Comparison Of To Kill A Mocking Bird And Civil Rights Movement

The resistance against racism imposed by the white community in United States has often been a controversial issue since the establishment of the nation. The novel To Kill A Mocking Bird by Harper Lee and the Civil Rights Movement are two different representatives in the fight against racism during the 1950s and 1960s. Although Civil Rights Movement and Atticus Finch in To Kill A Mocking Bird both resist against racial inequality in United States, African American activists during Civil Rights Movement use speeches and legal system to defend for the good of the whole community, while Atticus Finch uses the same strategy to defend only for an individual.
In To Kill A Mocking Bird, the protagonist, Atticus Finch, makes speeches in the court

Atticus believes that his defendant’s innocence will be examined by justice, so he gathers strong evidence to prove the jury that Tom Robinson is not guilty. During the trial, Atticus required Bob Ewell, the plaintiff, “‘Would you write your name for us? Clearly now, so the jury can see you do it.’ Mr. Ewell wrote on the back of the envelope and looked up complacently to see Judge Taylor staring at him as if he were some fragrant gardenia in full bloom on the witness stand” (Lee 237). The purpose of Atticus’ requirement is to demonstrate that Mr. Ewell is left-handed. Why is Judge Taylor so astonished? The reason is, according to the plot, the real sinner is strongly suspected to be left-handed, which means Mr. Ewell is probably guilty. Atticus is trying to make the judge and the jury to realize that it is not Tom Robinson but the plaintiff who has committed the crime. Atticus hopes the jury would follow the idea of justice and make the correct decision after being exposed to such firmed evidence. However, though Tom Robinson was convicted at the end of the trial, Atticus still anticipated that the legal system would testify the truth. When his children were complaining about the jury’s ridiculous decision, Atticus comforted, “It’s not time to worry yet. We’re not through yet. There’ll be an appeal, you can count on that” (Lee 285). Atticus reveals that he can use the appeal as another opportunity to reverse the verdict. He strongly believes that justice will finally overturn racism and certify Robinson as an innocent man. In comparison, African Americans during Civil Rights Movement use legal system to defend for the whole black community. In 1951, Oliver Brown sued against the Board of Education of Topeka for denying his daughter’s entrance to an all-white