8th Amendment In To Kill A Mockingbird

In order to understand the Eighth Amendment and how it pertains to To Kill A Mockingbird, one needs to understand the unjust ways the death penalty was implemented in the 1930’s with minority groups, especially African Americans. To this day, some still argue over whether the death penalty is discriminating towards African Americans and other minority groups or if it is even constitutional. In the novel, Atticus Finch, a white man, accepts the challenge of defending a black man, Tom Robinson for the accusation of raping and beating a white woman. Atticus is aware of the challenges he will face to persuade the judge and jury that Tom Robinson is innocent, as well as the backlash he and his family will be subjected to as a result of defending a black man. For example Atticus’ kids, Jem and Scout, were getting treated differently because “...Scout Finch’s daddy defended niggers.” (Lee 99). This novel pertains specifically to an African American man, but many different minority groups are still penalized in our current justice system from the color of their skin. The Eighth Amendment as it pertains to the 1930’s in To Kill a Mockingbird and the Eighth Amendment in the 1960’s are important

Even though the justice system has evolved, people such as African Americans are still judged based on the color of their skin, their country of origin, or their religion. This book has thrived through the 1930’s and the 1960’s and continues to portray an important message today which is why it is so successful. The Eighth Amendment in To Kill A Mockingbird highlights important issues such as putting a stop to cruel and unusual punishments, and dictating excessive fines and excessive bail. Will there ever be a day where the Tom Robinsons in the world will see the Eighth Amendment apply to