From Martin Luther King to Nelson Mandela and many more in between, people have tried to encourage the condemnation of prejudice. Harper Lee and Mildred D. Taylor have tried to do this using the medium of the novel. Many people would feel that the books could be set in the 19th century due to the significance of the prejudice and racism involved. They are actually set in the 1930s and, whilst these childhood accounts were written in the second half of the 20th century, the prejudice still existed at the time of writing and still occurs in inexcusable amounts today. Throughout both books, there are many instances where characters endure or cause suffering due to their unreasonable prejudice. The authors use some similar and some differing techniques to persuade us, the reader, that the only option is to condemn prejudice in our society.
"Roll of thunder, Hear My Cry" portrays a young girl, Cassie's, black family who are constantly jeered at by white people, who think that, simply due to the fact that they are white, they are better than any black person.
Martin Luther King leaning on a lectern. Deutsch: ...
Me & U (Cassie song)
English: Euan CassieThey are even spiteful towards Little-Man, who is only a very small boy "enveloping him in a scarlet haze while laughing white faces pressed against the bus windows." The young white school children, who are mainly below ten, already have the opinion that they are better than any member of the black race. It is repugnant, that these young people, who are only just going to school, already believe that they are better than even the wisest, oldest, black person. They must have inherited this prejudice from their parents as young children are not naturally prejudiced. A society portrayed in such a sickening manner, is obviously designed to condemn prejudice.
Even the Government system of the southern...
Roll of Thunder
a useful write up!
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