To Kill A Mockingbrird – Prejudice Essay, Research Paper

In Harper Lee?s book, To Kill A Mockingbird, she reveals to her audience that prejudice, is a destructive force in any society. During the time that Mockingbird was written, racism was acceptable. Racism is a key theme in her book. Not only those who were black, but also those who affiliated with blacks, were considered inferior. Atticus, a lawyer, who defended blacks in court, was mocked. An example of this is when Mrs. Dubose told the children ?Your father?s no better than the niggers and trash he works for?(Lee??). This strong example of how racism would control the lives of many people throughout the early 20th century. The reasons why prejudice is so destructive to a community is each side thinks that they are better than the other side, which means instead of trying to solve the problem at hand they are getting divided by their race, as they have no interest in communicating with the other party.

Back in the time period of To Kill A Mockingbird, black people were considered to be lower class, which caused white people to always suspect blacks before they suspected white people. An example of this is when a character named Nathan Radley hears someone in his cabbage patches. He shot his gun in the air and when people asked what happen, he automatically told them it was a ?nigger?, even though he didn?t see the person. But, he knew the person was white by this quote someone said he said. ?Shot in the air. Scared him though, says if anyone sees a white ?nigger? running around here that?s him? (Lee 54). Meaning that he knows the person is white. Another example is that some people even put animals above blacks, as told in the rest of the quote. ?Got the other barrel waitin? for the next hears in his patch, be it dog, ?nigger?, or Jem Finch? (Lee 54). This shows that Mr. Radley didn?t have any respect for blacks. In some parts of the world this is true even to this day. In South Africa since statistically black men commit more crime than any other race it is just in people?s nature to think that a black person has commited the crime. Which is the worst thing that can happen, as black people cannot receive a fair trial. Racial comments have been around since there have been minority groups and they will continue to be a problem as not many people are willing to stand up and say enough is enough.

Not only were blacks referred to as ?niggers? but also, anyone affiliated with them, except for slave masters, were called, ?nigger? lovers. An example of this is that a character named Atticus Finch is defending a black person named Tom Robinson in court. Because he is doing this, most people in town are calling him a ?nigger? lover. Not only are the adults saying it, but their children are saying it too. Since Atticus is defending this man, he has also had men try to jump him many times and got in a altercation with a mob. But Atticus makes a very interesting appeal during the court case:

?The witnesses for the state have presented themselves to you gentlemen, to this court, in the cynical confidence that their testimony would not be doubted. Confident that you gentlemen, would go along with them on one assumption, the evil assumption, that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are immoral beings, that all Negroes are not to be trusted around our women, an assumption that of one mind of their caliber. Which gentlemen, we know is in itself a lie as black as Tom Robinson?s skin, a lie that I don?t have to point out to you. You know the truth. The truth is this: some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral, some Negro men can?t be trusted around women, black or white. But this is a truth that applies to the Human race and to no particular race of men? (Lee 217).

This is the truth. Even though Atticus Finch is just doing his job, people do not see it that everyone has a prerogative. All they see is a white man helping a black man, or a ?nigger? lover. A town getting split over a trial is still common today. Many movies have depicted this plot in there film, the movie A Time To Kill shows a perfect example of this; it comes down to white versus black. At the present time, there is not as much hatred for people who are associated with people of a different race. To be associated with black people during this time was just as bad as being black. To be affiliated to a black instead of being criticized one should be rewarded.

During this time period the white people wanted to stay as far away from the blacks. This is a major part of why there was such a big gap between the two races. An example of this is when Atticus? sister Alexandra rankles Atticus about getting rid of Calpurnia, the black maid, because Alexandra thinks she is showing a bad influence on the children and she does not want Calpurnia around her. Even though Calpurnia is a good maid, Alexandra does not care. When Alexandra stated ?? you?ve got to do something about her. You?ve let things go on too long?(Lee 136). This goes to prove that not only does she not want to be around blacks or show any compassion for them; she doesn?t want other people around them either. Even though Alexandra doesn?t call blacks by the same words other townspeople call them, she still doesn?t want to associate with them. Another instance is when Calpurnia takes the kids to her church. Alexandra gets very angry with Calpurnia because she took them to be around so many blacks. Most of them were good people and the kids weren?t being bad. This problem is not such a drawback to our society anymore but there are still circumstances when we face this problem. In Canada this in not a problem, however in South Africa up until lately the white people used to live in suburbs while the black people would mainly live on the outskirts of the town in townships.

In Harper Lee?s book, To Kill A Mockingbird, there are many examples of racism and its destructive force in any society. The legal barriers to racial equality have been torn down, and racial exclusion from the benefits of society and the rights of citizenship is no longer nearly total, as it once was. However discrimination still limits the opportunities and stifles the hopes of many black Americans and other minorities. In the realms of housing, employment, medical care, education and the administration of the criminal justice system. And while we have come a long way, we still have a long way to go. So thanks to the book of To Kill A Mockingbird that proves that it?s not really the prejudice that is responsible for much social injustice.