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Effects Of Racism In To Kill A Mockingbird

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Effects of Racism in To Kill a Mockingbird
"In America, there is an institutional racism that we all inherit and participate in, like breathing the air in this room… and we have to become sensitive to it." This quote by Henry Louis Gates gives us an insight to underlying racism, which along with overt racism affects the events in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. A captivating tale set in the Deep South, portrays the world of injustice through a blossoming young girl while her father, a local lawyer, seek the innocence of a black man wrongfully accused of rape. The effects of racism are seen in events such as the trial, the Dolphus Raymond situation, and the ostracizing of Atticus and his kids. Racism in the novel affects the way they interact …show more content…

This event is a clear depiction of racism and its effects on the choices people make and their interactions with others. The beginning of the trial, immediately, shows the normality of racism in their everyday life when the first witness, Mr. Tate, casually, uses a slur to refer to Tom. "…said he get out of his house quick, some nigger'd raped his girl (190)." Moving on later in the trial, Scout is telling the reader why Tom's actions and response to his situation are justifiable, "…he would not strike a white women under any circumstances and expect to live long so he took the first opportunity to run…(221)" This instance, along with Tom’s response to Atticus, "Mister Finch if you were a nigger like me you'd be scared, too (222)," illustrates his predicament. Tom's reaction are the product of his understandings of how things are. Therefore, he would never entertain the thought of self-defense against a white women, nor would he stick around in a situation as such. The trial also includes a quote from Tom where he says, "Yes, suh, I felt right sorry for her, she seemed to try more'n the most-(224)." To which Mr. Gilmer, the solicitor, responds incredulously since in society, it is impermissible for a black person to show a white person compassion or to feel sorry for them. Tom violated social boundaries when he openly stated that he felt sorry for a white women. Significant details were provided in

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When Tom went to trial many people were against him due to the fact that he was a black male. Harper Lee gives an example by stating how scared Tom was “ Mr. Finch if you was a nigger like me, you’d be scared too.” pg.261. Judge Taylor tells the report to get rid of somethings Tom said. Mr.Gilmer tried making one of Tom’s old misdemeanors sound like

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