To Kill A Mockingbird. About the issues of racism that are brought up in this book that the author, Harper Lee touches on.

Essay by MiZ_iNt3rPr3teDHigh School, 10th gradeB, March 2002

download word file, 5 pages 3.5

Racism is a very serious issue that affects many people's lives. It is an issue that people need to realize the effect it has on this world. Racist people are destroying the world everyday by hatred towards another race. In To Kill A Mockingbird, racism is found in the town of Maycomb which affected the people greatly. Racism is clearly shown

to originate from the lack of knowledge and understanding of people of a different race. For example, in this book, Tom Robinson was put on trial for something he didn't do, and was found guilty. Then, Atticus is being called racist names and receives no support from the majority of the people of Maycomb County with the exception of a few. Atticus gets a lot of criticism for trying to defend a black person. Finally, the fact that whites and

blacks would have nothing to do with each other is pure racism.

In To Kill A Mockingbird, the case is between an innocent black man, Tom Robinson, and a white man, Mr. Bob Ewell. Tom, being black, didn't have much of a chance to prove that he was innocent. Everyone knew that, but having an all white jury didn't help the situation either. The judge is polling the jury:

"Guilty...guilty...guilty...guilty..." {211} Tom was found guilty. Not guilty because of the evidence, but guilty because of his race. Tom was sent to jail for a crime he did not commit. All because a cruel white man accused him of something horrible he did to his daughter. Back then if it was a white man's word against a black man's, the white man always won. It doesn't matter what the situation is. In this case, everyone knew Tom Robinson wasn't guilty, but no one would help him. Even...