexandra is waiting for Scout, Jem and Cal to return home she immediately greet them by saying “‘Put my bag in the front bedroom, Calpurnia’ was the first thing Aunt Alexandra said” (Lee 127). Aunt Alexandra judges Calpurnia as a slave because of her skin colour. When discriminating against Calpurnia, it gives the sense that it is okay to do so to Scout and jem and continue the the Maycomb ‘disease’ of discrimination and racism. The judgments are spreading throughout Maycomb and is ending hope for Maycomb to change.

To Kill a Mockingbird

Majority of the population of Alabama at this time were Christians, and attended church every Sunday morning. Calpurnia, the Finchs coloured house keeper took Jem and Scout to the church for African-Americans outside of town on Sundays. There, the kids saw that Calpurnia acted differently with her friends they she did in the Finches household. "That Calpurnia led a modest double life never dawned on me. The idea that she had a separate existence outside our household was a novel one, to say nothing of her having command of two languages." (page 128). Back in 1930, the majority of the African-American population was uneducated. They did not have the same opportunities as the whites. A typical colored family in the 1930s consisted of the wife working as a maid or housekeeper, the man working a very low income job, and the children often did not attend school, and instead helped provide an income for the family. After Tom Robinson was put in jail, Helen, his wife, no longer had an income. The old fashioned households are to say were due to the stubbornness of the society, and the unwillingness to change. Atticus Finch, unlike most Maycomb residents, was the only one to come into Tom Robinson’s defense, demonstrating his kindness and his firm beliefs of equality.

Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun

This idea is directly expressed through the portrayal of both southern society in general and Calpurnia’s character in particular. In Maycomb, none of the colored people hold any power. Their jobs are limited to house servantry, a “good” job, or crop picking and menial service jobs. Even though they are free people, they are still servants to the more rich and powerful whites. Calpurnia, the Finches servant, has some of the most power of all the black characters. This is a result of her having some education, but also that she is a servant of the Finches, one of the most well to do families in Maycomb. Calpurnia's son, Zeebo, while educated to the level of some of the town’s whites, is still the towns garbage man. One example of power occurs when Calpurnia warns the neighborhood of a mad dog. In an exchange with Eula May, the telephone operator, Calpurnia says, “I know it’s February, Miss Eula May, but I know a mad dog when i see one. Please ma’am hurry!” (Lee 124). The fact that the town’s white phone operator followed Calpurnia's directions after doubting her was a surprise. This shows how little blacks were respected in Maycomb. Even in a dire situation, Eula May still questioned Calpurnia’s judgement. After Tom Robinson is sentenced to jail and then killed while trying to escape, Scout explains the town’s mentality. “To Maycomb, Tom’s death was typical.

Kill A Mockingbird, By Harper Lee

The fact that it is noticeable and common knowledge within the town, and no one attempts to enact change, proves that the racism of Maycomb creates a great inequality between the peoples. The town’s racial prejudice is not limited to the black people, but extends to those children born of one white parent and one African American parent. ‘…but once you have a single drop of Negro blood, that makes you all black.’ The people of Maycomb are of the belief that all black people, regardless of whether they are a coloured person or otherwise, are as bad as each other. At this point in the novel, we have already heard from Atticus on why the peoples are equal when he states that ‘You know the truth, and the truth is this: some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral, some Negro men are not to be trusted around women – black or white. But this is a truth that applies to the human race and no particular race of men. There is not a person in this courtroom who has never told a lie, who has never done an immoral thing, and there is no man living who has never looked upon a woman with desire.’ By using this powerful comparison of no man having never told a lie, it proves to the reader, and should at the minimum provide doubt to the community of Maycomb, that immorality, lies and sins are not determined by race or the races of an individual, rather by behaviour of a specific person. The racial inequality seen in Maycomb teaches a valuable life lesson in equality, as it is clearly

Theme Of Prejudice In To Kill A Mockingbird

When Calpurnia takes the Jem and Scout to church, the Ladies in calpurnia’s church are prejudice towards the kids. Lula stopped and said to Calpurnia, “You ain’t got no business bringing white chillun here -- they got their own church, we got our’n, It is our church ain't it miss cal?” (Lee 164). Lula believes the Finches are invading a sanctuary that has been painfully carved out of a white realm in which African-Americans are second-class citizens. Segregation is so deeply entrenched in the old south that different races worship at different churches. Lula’s comment exhibits her disregard for any white person, regardless of age or gender because she said this about a six year old little girl. Then the reader sees at the courthouse when Scout, Jem, and Dill have no place to watch the trial, the black people instantly leave their seats and give them to the children, who then sat with the black townspeople in the balcony (Felty). Hypocrisy is once again introduced here because the reader sees that the black community was not okay with being at the same church with Scout and Jem, but when the children’s father can help one of their own, they would treat the kids respect. Sitting with the colored people offers Scout an opportunity to see two different perspectives (May). This allows her to recognize that the colored people have prejudice against whites for segregating

Examples Of Racism In To Kill A Mockingbird

In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, there was many different themes about what the characters portray the novel to be about, the biggest theme being racism, everything that goes on in this book somehow relates to racism. One of the biggest events in this book was Tom Robinsons trial, which was unfairly jured because the jury was racist about Tom being black.

Racism In To Kill A Mockingbird Essay

There is also a division between the two races due to the laws. In many cases if black and white people are in the same area the whites will get privileges and attention. To illustrate the author writes “Reverend Sykes came puffing behind us, and steered us gently through the black people in the balcony. Four Negroes rose and gave up their front-row seats” (Lee 219). The black people are always left with lower quality option. Calpurnia's church is a good representation of the attitudes toward them. Jem and Scout are used to their high quality church, and when they walk in to Calpurnia’s they immediately are able to see the difference in the two. The black community's church is run down unpainted, dim, and barely decorated. The Jim Crow laws are not only one of the unjust of race discrimination we see in To Kill a Mockingbird: mob mentality is also present.

To Kill A Mockingbird Essay On Prejudice Analysis

He is racially prejudice; it is a discrimination based on one’s skin colour. The Ewell’s are considered as the poor white family living in Maycomb. Mayella Ewell, Bob’s daughter, tries to allure Tom Robinson, a Negro, that makes her father very angry. Tom is accused by Bob for raping his daughter, but the truth is, Tom never touched Mayella. Tom is charged with taking advantage of Mayella. Atticus said: “In our courts when it's a white man's word against a black man's, the white man always wins." (295) some White people believe Bob Ewell is saying the truth because if a black man is charged with doing anything to any woman and especially white woman, it means he is a guilty man and every word he says is not important and truthful as the white man’s word. The truth is, Tom Robinson is guilty to help Bob’s daughter and being a good neighbor to Bob and his family. Nevertheless, his only crime is being a black man. Atticus, Tom’s lawyer, tries to prove to the jury and to everyone that Tom Robinson is an innocent person who have been accused for something he never committed. Bob tries to hurt Atticus, by threatening and spitting at Atticus, because he was trying to free an innocent black man. Another example of racial prejudice is, in the trial of Tom Robinson, the black people were separated from the white people in the courtroom because white people think they are in the higher class and better than the black people. Alexandra Finch is also racially prejudiced. She tries to make Atticus to kick out Calpurnia, a Negro, because she took Jem and Scout to a black

To Kill A Mockingbird Racism

Racism is seen in many parts of the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. It is a key factor to many events that occurred in the novel. Racism was clearly seen in the trial of Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson is a hard working black man who was accused of raping and beating Mayella Ewell. Mayella was caught kissing him by Bob Ewell, her abusive father. The only reason he was accused was because of his race. Racism is also showed when Lula was racist towards the children because they are white when they went to Calpurnia’s church. Another act of racism is the way Aunt Alexandra acts towards Calpurnia. She treats Calpurnia as if she isn’t a person, rather just another servant. Being one of the few people in Maycomb that is not racist, Atticus

Racism In To Kill A Mockingbird

The theme I chose to write was racism in “To Kill a Mockingbird”. Racism is the belief in which ethnic groups account for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others. This belief has been a part of the human race ever since people are born, racism is slowly fading, but people cannot that say all do not express it. There are still some who believe one's ethnicity and appearance change everything in that particular person. In Harper Lee's novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, the town's people of Maycomb misjudge African-Americans. They treat them like trash, and through some people's eyes, African-Americans are just filthy beings. In this novel, Lee expresses one's ethnicity and appearance change other's opinions about a certain character, without knowing the character's personality and beliefs. “Harper Lee is against racism in To Kill a Mockingbird.”

How To Kill A Mockingbird A Coming Of Age Novel

Most importantly the novel addresses racism and prejudice which was rampant throughout the south during the 1930’s which is when the novel was set. One example of prejudice in the novel occurred when Scout was speaking to her neighbor, Miss Maudie, regarding “Boo” Radley, the town recluse, who had not been seen in years. Scout, Jem and their friend Dill, believed Boo was insane and dangerous. People in the town blame anything weird or unusual that happens on Boo Radley. Miss Maudie told Scout, “That is a sad house. I remember Arthur (Boo) Radley when he was a boy. He always spoke nicely to me, no matter what folks said he did” (Lee 61). Miss Maudie was trying to tell Scout that Boo was harmless and that people in the town made judgements about him because they never saw him come out of the house. The novel also has many examples of racism. One of the examples of racism is the treatment of the character Tom Robinson. He is not only black, but he also has a crippled arm. Tom conquers these minority difficulties by going to work each day, attending church, and helping neighbors like a good citizen. However, when a white man accuses Tom of raping his daughter, Tom is treated horribly. Tom is completely innocent, but he is arrested and charged with rape. As a result of Tom’s arrest, his wife Helen cannot get a job to feed her three children. She is discriminated against because of the nature of the crime Tom is charged with. Yet another example of racism and prejudice in To Kill a Mockingbird is when Scout is talking about her teacher, Miss Gates. Miss Gates stated in class how she hates Hitler and how bad he treated the Jews. However, when Miss Gates was leaving the trial at the courthouse Scout overheard her say, “it’s time somebody taught ‘em a lesson, they were gettin’ way above themselves an’ the next thing they think they can do is marry us” (Lee 331).

In the novel Calpurnia, a housekeeper for the Finch’s, was African American. “Atticus said Calpurnia had more education than most colored folk (Lee 18).” Calpurnia is obviously delineated with an educational background. The children are also required to show her respect and she was took care of them as though she was their mother. This showcases that, even though racism is still eminent around them, the society is beginning to evolve and people are beginning to view the world differently. The abating of racism is also shown through Atticus as he represent Tom in the trial and genuinely fights for him to win and he is disappointed when he does not. “My folk said your daddy was a disgrace an’ that nigger oughta hang from the water tank (Lee 76).” Not everyone agreed with Atticus’s actions and ideas, they saw him as disgrace and an embarrassment to his family because he stood up for a black man and treats Calpurnia as he would any other

Essay On Racism In To Kill A Mockingbird

Due to racism and the issue of it, finally Atticus was seen as the hero of Maycomb, but at the same time, he was looked down upon due to defending a black man. During the twentieth century and to this day there is a hugely controversial issue on racism, and who or what it affects. Through the book, Atticus is seen as a “racial hero” for supporting Tom Robinson in racial equality and people believed that they could speak or say what they wanted to a black person. As stated he was trying to support Tom and Atticus was the man of the town for trying to stick up for the town. In To Kill a Mockingbird the author tries to embrace the ideas that some people in the South deny their southern way of life and do not like to live in a world of judgment and can not live in the way that people are judged on color (Crespino 81-82). "There’s four kinds of folks in the world. There’s the ordinary kind like us and the neighbors, there’s the kind like the Cunninghams out in the woods, the kind like the Ewells down at the dump, and the Negroes” (Lee 258). This point goes back to racism and how the town is treated and how the people of the

To Kill A Mockingbird Segregation Analysis

Harper Lee, the author of To Kill A Mockingbird, constantly revisits racism and segregation as a major theme in the book. The main characters, Scout and Jem, go to the church, while Atticus is busy with work, so Calpurnia suggests that they go with her to the African American Church. As Scout and Jem enter the church, they take notice of the weary and lifeless interior. Scout and Jem can tell that the African American church is not as wealthy as their church. They are disapproved by Lulu, Calpurnia's friend, because she doesn't think whites belong in their church. She tries to tell Calpurnia they belong in the white church. Later, Scout describes the church, “Along its walls unlighted kerosene lamps hung on brass buckets; pine benches served

GRIN

The theme of racism in Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird"

Term paper, 2019, 9 pages, grade: 4.1, joe wessh (author), racism theme in to kill a mockingbir.

In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird , the theme of racism is highlighted in various interactions between the characters. The story is narrated through the eyes of the protagonist, Scout, who resides in a fictional town in Alabama named Maycomb with her father Atticus and brother Jem. In the novel, various aspects of the vice are depicted, mainly in the conflict between the whites and the African-American community. Most of the misunderstandings in the town are caused by stereotypes that are told by members of opposing races. The narration thus details how prejudices and injustices along racial lines can impede social harmony.

The discrimination against individuals based on their race was a common phenomenon in the 1930s. In history, people of color, particularly the blacks, were not accepted in white society. The white majority exercised supremacy over the black minority, and the latter was mainly involved in manual labor. According to Lee et al., the discrimination against the black community primarily affected the African-Americans because they were the largest ethnic population in the white society (13). To Kill a Mockingbird highlights the practice in a small town of Maycomb through various characters who exhibit different views on the topic. Scout's family, including her father, Atticus, brother Jem, and cousin Francis are portrayed as being neutral to racism in a community that is highly divided along racial lines. For instance, Scout's Cousin Francis depicts Atticus as a "nigger-lover" and makes it sound like a terrible abuse. Scout admits that she does not understand what it means; however, she does not like how Francis used it. Atticus explains that the term means nothing: "Nigger-lover is just one of those terms that don't mean anything-like snot-nose….it's slipped into usage with some people like ourselves, when they want a common, ugly term to label somebody" (Lee 113). The term was not only derogatory towards people of color, but it was also a disparaging term meant to depict the Whites who supported them.

To Kill a Mockingbird was set in the 1930s, a period that was characterized by the Great Depression and economic hardships. Maycomb was a small town occupied by people in the lower social class and from various ethnicities. The society in which Scout lived was fanatic and selfish, only favoring their own. Since the whites were the majority, many atrocities were perpetrated against African Americans. Nonetheless, Atticus's family did not consider an individual's color as a socially divisive element. The family coexisted with other races, often displaying sympathy and respect for the oppressed. Atticus even volunteered to offer his legal services in an alleged rape case against a poor black man, Tom. This decision prompts the anger of the Maycomb society. In chapter nine, Cecil, Scout's classmate proclaims that Atticus is defending a "Negro." "Do you defend niggers, Atticus?" I asked him that evening. "Of course I do. Don't say nigger, Scout. That's common" (Lee 79). The assertion leads to a fight between Scout and Cecil. Scout felt so humiliated with such racist claim that she loses her temper and confront Cecil. Critically, the incident coincides with several connotations in the book. After slavery was abolished in the nineteenth century, the colored members of the society were considered to be equals with their white counterparts, although separate from each other. As a result, segregation continued through inequality in the facilities offered to various ethnicities. The minority groups were perceived as being inferior, and hence, their rights were violated, just like Tom's case in the novel. Tom was accused of rape by a white father and daughter and eventually convicted, even though he did not commit the offense. It can be said that he was unfairly convicted just because he was black.

In the book, Lee takes an anti-racial approach to condemn injustices against minority groups by an overly prejudiced society. The irony is equally applied to further the theme and depict the ignorance among some community members. Atticus is partially blind in his left eye, and he requires glasses to see clearly. Despite being partially blind, he has the best insight on equality in Maycomb. Kids like Scout, Jem, and Dill are impartial to all community members, regardless of their color and despite their lack of knowledge of various societal virtues. Therefore, the author mentions that those who turn a blind eye to racial differences can live in harmony with everybody despite their ethnicities. The people in the town of Maycomb have racism ingrained in them to a point where people of different colors alienate themselves from activities that would involve socializing. Scout, at some point in the book, questions her father why he settled on representing Tom Robinson in court since he was from the black community. Atticus replied, "For several reasons … The main one is, if I didn't I couldn't hold up my head in town, I couldn't represent this country in the legislature, I couldn't even tell you or Jem not to do something again … every lawyer gets one case in his lifetime that affects him personally. This one's mine, I guess" (Lee 80). The incident demonstrates how Atticus perceived the subject of racism. He believed that all people should be treated equally, irrespective of their color.

Unlike Atticus' case, the color-line problem mostly leads to discrimination towards a given ethnicity. Therefore, oppression is exercised on the community that seems most vulnerable, and they are deprived of opportunities, amenities, and justice. The authors remark, "People of nonwhite skin color have been under the Whites' oppression because they were known as uncivilized and inferior by Whites due to their difference in skin color" (Rezazade et al. 48). Black people were always regarded as uncivilized and inferior, as well as savages and criminals. The depiction implies how the various societies maintain stereotypes of their counterparts as is the case in To Kill a Mockingbird . Racism is, therefore, a topic whose definition coincides with the novel's primary theme.

According to the novel, Maycomb could be considered a microcosm of modern society's racism practice. The author's multicultural approach and choice of character traits seem to stand the test of time as it remains relevant in the contemporary world. Although there have been numerous global efforts to foster equity, racism and stereotyping still exists in some regions and among some individuals in the community. Similarly, although Lee uses Maycomb town to pass an anti-racism message, it could equally be argued that the book encourages white supremacy that may lead to prejudice. Atticus and his family are considered heroes mainly for their efforts to save Tom from rape accusations. But they had experienced a threat from the angry society of Maycomb. At this, Scouts respond to angry individuals with a remarkable answer. The situation signifies the racist mentality of the people of that period. According to Macaluso, "Atticus, a white man, is the hero and Tom, an African American man, is the helpless, crippled victim" (280). The plot further develops around Atticus's family heroics, which might be criticized as the author's bias towards undermining racial diversity in the book. However, the critical perspective might not hold much water as To Kill a Mockingbird conveys the intended message of Maycomb's population, which is relatable to most modern neighborhoods.

It is notable that Scout, Jem, and Dill are fascinated by Boo, a shy character who lives with Mr. Radley. Weird stories about Boo drives the three kids to his yard to try and steal a glance of him. When Radley sees Jem's shadow, he mistakes it for a person and shoots at it. The people of Maycomb then presume that he had shot an African-American, and they predispose that "Mr. Radley shot at a Negro in his collard patch" (Lee 11). The racist individuals accuse the "blacks" of any crime in the town and perceive them as being inferior people. In contemporary societies, there have been similar incidences where people from minority groups are mistakenly killed or injured because of their ethnic appearances. Recently there were protests on "Black Lives Matter" following cases of African-American youths being slain particularly by police officers without a real reason. Some studies have also revealed that individuals from certain races are more likely to be treated differently than their white counterparts in similar situations. "Whites imagine themselves as more developed and more human in comparison with the darker skinned "others" (whether African or indigenous) whom they dominated" (Salter et al. 153). In 2018, a young Mexican lady, Claudia Gomez, was shot by an officer who presumed she was armed because she was in the company of other migrants. The prejudicial events leading to the killings match those that were witnessed in Maycomb orchestrated by some residents.

Title: The theme of racism in Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird"

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Title: The theme of racism in Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird"

thesis statement about racism in to kill a mockingbird

Racism In To Kill A Mockingbird

Learning for the better In the novel, To kill a Mockingbird, there is a lot of racism because it took place during the early 1900’s. Specifically it will deal with the thesis; To Kill a Mockingbird suggests that racism is learned, so it can be unlearned. Racism is one of the main topics in the novel and also relates to the main morals from the book such as equality and human rights. To support my thesis, the claims are; Maycomb is a biased community where there is a lot of racism towards the African-American community because the community has adopted the idea that certain races are above others, although Maycomb is a prejudice community, there are some people who stand up for equality such as Atticus, and Atticus also teaches his children to not be racist because it is a bad moral and he doesn’t want them to become racist like the rest of the community. To Kill a Mockingbird was set in the early 1900’s in the USA. During this time there were a lot of racist beliefs and opinions. In the communities, everybody had adapted the idea that the white community was superior than any other. Maycomb is a biased community where there is a lot of racism toward the African-American community and they are singled out from the other ethnic groups and blamed for things they have nothing to do with. This is an example that people have learned racism but not unlearned. There are many examples of racist acts in the novel, such as the saying that “Negro’s lie, and can’t be trusted.” This means that all of the African-American people can’t be trusted mainly for the reason that they are Black. In Maycomb There are really harsh words used to refer to any African-American such as ‘nigger’. “I seen that black nigger yonder ruttin' on my Mayella!"... ... middle of paper ... ... and eventually change the system in place right now. From all of this we can see that there is still hope in people such as Atticus and Jem because they are different then the community and have unlearned the racist ways of the community and are working towards helping the community unlearn it as well. In conclusion, To Kill a Mockingbird explains how racism should be learned to be unlearned through various characters in the book. Maycomb is a racist community and people are racist towards the African-Americans. The book suggests that people should stand up against racism even if they are the only one just like Atticus. Atticus is also encouraging his children to do the same and stand up against racism. Overall, the idea that racism is something that is learned and therefore can be unlearned if a person is willing to treat each other equally, aside of the race.

In this essay, the author

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Illustration of a bird perched on a scale of justice

To Kill a Mockingbird

by Harper Lee

What is a good thesis statement about the theme of racism in  To Kill a Mockingbird ?

Cite this page as follows:.

"What is a good thesis statement about the theme of racism in  To Kill a Mockingbird ?" eNotes Editorial , 6 July 2019, https://www.enotes.com/topics/to-kill-a-mockingbird/questions/what-is-a-good-thesis-statement-about-the-theme-708510. Accessed 15 Mar. 2023.

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I think it would be relatively easy to argue the following thesis: Harper Lee shows that those who are racist are ignorant, uneducated, and unkind through her depiction of Mrs. Dubose, Mr. Ewell, and Mrs. Merriweather .

It is not very difficult to find examples of bad behaviors exhibited by these characters which show that we, the readers, are not supposed to relate to them or like them. We might sympathize, perhaps, with Mrs. Dubose, but it is clear from her behavior toward Jem that we are supposed to learn compassion from Atticus's treatment of her rather than to emulate her ideas. Mr. Ewell is portrayed in an even worse way, as a child abuser and liar and would-be murderer. By discouraging readers from liking these characters, Lee encourages us to condemn their racist beliefs.

You could also argue the flip side of this idea, which is that Harper Lee encourages readers to like characters like Atticus Finch and Ms. Maudie in order to encourage our disavowal of racist ideas .

M.A. from Southern Utah University

Educator since 2012

2,335 answers

A thesis is the main statement of an essay that controls the direction the writer will take while writing. It informs the reader about the specific theme and details to be discussed. One way to write a good thesis statement is to present the chosen theme by using direct language. Then, follow it up by adding three supporting details listed thereafter. For example, if the theme is racism as presented in  To Kill a Mockingbird , think of three events that demonstrate racism or three characters who either dish it out or have to take it. Then, list those events or characters right after the thesis statement. The examples listed with the thesis statement will then be discussed in further detail in the body of the essay. Below are a few examples:

1. The people of Maycomb who exhibit racist behaviors are Mrs. Dubose, Mrs. Merriweather, and Bob Ewell.

With this thesis statement, the writer establishes that racism does exist in Maycomb, which is the theme, and then lists three examples of characters who demonstrate it in the novel. The essay would then explain in detail what those characters say or do.

2.  People in the town of Maycomb, Alabama show their racist attitudes by not hiring Helen Robinson when her husband is in jail, attempting to lynch Tom Robinson before the trial, and convicting him for a crime they know he didn't commit.

An essay written from the example above accuses groups of people for demonstrating their racist attitudes because a black man is charged with allegedly raping a white woman. However, these groups create specific events that can be referred to in the book as evidence for the essay. 

It's easy to write a thesis statement if you understand what it is.

Your thesis is your main idea of your essay, and your thesis statement must state your main idea. It's a good idea to plan out the points you will use to prove your main idea, and you should include the points in your thesis statement.

I know what your theme is, racism, but I don't know your thesis. Your thesis should be a statement about your theme. So you might say "Racism is the main theme explored in To Kill a Mockingbird" or you might say "Harper Lee is against racism in To Kill a Mockingbird." There are several other ways you could state a thesis about this theme, too.

Let's go with the first thesis, "Racism is the main theme explored in To Kill a Mockingbird."

Now you need to plan out your essay and decide on some points you can make to prove your thesis. A good way to do this is through brainstorming . You should come up with lots of points, and then check through the book and figure out which points would be best to support your thesis. You should be able to find evidence to support each point. You can find more on themes in To Kill a Mockingbird in eNotes' study guide, here. You should choose at least three points to use in your essay.

Here are my suggestions for points to support the thesis "Racism is the main theme explored":

There are lots of other things you could say about racism in To Kill a Mockingbird, too. After brainstorming, you need to pick at least three main points and add them to your thesis statement. Your final thesis statement, which you can use in the introduction to an essay, might read: Racism is the main theme explored in To Kill a Mockingbird; most of the people in town are racists, Tom is guaranteed to lose because he is a black man accused by a white woman, and racist language is used throughout the book.

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Racism in 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee

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“Simon made a pile practicing medicine, but in this pursuit he was unhappy lest he be tempted into doing what he knew was not for the glory of God, as the putting on of gold and costly apparel. So Simon, having forgotten his teacher’s dictum on the possession of human chattels, bought three slaves and with their aid established a homestead on the banks of the Alabama River.”
"This case, Tom Robinson’s case, is something that foes to the essence of a man’s conscious- Scout, I couldn’t go to church and worship God if I didn’t try to help that man"
"I was playing with a spoon. That was enough."(1)

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"I ain’t ever seen any jury decide in favour of a coloured man over a white man"
"once you have a drop of Negro blood, that makes you all black."
“They don’t belong anywhere. Coloured folks won’t have ’em because they’re half white; white folks won’t have ’em ’cause they’re coloured, so they’re just in-betweens, don’t belong anywhere.”

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  4. To Kill a Mockingbird Racism

    Justice and racial prejudice To Kill a Mockingbird and A Time to Kill illustrates the deep-rooted racism and discriminatory society in the

  5. To Kill A Mockingbird Thesis

    To Kill a Mockingbird expresses the theme of ignorance and racism leading to injustice and the destruction of innocence. In Maycomb ignorance and racism was

  6. The Theme of Racism in To Kill a Mockingbird Essay

    There are still some who believe one's ethnicity and appearance change everything in that particular person. In Harper Lee's novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, the

  7. The theme of racism in Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird"

    Racism Theme in To Kill a Mockingbir ... In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, the theme of racism is highlighted in various interactions between the characters.

  8. Racism In To Kill A Mockingbird

    Specifically it will deal with the thesis; To Kill a Mockingbird suggests that racism is learned, so it can be unlearned. Racism is one of the main topics in

  9. What is a good thesis statement about the theme of racism in To Kill

    Your final thesis statement, which you can use in the introduction to an essay, might read: Racism is the main theme explored in To Kill a Mockingbird; most of

  10. Racism in 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee

    Racism was an open and obvious issue in Maycomb society; overall the white community hated Negroes, because they were not able to accept the