The novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee explores the segregated town of Maycomb, Alabama, and reveals the cruel realities of injustice faced by African Americans. Shown specifically by the character Tom Robinson, an African American who lives in Maycomb. Despite his proven innocence, Tom Robinson was falsely accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white woman. Among Maycomb’s corrupt legal system, Bob Ewell’s accusations, and eventually, the societal advantage of white privilege. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird suggests that racial prejudice influences the injustices Tom Robinson and his family experienced. The novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee explores the segregated town of Maycomb, Alabama, and reveals the cruel realities of injustice …show more content…
Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird suggests that racial prejudice influenced the injustices Tom Robinson and his family experienced. Maycomb’s corrupt legal system contributed to the unfair trial and conviction of Tom Robinson, a black man who was falsely accused of raping a white woman. As the Tom Robinson’s trial began, it was visible that there were no black jury members. During Tom Robinson’s trial, Jem Finch asks his father Atticus “why don’t people like us and Miss Maudie ever sit on juries? You never see anybody from Maycomb on a jury—they all come from out in the woods” (Lee, 181). This quote refers to the lack of representation of Maycomb community members on the juries. In addition, the phrase “they all come from out in the woods” (Lee, 181) suggests that the jurors came from less populated areas and rural communities that are likely to have less diverse backgrounds with very few to no colored members. Because of this, there is no jury representing African Americans, and this can lead to bias within the verdict. Ironically, there is also no fair legal council for black people in