ipl-logo

Jim Crow To Kill A Mockingbird Essay

1089 Words5 Pages

Nick Emond
Mr. Varga
Eng 10
4 May 2023

Jim Crow/"To Kill a Mockingbird" Essay

Racism was one of the biggest problems in the United States in the mid 20th century. It was the strongest in the southern states such as Alabama, Georgia and Louisiana. There were laws in place that made racial segregation legal called the Jim Crow Laws. These laws limited the freedoms and opportunities of African Americans living in these states. Under these laws African Americans were unable to vote and had to use completely different buildings, parks and restrooms than whites. The discrimination that was shown towards African Americans didn’t stop at legal segregation. Lynching was used by groups of white people to scare blacks and show their superiority. …show more content…

The laws made it legal for places to be racially segregated. Everything from theaters and restaurants to water fountains and elevators were segregated. Whites took all the nice areas and pushed African Americans out to the poverty ridden areas. This caused people to take action. Charlotte Brown for example made a black school in North Carolina so African American students could get a good education. Charlotte wasn’t the only person who took a stand against these laws, Ida Wells refused to leave a first-class train car that was for white people. Not everyone was as brave as these two though. Lynching was a huge problem during this time and many African Americans were scared to do something that might upset the whites. This created a culture of fear which stopped African Americans from trying to live normal …show more content…

Bob Ewell for example accused Tom Robinson of raping his daughter because he knew that it would be an easy case for him and with no evidence, everyone in the town believes him. Robinson is arrested with no investigation and is placed on trial. Atticus on the other hand, defends Robinson showing he is not like every other white person in the town and does not believe in this racist ideology that blacks are inferior to whites. Another example of Jim Crow attitudes is shown when a mob of whites drive to where Robinson is staying before the trial. They try to lynch him before the trial could start. The mob being led by Mr. Cunningham wanted to kill Robinson because they believe that whites can do whatever they want to blacks with no punishment. They are stopped however by Atticus who is staying outside the door of the building where Robinson is at. His attitudes towards the Jim Crow laws are shown to be passed down to Jean when she arrives at the building and starts talking to Mr. Cunningham which leads to the mob

Show More
Related
1367 Words | 6 Pages

They were treated poorly, especially with the introduction of the Klu Klux Klan, which included many people who killed and assaulted innocent African Americans. People with the white supremacy mindset would not allow African Americans to enjoy the rights given to them in the Civil Rights bill and the fourteenth amendment, and they were forced to live in fear. This is shown in a petition written by African Americans in Georgia, who requested federal protection as the 1867 election approached. They wrote, “Men have been knocked down and unmercifully beaten and yet the authorities do not notice it at all. We would open a school here, but are almost afraid to do so, not knowing that we have any protection for life or limb” (Document E).

Read More
1586 Words | 7 Pages

All of the uproar and fighting for this case was caused by the strength and unity of the black community. By staying strong and sticking up for themselves, they were able to win more equality in court as well as contribute to the spark that began the Civil Rights Movement. During the Great Depression, the government tried to create plans to aid citizens through the hard times. While this somewhat helped most citizens, African Americans were neglected and not able to reap as many benefits from these plans. At the same time, they refused to outlaw popular hate crimes used against blacks.

Read More
909 Words | 4 Pages

Blacks and whites were separated and couldn't do anything together. While most argued that that this law was unconstitutional, some just obeyed the laws and went on with life as if it was nothing , even though everyone knew that this was unfair . Most of the blacks were harassed by laws,

Read More
1299 Words | 6 Pages

Along with the segregation, blacks were subject to poll taxes, literacy tests, and grandfather clauses which basically took away their rights to vote. ("Jim Crow and Plessy v. Ferguson"). Plessy v. Ferguson was supposed to be a case in which the blacks finally secured equality to whites. Instead of this, it seemed to have taken a step back into a horrible time in which everything was separate, but nothing was

Read More
796 Words | 4 Pages

It made sure blacks knew that they weren’t equal with whites. Some African Americans tried to resist these laws. They would protest, march, conduct boycotts, and many other things. And most of them would pay for their braveness with their

Read More
1025 Words | 5 Pages

One of the many factors that influenced Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is the Jim Crow laws. The laws were harsh constraints for African Americans, placed in the southern United States during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, which promoted the separation of races publicly. These laws were passed to

Read More
1063 Words | 5 Pages

This took African Americans rights away and white supremacy became restored. Jim Crow laws were created as a way to legalize racial segregation. They were invented after the Civil War and they were created to marginalize African Americans by getting rid of some of their opportunities, such as getting hired for jobs, preventing them from voting, and receiving an education. Some people would try to speak against Jim Crow laws would get arrested, receive fines, get sentenced to jail, or face violence or death. …...….The

Read More
337 Words | 2 Pages

They had to find a way to convince the government to change its mind about racial equality. Jim Crow laws mistreated black people. Here are some examples: black people could not marry white people, and black people could not be in the same place as white people. For instance, a black person couldn’t be in a white person's bathroom (Encyclopedia Britannica).

Read More
569 Words | 3 Pages

Harper Lee's iconic novel 'To Kill a Mockingbird' has long been hailed as a classic of American literature. While it was written in a different era, its themes and characterizations continue to resonate in contemporary society. This essay argues for the enduring relevance of the novel's plot and characters, demonstrating how its exploration of racial injustice, moral courage, and the loss of innocence remains compelling and thought-provoking in today's world. Paragraph 1: Racial Injustice as a Timeless Concern

Read More
803 Words | 4 Pages

Harper Lee’s 1960 novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, is a dive into some very essential life lessons, such as having empathy and humanity for others. Narrated by Jean Louise, better known as Scout Finch throughout the novel. She is a young girl who is on her journey to discover the cruelty and corruption of the justice system. How despite a black person's innocence being proven, their skin will always outlaw it. Unfortunately, Tom Robison and Boo Radley will be no exception to society bias.

Read More
1460 Words | 6 Pages

To Kill A Mockingbird The thought of growing up from a young child's perspective, is something all children look forward to. However, when a child finally begins to actually grow up, it’s not what they pictured it to be when they were younger. For almost all children, growing up is a difficulty. Discovering the adult world is not what they had in mind.

Read More
1492 Words | 6 Pages

They had no right to vote and were openly discriminated against. Even after the bill they were still discriminated against. President Johnson worked to secure rights for all Americans before and after he became President of the United States. Once the bill was signed they were given more rights, but many states and local governments did not enforce them. Black Americans were abused, taunted and forced to use separate bathrooms, parks, and schools.

Read More
948 Words | 4 Pages

The novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” is a bildungsroman which means the characters are coming of age and they develop maturity throughout the novel. In To Kill a Mockingbird the main character and Narrator scout has one brother named Jem, their father Atticus and their cook Calpurnia. They lived in Maycomb County Alabama in the 1930’s during the depression so everyone lacks money. In Maycomb there is prejudice and injustice shown toward the black population of Maycomb. Jem Scout and their friend Dill develop an interest in their neighbor Boo Radley, who has never stepped foot outside and no one knows what he looks like.

Read More
561 Words | 3 Pages

An angry mob of men intimidates Atticus since he is protecting the cell of Tom Robinson. Scout remembers an important lesson her father has taught her, if she ever wanted to become a lawyer: single out someone and talk with him by his name. During the event, Scout speaks firmly to Mr. Cunningham, asking about Walter, who is his son. Scout’s conversation with Mr. Cunningham makes the man understand Atticus’s position, since Atticus is also a father and who has in the past helped him before in various cases. After Scout’s daring event, the men leave Tom

Read More
796 Words | 4 Pages

The new laws that the government had set in place made lives for black people very difficult at the time. When this law was put in place, the differences between blacks and whites were very clear. Whites got preferential treatment, just for being white whereas blacks had to struggle with daily

Read More

More about Jim Crow To Kill A Mockingbird Essay

Related Topics

Open Document