How Does Atticus Show Social Justice In To Kill A Mockingbird

From the late 1870s through the mid-1960s, Jim Crow laws affected many African Americans. With these laws, blacks were given very limited rights and were often victims of unfair judgment. In Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch, a highly educated lawyer, gets a case where he needs to defend a black man named Tom Robinson. Atticus faces many challenges, including judgment from the white community in his town and questions from his kids about the trial. Atticus demonstrates moral integrity, bravery, and empathy in response to conflict, which connects to the idea that one should achieve social justice by following morals, taking a stand when no one else will, and understanding other people’s perspectives. To start, Atticus’s

For instance, while Atticus and Scout discuss the talk of the trial at Scout’s school, he further explains the trial. Scout questions why Atticus defends Tom. He explains his reasoning for choosing to support him: “ ‘The main one is, if I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again’ ”(100). Atticus knows justice will be upheld by defending Tom. He knows that if he did not defend Tom, he would no longer maintain self-respect since he knows a man’s life is at stake. This characterization shows how Atticus follows the morally right thing, compared to the socially right thing. He displays empathy by acknowledging the fact that he will be judged, but chooses to defend Tom anyway because he would rather follow what is right than be socially accepted. Additionally, Atticus

Specifically, Atticus says this during his closing statements to the jury: “ ‘But this is a truth that applies to the human race and to no particular race of men. There is not a person in this courtroom who has never told a lie who has never done an immortal thing…’ ” (273). Atticus humanizes Tom and instead of recognizing everyone’s differences, he explains how every man is equal in the sense that everyone makes mistakes. He emphasizes the idea that everyone should be judged fairly. He explains how it is not fair to Tom that just because he is black, he is unjustly accused of something. Atticus understands and tries to point out the fact that if it was a white man in Tom’s position, the jury would have a different opinion on the situation. Atticus displays a prime example of how someone should try to achieve social justice, even when the situation is unfair. Also, while saying his statements, Atticus exclaims how Tom felt sorry for a white woman, Mayella, and that he had been forced to put his own word against two white people. Here, Atticus reinforces the thought of how this jury is unfair to Tom. Tom, a black man, has to state his side of the story in front of two white men. Atticus knows Tom will not be rightfully listened to. He represents a brave character by standing up against