To Kill A Mockingbird Racism Quotes

One small gesture that Tom Robinson made was immediately questioned by the majority of the court room; being a black man in a white society, he was supposedly in no situation to feel sorry for Mayella who is a white woman. He does not know much about her situation, but he has the ability to understand where she is coming from and see that she deserves help. “Looked like she didn’t have nobody to help her… yes suh. I felt right sorry for her.” Pg. 217.

In To Kill A Mockingbird, there are many examples of racism throughout the book. Starting from citizens in town to in the court during the case. At the beginning of the book, the kids in Maycomb were messing around trying to figure out Boo Radley. They heard many rumors about how awful he was so they just assumed he was a terrible person. One of the stories they heard was about how Boo was locked up. In To Kill A Mockingbird, it states, the ¨The sheriff hadn't the heart to put him in jail alongside Negroes, so Boo was locked in the courthouse basement (Lee 14).¨ This quote shows how the community viewed Boo but also this quote shows racism because it says that the sheriff would not put Boo next to a Negro which can be viewed as Negroes are

Rosa Parks once famously said, “Racism is still with us. But it is up to us to prepare our children for what they have to meet, and, hopefully, we shall overcome.” Through the use of this quote, Rosa Parks stresses the importance of making one’s children aware of racism. More specifically, Rosa Parks wishes for others to make their children aware of the negative impact racism could have to themselves and the people around them. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, a constantly recurring topic is racism. Racism appears throughout many scenarios in the book and is the reason Tom Robinson is on trial for the rape of Miss Mayella Ewell. Racism, although a negative societal issue, affects maturing children by providing them insight into not only the society around them but,

Maycomb, Alabama was a town of racism and discrimination against everyone. They discriminated everyone from being black, white, poor, and even just for being a bit strange. But what they didn’t realize is “…there's just one kind of folks. Folks."(Lee 259) The courtroom in Maycomb was still separated by the color of skin, the economic structure and even by gender. This was considered a normal thing in Alabama; everyone knew that the only people with power were the white men. They were the only ones who could do anything and led to much hatred all around just because of the supremacy of certain

First of all, Tom Robinson’s family has been greatly affected by the case. After being convicted, in addition to being sent away to jail, his wife Helen also faces discrimination. Jem asks Calpurnia, “I know Tom Robinson’s in jail an’ he’s done somethin’ awful, but why won’t folks hire Helen?” She responds with “It’s because of what folks say Tom’s done,[...]Folks aren’t anxious to—to have anything to do with any of his family”(chap.12). Racism being the reason that Tom goes to jail, and also the reason that no one will hire Helen anymore, proving how despair to the community through racism. Because of this prejudice, an innocent family becomes social outcasts within the town, which would be detrimental because in a small town like Maycomb, people need to stick together to be able to live a good life. Another way in which racism victimizes someone, when Bob Ewell spits on Atticus. He was leaving the post office: “Mr. Ewell approached him, cursed him, spat

The novel To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, presents racism throughout the book proving racism is catastrophic. The time of this book was during World War II. In this novel, Tom Robinson was a very important character. He was a black male who had been charged of raping a white girl named Mayella. Mayella, had accused Tom because her father had seen her kiss a black man and then beat her. In this time of day, kissing a black man was forbidden. Mayella had no other to blame but Tom Robinson. She knew no one would take a black man's word over a white woman anyway. They’re many other racist acts happening in this book. Another clear example is the bullying Jem and Scout have to deal with because of Atticus, their father, being Tom’s defense

Though the black community is sad that Tom Robinson was found guilty they are still faithful that Atticus will protect and defend the black community. Bob Ewell is not happy at all with the way Atticus questioned him and his daughter and the way he defended Tom Robinson. Miss Stephanie says that"this morning Bob Ewell stopped Atticus on the post office corner, spat in his face, and told him he'd get him if it took the rest of his life"t Jem's reaction to the verdict is that he leaves the courtroom and cries because he didn't think Tom would be guilty and he feels that it is an unfair verdict and he sees the town in an unfair way. I personally thought that this judging was just a way to seem like society was fair by giving a black man a “trial”. However, I think that they were going to say Tom Robinson was guilty either way.

Atticus talks about how people don’t seem to care. As they grow up they lose that guilt and they don’t want to see the truth they see what they want to. “ ‘I don’t know, but they did it. They’ve done it before and they did it tonight and they’ll do it again and when they do it-- seems that only children weep.’ “ (Lee, 213) Atticus is able to change many people’s minds but not all and that’s because people are afraid the change their minds, they’re afraid of what might happen. The thought seems to be very old fashioned. And Atticus who is wealthy and white is hated in the book simply because he is defending an African American. Some people don’t seem to want to hate him but because he is always in the way and defending someone of the race they hate feel they have to. But Mr. Ewell is the man in the story who uses his hatred. He blames Tom for something he didn’t do and tried to hurt Atticus’s family for not hating like he does. There’s also hatred toward a man in town named Boo Radley. And this is all because of rumors that have been going around. He is never seen in the town, he has a mystery about him so most people are afraid. But at the end of the book he saves Jem and Scout’s lives from Mr. Ewell. She realizes he is not what everyone says, he’s kind and gentle and saved her and her brothers lives. She knows after all these experiences that what her father says is true. “ ‘You never really understand a person until you consider things from

In the middle of trial, Tom is called to the stand and is told to give his testimony. During his testimony, Tom is asked by Mr. Gilmer why he helped Mayella Ewell, which Tom responds with: "I felt right sorry for her, she seemed to try more'n the rest of 'em". (Lee 224) Within the country of Maycomb, there is a clear hierarchy to class and is based on both a man's race and economic status. The class system in Maycomb is designed so that the richest black man will always be considered lesser than the poorest f white men. Because of this class disparity, the idea of a black man taking pity on white women (no matter how poor) is unthinkable. It is clear to the reader that Tom Robinson feels empathetic to Mayella Ewell due to her economic status. The process of assigning Tom Robinson a lawyer also demonstrates how empathy goes past race. When first assigned to the case, Atticus tells his brother Jack: "John Taylor pointed at me and said, 'You're It.'"(Lee 100) Judge John Taylor is in charge of assigning the lawyers to the case, and is also a resident of Maycomb for many years. As a resident of Maycomb, he would most likely be aware of the class disparity in the county and would know that Tom Robinson's word will be held to a lesser regard than the poor white Ewell's. Due to this disparity is race and class, Judge Taylor decides to

Since Tom Robinson is a colored male, he showed that he had felt sorry for a white person. He should never feel bad for a white person because he is the opposite race and it’s not good for him to be showing sympathy of his opposite race. Mayella has power for being white. Being white back then just means that you’re more superior than colored people

The theme of social injustice due to racism is demonstrated by Mr. Gilmer’s actions. Tom is being cross-examined by Mr. Gilmer and Dill becomes upset and exits the courtroom with Scout by his side. “‘Well Mr. Finch didn’t act that way to Mayella or old man Ewell when he cross-examined them. The way that man called him ‘boy’ all the time and sneered at him, an’ looked around at the jury every time he answered-’”(Lee 226). Mr. Gilmer talks down to Tom because he is black, and is considered lower in social class. Mr. Gilmer is treating Tom as if he were in a lower social class; this is what he wants to portray to the jury. The class system in Maycomb is wrong and Dill sees how Tom is being treated unjustly. Tom is seen as trash just because he is black; he has a lot more character than Mr. Ewell, but because he is black, Mr. Gilmer is painting Tom to be lower than the lowest of whites. Because of Tom’s skin color, he is treated like he is less of a man. People in Maycomb cannot see how wrong they are because the citizens are stuck in a mindset where white people act like they are superior. The citizens see no problem with Mr. Gilmer belittling Tom in the way he is speaking to

Racism in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee affects the events in the novel by affecting everyone’s judge meant or disrespecting people by their skin color. Racism has a huge role in the book To Kill a Mocking Bird. See I don’t like racism at all and that’s why I’m about to write and tell you the effects racism has in the book.

The Great Depression was a catastrophic time in America. The norms were strict, and Jim Crow laws were in effect. In the scene, where Scout is reflecting back on Tom’s death, the theme of racism is portrayed through the external conflict of the town’s extreme racism. This scene is significant to the novel because Scout goes into detail on the town’s prejudice and ignorant point of view. This chapter in the book puts the town to great shame when Scout says, “To Maycomb, Tom’s death was typical” (Lee 322).

In the novel ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ siblings Jem and Scout begin to learn the harsh effects of racism, specifically in the ninth chapter after their father accepts a job defending a black man in court. Jem and Scout are bombarded with name-calling and harsh stares from their classmates, family members and neighbors, and quickly learn to understand what kind of aftermath racism has on it’s victims. The siblings are growing up in an era where racism was normalized, however, the events in chapter nine, where Cecil Jacobs tells Scout “‘....your daddy’s a disgrace…’” (pg 76) and Scouts own cousin Francis tells her “‘....it [Atticus defending a black man] certainly does mortify the rest of the family.’” (pg 83) give her a taste of the pain that

Racism is explored TKAMB: Lessons learned by human kind Imagine living in a town where you’re not allowed to go to school and your family and friends get blame for crimes committed by others. You go to court and your found guilty, of a crime you did not commit. Once you learn racist and prejudice, your brain get rid of it, it keeps that thought locked in and from there that thought is what you start believing. Maycomb is a town in Alabama that is poor and there is lots of hatred towards black people.