Racism is something everyone views in a different way and Harper Lee touched base on it in To Kill a Mockingbird. Racism got Tom Robinson falsely charged with rape. His case was extremely unfair because many people were against him due to the fact that he was a black male. In the end, Tom Robinson was killed unlawfully.
In to Kill a Mockingbird Tom Robinson was falsely charged with the rape of Mayella. Some believed her father was the one who hit her and she was just trying to cover for him. Tom Robinson did not lie when he told his side of the story. Tom told his side of the story in which Harper Lee says “No suh, she- she hugged me. She hugged me round the waist…” Mr. Finch then asked “Then what did she do?” Tom responds with “She reached up an kissed me side of th’ face.” Mr. Finch then asks Tom, “Tom did you rape Mayella Ewell?” Tom responded “I did not suh” pg. 259-260.
When Tom went to trial many people were against him due to the fact that he was a black male. Harper Lee gives an example by stating how scared Tom was “ Mr. Finch if you was a nigger like me, you’d be scared too.” pg.261. Judge Taylor tells the report to get rid of somethings Tom said. Mr.Gilmer tried making one of Tom’s old misdemeanors sound like
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Tom’s verdict was guilty. If Tom loses his appeal he will be sent to the chair but at this point he still had a chance. Jem does not think Tom should be sent to the chair Harper Lee shows this by saying “yes sir but the jury didn’t have to give him death- if they wanted to they could’ve gave him 20 years.” Atticus then said “Tom Robinson's a colored man, Jem. No jury in the part of the world is going to say, We think you’re guilty but not very.’ on a charge like that.” pg. 294. During an exercise period in the jail Tom was shot 17 times. Tom would not have tried to escape if his case was fair and he did not get charged with anything, because he wouldn’t have been in