TKAM Impacts on Civil Rights Movement Harper Lee’s award-winning novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, teaches many lessons relevant today and in history. The book was published right before the peak of the Civil Rights Movement, a nationwide movement to end racial injustice against African Americans. To Kill a Mockingbird is set in a small town in Alabama and is narrated by Scout Finch. Her father, Atticus Finch, is a lawyer and figure who sticks to the right principles and morals. Atticus defends Tom Robinson, a black male, when he gets falsely accused of raping a white woman, Mayella Ewell. As the trial and story goes on, Atticus teaches many important lessons to readers. TKAM likely had an impact on the Civil Rights movement by raising awareness
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Before the trial, a mob of men came to Tom Robinson’s jail cell to try to kill him (chapter 15). Even though Tom had not been proven guilty, the men believed he did wrong due to the color of his skin. This shows the injustice of threatening violence on someone, without allowing a fair trial. Tom did not get the chance to defend himself, solely because of his race. During the trial Atticus stated, “The state has not produced one iota of medical evidence to the effect that the crime ever took place. It had relied instead upon the testimony of two witnesses.” (p. 271) Towards the end of the trial, Atticus stated and proved there was no real evidence of Tom raping Mayella. After being proven innocent by Atticus, the jury charged him guilty. Harper Lee shows the injustice in this as Tom Robinson was punished for something he didn’t do. The court sided against him because he is a Black man. Throughout TKAM, Harper Lee evoked the idea of empathy. First, Atticus told Scout “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” (p. 39). Atticus teaches his kids to get along with others, you need to think …show more content…
This is a big idea of empathy and walking in other people's shoes. Atticus continues to use this principle throughout the book. For example, “She was white, and she tempted a Negro. She did something that in our society is unspeakable. She kissed a black man.” (p. 272) Atticus shows the court the reasons Mayella Ewell was accusing Tom. Atticus was able to look at Mayella’s perspective to help readers understand her motives. Atticus continues to hint that Mayella has a bad family life and would not want to be seen as someone who kissed a person of color. This helps readers understand and have empathy for Mayella and her case. Finally, TKAM creates a model of morality for readers. The book states “All men are created equal. I am confident that you gentlemen will review without passion the evidence you heard, come to a decision, and restore this defendant to his family.” (274). Atticus asked the court to use their best morals and principles in judging the verdict. Atticus is a huge model for morality that readers and the town of Maycomb can look up to. In this quote, he had faith and was persuading the court to do the right thing. Next, when first asked to defend Tom Robinson, Atticus told his kids he could not show his face if he refused. This shows Atticus’s moral integrity in doing what is right. Even though Atticus and his family would get hate for defending Tom, Atticus stepped up to the case and stuck to his strong morals. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper
Before the trial, a mob of men came to Tom Robinson’s jail cell to try to kill him (chapter 15). Even though Tom had not been proven guilty, the men believed he did wrong due to the color of his skin. This shows the injustice of threatening violence on someone, without allowing a fair trial. Tom did not get the chance to defend himself, solely because of his race. During the trial Atticus stated, “The state has not produced one iota of medical evidence to the effect that the crime ever took place. It had relied instead upon the testimony of two witnesses.” (p. 271) Towards the end of the trial, Atticus stated and proved there was no real evidence of Tom raping Mayella. After being proven innocent by Atticus, the jury charged him guilty. Harper Lee shows the injustice in this as Tom Robinson was punished for something he didn’t do. The court sided against him because he is a Black man. Throughout TKAM, Harper Lee evoked the idea of empathy. First, Atticus told Scout “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” (p. 39). Atticus teaches his kids to get along with others, you need to think …show more content…
This is a big idea of empathy and walking in other people's shoes. Atticus continues to use this principle throughout the book. For example, “She was white, and she tempted a Negro. She did something that in our society is unspeakable. She kissed a black man.” (p. 272) Atticus shows the court the reasons Mayella Ewell was accusing Tom. Atticus was able to look at Mayella’s perspective to help readers understand her motives. Atticus continues to hint that Mayella has a bad family life and would not want to be seen as someone who kissed a person of color. This helps readers understand and have empathy for Mayella and her case. Finally, TKAM creates a model of morality for readers. The book states “All men are created equal. I am confident that you gentlemen will review without passion the evidence you heard, come to a decision, and restore this defendant to his family.” (274). Atticus asked the court to use their best morals and principles in judging the verdict. Atticus is a huge model for morality that readers and the town of Maycomb can look up to. In this quote, he had faith and was persuading the court to do the right thing. Next, when first asked to defend Tom Robinson, Atticus told his kids he could not show his face if he refused. This shows Atticus’s moral integrity in doing what is right. Even though Atticus and his family would get hate for defending Tom, Atticus stepped up to the case and stuck to his strong morals. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper