Examples Of Racism In To Kill A Mockingbird

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In To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee racism is a large topic and controversial problem within the small town of Maycomb. When Tom Robinson, a colored man, is accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white woman, the true acts of racism are portrayed. Racism in the novel affects the events in the novel by causing characters to act out against each other and the entire town to be stirred up the fact a white male, Atticus Finch, is defending a black man. Tom Robinson is introduced to the reader in chapter 16 during the trial. He is described as a twenty-five year old man with a wife and three children. During the trial many racial slurs are thrown toward Tom. Several of the racial slurs came from Bob Ewell, the father of Mayella Ewell, and other towns’ folk. Throughout the trial Atticus puts up a good defense and it seems they could have a fighting chance, but in Maycomb everyone would rather convict an innocent black man than a guilty white man.…show more content…
When Atticus hears the verdict he doesn’t flinch or seem surprised. Racism influenced characters to convict and hate certain people based on there skin color instead of the proven facts, which leads to Tom Robinsons conviction. Though Atticus tries to convince Tom that his case could still be appealed, Tom has no hope. In chapter 24 he attempts to escape and is shot 17 times. Tom was not shot because he was a colored man but simply because he was an escaping prisoner. Tom was killed because he had no hope in his mind that he would live, and racism is the cause of an innocent black mans
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