How Does Tom Robinson Have A Fair Trial

Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” is set in a small Southern United States community called Maycomb during the Great Depression era. The whole book primarily revolves around segregation and racism and how it relates to Maycomb’s history. It eventually leads to the trial of Tom Robinson where he is accused of beating up Mayella Ewell. Even though it was clear that Tom Robinson did not do anything wrong he was convicted guilty by an all white jury because he was black. The trial of Tom Robinson and its verdict shows an example of how segregation in the court system prevents fair trials from occurring. In Maycomb, a black man named Tom Robinson is on trial for beating up Mayella Ewell. From the beginning Mr. Robinson never really received

Tom Robinson is already considered guilty because he is black. When Mr. Ewell comes up for his testimony, he was already showing his prejudice feelings about black people in Maycomb. Bob Ewell says, “-I seen that black nigger yonder ruttin’ on my Mayella” (173). This quote shows the anger Bob Ewell feels and how his racism contributes to that. When Mayella Ewell gives her testimony she is really angry because Atticus is questioning her about the assault. Mayella feels guilty about being attracted to a black man because it is not accepted in society at the time. She gets upset when Atticus shows the jury that she is lying about being attacked by Tom Robinson. Mayella says, “I got somethin’ to say an’ then I ain’t gonna say no more. that nigger yonder took advantage of me an’ if you fine fancy gentlemen don’t wanta do nothin’ about it then you’re all yellow stinkin’ cowards, the lot of you. Your fancy airs don’t come to nothin’-your ma’amin’ and Miss Mayellerin’ don’t come to nothin’, Mr. Finch-” (188). This quote shows Mayella’s reaction to Atticus’ questioning about the assault. When Tom Robinson gives his testimony the prosecutor, Mr. Gilmer asks him why he helped Mayella. Tom says that he felt sorry for Mayella Ewell. Tom Robinson said, “ Yes, suh. I felt right sorry for her, she seemed to try more’n the rest of ‘em-” (197). This quote shows the sorrowness in Tom Robinson for

This reflected the lack of power that black people had at the time. The court was segregated in terms of where people would sit. The white people could sit in the lower main area of the courthouse while blacks had to sit in the balcony area. The Negroes, having waited for the white people to go upstairs, began to come in. “Whoa now, just a minute, just don’t start up them there stairs yet awhile” (163). This represents the unfairness to blacks in the courtroom.The jury in this trial are all white males. It is informed that “The jury sat to the left, under long windows. Sunburned, lanky, they seemed to be all farmers” (164). This quote is important because it showed the unfairness of the trial. The trial was unfair because it shows the unfair racial mixture of the town of Maycomb. Also, a jury of all white males would not be good for a black person because what I mentioned earlier stated that someone should get a fair trial from their