The Great Depression, a severe economic downturn in the 1930s, deeply impacted the lives of Americans, especially in the South. Many lost their jobs and homes, leading to widespread poverty and desperation. This economic hardship is reflected in the novel, as many characters, including the protagonist Atticus Finch, struggle to make ends meet. The Depression serves as a backdrop for the racial tensions and injustices depicted in the story, highlighting the inequalities and struggles faced by African Americans in the South. The Scottsboro Boys case was a landmark event in the Civil Rights Movement, involving nine African American teenagers falsely accused of raping two white women in Alabama in 1931. The case highlighted the deep-seated racism and …show more content…
This cultural renaissance had a profound impact on American society and influenced the themes and style of many writers of the time, including Harper Lee. The Harlem Renaissance's celebration of African American culture and its call for racial pride and equality likely influenced Lee's portrayal of African American characters in To Kill a Mockingbird, particularly the character of Calpurnia, the Finch family's African American housekeeper, who is depicted as strong, intelligent, and dignified. To Kill a Mockingbird relates to the case of Emmett Till in how it deals with racism and injustice. Just like in the book, Emmett Till, a 14-year-old African American boy, was brutally killed in 1955 for allegedly flirting with a white woman in Mississippi. This event shocked the nation and became a symbol of the violence and racism African Americans faced in the South. Similarly, in To Kill a Mockingbird, the trial of Tom Robinson, a black man falsely accused of raping a white woman, highlights the racism and prejudice in the legal system. Both the case of Emmett