How Does Atticus Use Prejudice In To Kill A Mockingbird

In To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, racism and prejudices alter some of the characters’ views on the black characters. The novel is set in a 1930’s southern town of Maycomb where for decades racism has been deeply ingrained in the town. In Maycomb blacks as well as the individuals who associated with them were viewed as second rate people. An ongoing trope within the novel is the expression ‘a white man’s word against a black man’s’. Atticus says this to state that black people are just scapegoats to white men like Bob Ewells. Atticus knows that the majority of the town has already judged Tom simply because he is black. Atticus also knows that the people of Maycomb won't accept blacks overnight, but he is confident that it's an important

"Atticus, are we going to win it? -No, honey.” “Then why—” “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win,” Atticus said. (Pg. 75) Since racial hatred has been in the town of Maycomb for a long time, as Atticus's reference to being 'licked a hundred years before we started', the outcome is the same for any case like Tom’s. Atticus knows that the majority of the town has already judged Tom simply because he is black. Atticus also knows that the people of Maycomb won't accept blacks overnight, but he is confident that it’s an important step for them to accept them as people. What Atticus says emphasizes the disturbing truth that prejudices usually do win, but he also highlights the significance of attempting to battle

As demonstrated at Tom's trial where things don't always work out this way. Tom is convicted even when the evidence seems to point to him being innocent. Atticus tries to attempt to explain to Jem that prejudices can sometimes distort people’s thinking so that they can't think rationally. “There’s something in our world that makes men lose their heads—they couldn’t be fair if they tried. In our courts, when it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always wins. They’re ugly, but those are the facts of life.” (Pg. 224) Atticus openly makes the point that, when racial hatred take over, reason counts for nothing, and people 'lose their heads'. This is shown when the mob arrives at the jail intent on lynching Tom. It also shows the injustice of the justice system at Tom’s trial, and In our courts, when it's a white man's word against a black man's, the white man always