Prejudice- Right or Wrong?
Prejudice and racism are two major issues that many people have to deal with in their lifetime. It can effect many different people in many different ways. Various thoughts and feelings are shown in the novel "To Kill A Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, which shows a small but a very racist town towards coloured people. In the book they convict a black, Tom Robinson, of doing something we know he didn't do but this was down to a white jury.
The book shows and puts across the true way in which the world works. It shows real life situations that any of us could be in, for instance the Tom Robinson case. Many of the characters are realistic in the way they react to Atticus supporting the blacks and the way they discriminate them as many people, even today, have done the same. The characters Jem and Scout, put forward the child's point of view. This view, however is still quite bigoted. The reason being is that they come from a background who have lived with a black and have never categorized them in any way. So they believe, due to Atticus fighting the case, that Tom Robinson is innocent and also try to take it into their own hands, by following Atticus down to the jail house one night for example, which not all people would do as everyone has their own opinion but this is a very good point in the book to show the way in which people react and live with the situation.
Racism has been a steady problem all through time. One of the most troublesome areas of racism is in places of education. Finding a cure for this would be a major step towards ending racism in general. No one has ever thought of a solution yet, so racism will be as strong for as long as there isn't one. For example, In the 1960's, the governor of Alabama, George Wallace, was a militant supporter of segregation. In 1963 two blacks, Vivian Jones and James Hood, sought admission to the traditionally segregated University of Alabama. According to legislation at the time, they had every right to go there; but since the governor was so anti-black and pro segregation, he didn't like it one bit. As the two black students prepared to enter the college, George Wallace stood in the doorway blocking their way, addressing the need for segregation. He refused to move, so the national guard was called in to restore order and admit Jones and Hood to the University of Alabama. This was an important moment in black history because it marked the first time a black person had been admitted into an all white college.
Prejudice and racism are two major issues that many people have to deal with in their lifetime. It can effect many different people in many different ways. Various thoughts and feelings are shown in the novel "To Kill A Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, which shows a small but a very racist town towards coloured people. In the book they convict a black, Tom Robinson, of doing something we know he didn't do but this was down to a white jury.
The book shows and puts across the true way in which the world works. It shows real life situations that any of us could be in, for instance the Tom Robinson case. Many of the characters are realistic in the way they react to Atticus supporting the blacks and the way they discriminate them as many people, even today, have done the same. The characters Jem and Scout, put forward the child's point of view. This view, however is still quite bigoted. The reason being is that they come from a background who have lived with a black and have never categorized them in any way. So they believe, due to Atticus fighting the case, that Tom Robinson is innocent and also try to take it into their own hands, by following Atticus down to the jail house one night for example, which not all people would do as everyone has their own opinion but this is a very good point in the book to show the way in which people react and live with the situation.
Racism has been a steady problem all through time. One of the most troublesome areas of racism is in places of education. Finding a cure for this would be a major step towards ending racism in general. No one has ever thought of a solution yet, so racism will be as strong for as long as there isn't one. For example, In the 1960's, the governor of Alabama, George Wallace, was a militant supporter of segregation. In 1963 two blacks, Vivian Jones and James Hood, sought admission to the traditionally segregated University of Alabama. According to legislation at the time, they had every right to go there; but since the governor was so anti-black and pro segregation, he didn't like it one bit. As the two black students prepared to enter the college, George Wallace stood in the doorway blocking their way, addressing the need for segregation. He refused to move, so the national guard was called in to restore order and admit Jones and Hood to the University of Alabama. This was an important moment in black history because it marked the first time a black person had been admitted into an all white college.
