Racism And Prejudice In To Kill A Mockingbird

Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird leads the reader through the deep south. As the main character, Scout progresses throughout the story she comes across many cases of racism and prejudice within her small town of Maycomb County, Alabama in the 1930’s. Throughout the novel, Scout progresses from being an innocent child unaware of the racism within her town. As her eyes open, she learns about the town's discrimination against people of color.
During the beginning of the novel, Scout is an innocent child unaware of the racism and prejudice within her small town. As Jem was exploring with his air-rifle to find a rabbit or squirrel he comes across a dog that has rabies and everyone calls it a “mad dog”. After all the commotion Atticus kills

While at Mrs. Debose's house, Scout asks what a n-word-lover is. Directly after that Atticus asks if people were calling Scout this, she denied this and Atticus says, “n*****-lover is one of those terms that don’t mean anything-like snot-nose. It's hard to explain-ignorant trashy people use it when they think somebody's favoring N****es over and above themselves. It slipped into usage like ourselves, when they want a common ugly label somebody’” (Lee, 112). This is one of Scout's first times encountering the n-word. After Atticus explains the meaning and usage of the word she learns that it is not good to speak that type of language. Furthermore she starts to develop an understanding of how racism and prejudice affects those of

As the court hearing was taking place, the jury convicts Tom Robbison guilty, then Atticus leaves the room. Scout thinks, “I looked around. They were standing. All around us in the balcony on the opposite wall, the N****es were getting to their feet. Reverend Sykes’ voice was as distant as Judge Taylor's: ‘Miss Jean Loise, stand up. Your father’s passin’” (Lee, 215). As they stood up, they were showing their respect towards Atticus and his dedication to show Tom Robinson's innocence. Scout notices this and realizes the importance of his efforts towards this case, and comprehends that the jury, judge, and witnesses are falsely accusing Tom Robbison. Scout encounters many different cases of racism and prejudice, her understanding of racism is deeper after all of these different instances within the