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Calpurnia Racism Quotes

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To Kill a Mockingbird The novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee is set to place in the 1930’s, right in the middle of the Great Depression. During the time period, there was great prejudice, which is shown greatly in the courtroom with Tom Robinson. A scene in the movie shows Calpurnia sitting in the backseat of a car while Atticus is driving and the passenger seat is available for her to sit. Even though the passenger side is available Calpurnia chooses to sit in the back seat. Atticus does not tell her to sit in the back but he does not offer her the front either. Some people believe that this is considered an act of racism, however, it seems to just be an act that occurs naturally to them. People during this time period did not believe …show more content…

She believes that the way they act is a result from Calpurnia being such a major part of their life. Alexandra tries to tell Scout that she is not allowed to go to Calpurnia’s house, Scout quickly objects saying how she asked Atticus, not Alexandra. Atticus scolds Scout telling her she has to listen to both Alexandra and Calpurnia, but later in private politely talks to Alexandra about how he believes Calpurnia should be in the kids lives. He is polite and calm, setting down a rule while still respecting Alexandra, even if he does not believe what she is saying (Lee 106). His politeness shows that he is not racist, he is a very understanding person, not someone that would put someone in a backseat to be …show more content…

Atticus easily could have tried to blow the case by not trying to set Tom Robinson free, instead, he tries to his fullest to make sure Tom sees the free world again. Atticus brings up many valid points that prove Tom’s innocence, the biggest one being how Tom is unable to use his left hand, which should have won the case. Except, Tom says he feels sorry for the girl that he supposedly “raped,” this is where they lost the case. It is considered wrong for a black man to feel sorry for white women. Why would he feel sorry for her, she has it so much better than he does. Even when Atticus realizes they lost the case he still goes out of his way to try and prove Tom’s innocence. Most people would have given up when they saw they lost, some would not have even made it through the beginning of the case, but, Atticus put in the time and effort that was needed for him to attempt to prove Tom’s innocence. Why would he put in so much effort for a black man but still show racism towards someone that he considers

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468 Words | 2 Pages

Since their mother pasted away, Atticus seems to not know what to do with the children. Due to this, he hires Calpurnia. She acts almost like the mother figure who dresses Scout. She also disciplines the children and attempts to teach them proper manners. Toward the end of the story, due to life threatening events, Atticus’ becomes closer with his children.

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1128 Words | 5 Pages

I am reading To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee and I am on page 207. So far this book is about Jem, Scout, and Atticus, as they are in constant conflicts with themselves and others. They are they are trying to realize what is wrong. Most of the conflict is coming from the Tom Robinson case aftermath, and judgement being cast upon the Finch's, because Atticus took the case. This section has also included Aunt Alexandra, who is trying to help make Scout and Jem better people, but she ultimately makes things worse.

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443 Words | 2 Pages

Calpurnia and Atticus are characters who behave like other people expect them to behave. First, Calpurnia code switches when she goes to church. She says she has to do this because then other will think she is “better” or “too good” for them in a derogatory way. She is expected to behave a certain way to be able to “fit in” and blend among others. Also, when Atticus is speaking to the jurors, he makes himself comfortable to get on the level of others.

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620 Words | 3 Pages

Calpurnia serves as an amazing role model and mother figure to the children, and yet Aunt Alexandra wants to fire her. She had raised Jem and Scout, and plays an indispensable part of their lives, showering them with discipline, structure, and love. Aunt Alexandra, however, barely existed in the children 's lives up until she moved into the Finch’s home, yet she inflicts great injustice on Calpurnia by failing to recognize the necessitous part of the family that Calpurnia fills. Scout even overhears Aunt Alexandra saying, "...you 've got to do something about her. You 've let things go on too long Atticus, too long.

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1021 Words | 5 Pages

Atticus also takes on defending an African American. Not many people would do this back then people they were racist and rude. When Atticus took on this case he knew that they didn’t have a shot at winning, but he took it on anyway because he knew it was the right thing to do. The town was rude and disrespectful to Atticus, but Atticus never backed down. Atticus also did his best to defend Tom and overall with all the evidence Tom should not have been guilty.

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641 Words | 3 Pages

Many people in the community assumed that Tom was guilty solely because he was black. Atticus knew this mentality was wrong. He felt confident to defend Tom even though he knew that the jury would probably find him guilty, simply based on his skin color. Throughout the trial, Scout and Jem observed and noticed their father’s courage, integrity, and honorable qualities. Nevertheless, he knew he had to try and change the way society viewed black people.

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1140 Words | 5 Pages

Within the movie To Kill a Mockingbird a man named Atticus Finch lived with his two children, Scout and Jem during the Great Depression. Within the movie we see that Calpurnia, the housemaid, being treated as an equal individual to the other member of the house. The only time we ever see Calpurnia being treated differently is when she is being brought home by Atticus with Calpurnia sitting in the back of the car. This raises questions as to why Atticus won’t allow her to sit up front. Also Atticus could have had Calpurnia sit in the back in fear of what would happen to his family.

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707 Words | 3 Pages

He tells Scout, “Scout, Simply by work, every lawyer gets at least one case in his lifetime that affects him personally. This one is mine, I guess. You might hear some ugly talk about it at school, but do one thing for me if you will: you just hold your head up and keep your fist down no matter what anyone says to you.” Atticus knows this case might draw people to say ugly things about his family and possibly want to bring harm to them. By doing this, he is emphasizing Tom because he understands his situation and is choosing to defend him despite his race, nor yet jumping to a conclusion and declaring the man guilty because it is the right thing to

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1131 Words | 5 Pages

Understand?’” (pg.136). The most important or relevant time that Atticus sticks up for his belief that Calpurnia deserves the utmost respect no matter her skin color is when Aunt Alexandra tells him she thinks Calpurnia shouldn't live with them and be around the children. Atticus says: “Alexandra, Calpurina’s not leaving this house until she wants to. You may think otherwise, but I couldn't have got along without her all these years’”

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888 Words | 4 Pages

Even if Atticus can’t win the trial he fights hard because he wants to be a role model to Jem and Scout. Atticus believes Tom is a mockingbird, meaning his innocent and a victim of racism. For him to take the case makes sense.

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768 Words | 4 Pages

He was trying to help out Mayella Ewell by gathering firewood and chopping dressers because he felt sorry for her, but was accused of rape because of his color. On page 87, Atticus said that “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win.” He was trying to help those who are innocent and in need, and even though he knew that he was going to lose the case, he wanted to try. Atticus hoped to better the lives of the mockingbird-like African-Americans in the South, so he attempted to help an innocent and helpless Tom to the best of his ability. Also, Tom’s crippled left arm is proof that he did not attack Mayella, however, he is accused because of his color.

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983 Words | 4 Pages

Atticus understands that she acts that way because of her old age and doesn’t look down upon her. Atticus performs another act of tolerance when he states, “You never really knew a man until you stood in his shoes and walk around in them” (Lee 374), as he emphasizes to his kids not to judge Boo Radley until they actually meet him. Scout and Jem thought Boo Radley portrays a monster figure until Scout actually meets him, he displays such kindness and gentleness. This shows how Atticus exists to be right, and the kids make assumptions about Boo without even knowing him. Atticus shows tolerance when he stands up for Calpurnia in front of Aunt Alexandra, “Calpurnia’s not leaving this house until she wants to.

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1317 Words | 6 Pages

Furthermore he defends a black man in court. At the time (and maybe still even now) Maycomb, Alabama, is from our perspective a really racist county, and in this culture it takes a lot of courage to go against the tide and not to judge a black man merely of his skin colour or origin, but instead to put his worries before ones own. Most people in Maycomb, who believe black Tom Robinson is innocent, also believe that there is no chance of winning the case and they lack the courage to risk getting a bad reputation with nothing to gain from it. Atticus is probably the only one whose moral views forbid him to look

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1591 Words | 7 Pages

Throughout the whole trial there are multiple times when anyone who reads the novel knows that he is not getting a fair shake. The first time is when Atticus delivers his closing remarks and he says something that is very powerful and also very true about the case and Tom receiving an unfair trial, “To begin with, this case should never have come to trial. This case is as simple as black and white” (Lee 203). What Atticus explains is that no matter how plain it is to everyone that Tom is innocent and could not have commited the crime, it does not matter because one thing is certain, Tom is black. And the jury being white means he has no chance at winning, it’s truly sad, but during the time of the trial that 's just how society works.

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450 Words | 2 Pages

In my opinion that is truly unfair. It makes sense as to why Atticus decided to defend Tom Robinson. He continuously tries to find the good in everyone and believes that the black community contains good people. Atticus had mentioned to his brother, Jack, that Tom was innocent but “doomed”. It was impossible

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