How Does Lee Show Injustice In To Kill A Mockingbird

“The roots of racism lie deep in a man’s nature, wounded and bruised by original sin,” –Sargent Shriver. In To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee illustrates that the American Justice System does not work in a racist society. Harper Lee shows that in Maycomb County Alabama, Jem and Scout have to adapt to the racism and prejudice, during the Great Depression. Throughout the book, the development and understanding of racism between Jem and Scout is shown. As young children they are having trouble getting used to seeing the way African-Americans are treated. In To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee demonstrates that The American Justice System is not used correctly in a racist and prejudicial society. “I’d rather you shot at tin cans … I know you’ll go after birds … but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird … Atticus said to Jem one day” (Lee 119). The author portrays Tom Robinson as a mockingbird because he is innocent. The racism and prejudice comes into play because Tom Robinson is black, which means that everyone believes he is guilty. In Maycomb County, it is rare for an African-American to get a fair trial, simply because of their skin color. Towards the middle of the book after Tom had been accused, no white man believes that Tom was innocent. “Mr. Finch? … Atticus stepped back and looked up. They’ve gone, he said. Get some sleep Tom, they …show more content…
In their society, if a Caucasian male were to be accused of rape and then run away, we would not get shot. Tom is shot because he is black. “To Maycomb, Tom’s death was typical. Typical of a nig*** to cut and run” (Lee 322). Everyone knows that Tom had no chance of getting a fair trial, because of his ethnicity. Once Mayella Ewell opens her mouth, Tom is a lost cause. The racism and prejudice in Maycomb led to Tom’s death. In conclusion, Tom Robinson has no chance of being found innocent due to the racism and prejudice in Mayomb Country,