I also learned from the book, that although the blacks were supposed to legally have equal rights to the whites, this did not seem to be the case. About 10 years before when this book is set, a white organisation, called the Ku Klux Klan had violently intimidated black people in an attempt to stop them registering to vote, and having a say in government. The focus for this issue in the book is the charge brought by Bob Ewell against a black man, Tom Robinson, for “raping “his daughter. Although Tom Robinson’s trial was supposed to be fair, the black vicar, Rev Sykes says in Chapt 21, “I ain’t ever seen any jury decide in favour of a coloured man over a white man”. Tom Robinson was defeated before he even started to give evidence. The Cunninghams attempt to take the law into their own hands and try to lynch Robinson before he can stand fair trial, and in the courtroom Mr Gilmer, the white lawyer, patronises Robinson, sneering and calling him “boy”. Scout knows instinctively this is not right, as she has been brought up by a black woman and a lawyer, Chapt 19, “It ain’t right…Hasn’t anybody got any business talkin’ like that”. I also learnt that the blacks often missed out on education. In the church the majority cannot read the words to the hymns so have them spoken to them by someone who can read, and then they simply repeat the phrase.
From reading the book, I learned that there was a great deal of prejudice shown against black people in 1930’s America, Chapt 20, “the evil assumption that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings, that all Negro men are not to be trusted around our women”. Cecil Jacobs fights with Scout because her daddy is defending a black man, showing up his family’s racist views, by declaring his folks believe Atticus is “a disgrace” to defend Tom Robinson “an’ that nigger oughta hang from the water tank”. Aunt Alexandra shows prejudice by forbidding the children to visit Calpurnia’s home. Mrs Grace Merriweather , despite being a Christian, and showing sympathy for the poor tribal people the Mrunas, is patronising towards her own black housekeeper, Sophy, calling her “a sulky darky”, Chapt 14, and making out that she is doing her a favour by employing her, “It’s never entered that wool of hers that the reason I keep her is because this depression’s on and she needs her dollar and a quarter every week she can get it”. These attitudes undersatandably left the blacks in fear and insecurity. Tom Robinson declares, Chapt 19, “If you was a nigger like me, you’d be scared too.” It is a tragedy that he is shot trying to escape from his captors after he has been found guilty. It reflects badly on the white men’s treatment of him when Atticus declares Chapt 14, he was “tired of white men’s chances and preferred to take his own”. The implication is that the whites failed to protect and support an innocent black man.
However, I also learned that not all the community treated the blacks badly. Atticus teaches Scout not to be racist, Chapt 9 , “Don’t say nigger, Scout. That’s common.” He also praises Calpurnia when Aunt Alexandra wants her dismissed, Chapt 14, saying the children love her, and she has brought them up well. Miss Maudie counts Atticus and herself among, “the handful of people in this town who say that fair play is not marked ‘White Only’”,so, there were people trying to break the prejudice down.
Despite their bad treatment, the black people in the book, apart from Lula, are presented as good role models, which make me feel that their treatment was even more unfair. Calpurnia has taught herself, her son, and Scout to read and write. Tom Robinson’s manners are , “as good as Atticus’s”. The Reverent Sykes takes the children under his wing at the courthouse, and Calpurnia’s son, a garbage collector, serves a valuable role leading the congregation in church by ‘lining’ the hymns, being among the few black people who could read. The black community also rally round, sending food to Atticus’ house, to show gratitude, after he has tried, unsuccessfully, to defend Tom Robinson.
In conclusion, despite the fact that I learnt in the book that there was a lot of bad treatment against black people in the southern states of America in the 1930’s, I also learnt that it would not be easy to overcome, as it was so engrained in society. People like Scout were the hope for the future. As Calpurnia points out, “, Chapt 12, “You’re not gonna change” people. “They’ve gotta wanta learn themselves”.
