Adam Pelotte
Mrs. Walsh
Honors Freshman English
June 2nd 2023
The novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” written by Harper Lee is a historical fiction novel about a young girl's childhood growing up in a racist town. The novel is very good when it comes to teaching students about the parasitic infestation of racism throughout the South during the Jim Crow time period. One very clear point the novel makes is that young children growing up will reflect their society's views and common practices. Not only that but the novel shows how deep-rooted racism was, so much so that there was a social hierarchy created and those who were on the bottom knew their lowness on the totem pole.
First of all because the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” is from the perspective of a child we understand that the children who grow up with embedded racism, reflect their society's views. A fine example of this in modern times is how a kid who watches a lot of violence from a young age
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An example of this is when Scout and Jem go to Calpurnia church and Lula tries to kick them out. “White chillun here—they got their church, we got our’n. It is our church, ain't it, Miss Cal” (Lee 136)? Lula a member of an African American church in Maycomb has accepted these Jim Crow standards and knows that they shouldn't have white children there in case some of the townfolk walking by see them. Another good example of the society's hierarchy is whilst Jem talks and says “But around here once you have a drop of N**** blood, that makes you all black” (Lee 184). Jem again understands the clear difference in the hierarchy and once someone in your family has African blood you become lower in the social status. Jem realizes this but doesn't seem to be bothered by the fact that is a custom in the county. Lastly, when Scout is talking with Dill he is expressing his sadness about the way they are treating Tom and Scout