To Kill A mocking Bird
...‘em because they’re half white; white folks won’t have ‘em cause they’re coloured, so they’re just in-betweens, don’t belong anywhere.”- Scout ‘Collins New English Dictionary’ Definition Of Prejudice: 1. An opinion held in disregard of facts that contradict it. 2. Intolerance of other races. 3. Harm resulting from some action of another. “The sheriff hadn’t the heart to put him in jail alongside Negroes, so Boo was locked in the court house basement.”- Scout Harper Lee’s novel is set in a town called Maycomb. Maycomb represents her hometown of Monroeville in Alabama. After the abolition of slavery in America in 1865, former slaves were given full citizenship and full political rights. These rights were fairly and successfully enforced until 1890, with African American citizens even being elected into some of politics highest positions. In the early twentieth century, racial prejudice became more and more evident in society and equality slowly began to disappear. The main event significant to this change was a Supreme Court decision, allowing separate but equal facilities differentiated by race. Along with this decision came many unfair measures such as compulsory literacy tests for voter registration. This practice was unfair and dishonest and stopped the majority of the black community from voting. Racial issues also affected immigration to the United States. These issues combined with the devastating poverty and racial injustice, forced the black community to escape to the northern and western states where the level of discrimination was much less. A great example of racism in the American South is the formation of the racist group, The Klu Klux Klan. The Klan thrived in the 20’s, when it is estimated that they had as many as 5 million members throughout the Southern and Western States. Known for their strange rituals, white hooded costumes and fear-inspiring reputation for racial violence, the Klu Klux Klan were by far the most prominent example of public raci...