How Atticus quietly protest Jim Crow laws even before tom Robinson’s trial
Atticus Finch stands as an upstanding citizen. He sees goodin all people and does not discriminate against the poor nor the blacks as the Jim crow rules do. He learned to accommodate differences in people from his father, who was a renowned lawyer and fair. Atticus understands racial injustice in the society being a lawyer himself. He tries his best to see justice served for all, no matter the race or economic status.
The first act that shows Atticus’ protest against Jim Crow laws is by him accepting his appointment as tom Robinson’s lawyer. Atticus makes sure that tom, who is charged with rape and assault, is represented in court. He does this although he knows that Tom, who is an African American, has no chance of winning the trial because of Jim Crow laws, which were based on racial hatred.
The second time when Atticus is shown to be protesting against the biased laws is when he warns his children against referring to the African-American the word negro. He goes ahead to ask them to treat Calpurnia works at his home and is black as one of their family member.
In school, Cecil Jacob makes an announcement in the school that Atticus defends the blacks (Harper 68). The scout who is the daughter to Atticus finch rushes home after school and asks his father if it’s true of what she heard. His father affirms to these statements that he defends African-Americans. Atticus, however, instructs his daughter not to use the pejorative term when referring to blacks as she had just done because it makes one seem low class or ordinary.
Another incident that shows Atticus as a black sympathizer and a challenger to the Jim Crow laws is when his sister Alexandria comes to stay with them. The two argue over Calpurnia’s employment in the family. Alexandra, who is a supporter of the Jim Crow laws and a racist, ask Atticus to free Calpurina off her duties as her services will not be needed; he, however, refuses to do so.
Moreover, Atticus treats Calpurnia as one of his family members. He sees her as good or even better a model as a mother would have been. Atticus praises Calpurina of raising his children with sound morals and ethics.
Class division portrayed in to kill a mockingbird and how it highlights racial tension in Maycomb.
The novel to kill a mockingbird depicts the differences in social classes and racial division in Maycomb. The social classes are divided into three throughout this community. The first class is on the upper or middle class, which consists of educated whites. The Finch family and others who are professionals belong to this class. They are respected and live a comfortable life compared to other courses.
The second class belongs to the uneducated white farmers who struggle to make a living during the great depression. The Cunningham family represents this class. The lowest level belongs to the African-Americans, who are represented by Tom Robinson and Culprina.
Racial tension is highlighted on many occasions in his novel. One of the instances where racial tension from social classes is shown is when Lula and Calpurnia interact. Calpurnia took Jem and Scouts to church when Atticus was away. Lula confronts Calpurnia for bringing white children to their black church. She asks in a quiet and contemptuous why Calpurina brought the white chillun to nigger church (Harper107).
Another section where racial tension is highlighted is when Atticus takes the case of Tom Robinson, who is black. Anxiety, in this case, is seen when Cecil Jacob announces in the schoolyard that scouts father is a black defended, which comes as a surprise to her daughter. By taking this job to be put his family and employment at risk, this decision was not received well by the whites. Francis rose even refers to him as a nigger lover and says that he is ruining his family (Harper 75-78)
It is also evident that Tom is convicted of a crime that he did not commit just because of his color and economic status.
Lastly, but importantly, racial tension is highlighted when Alexander visits Atticus, his brother, who has employed a black. The confrontation and quarrel between the two siblings show the racial tension in Maycomb.
Typical times of the time (1920-70) in American history.
The novel to kill a mockingbird is a reflection of the period (1920-70) in American history.When Lee writes the story, she addresses the justice system for the black and the racial segregation, which were very biased towards the African-Americans in the southern state of America. Jim Crow laws treated blacks as second-class citizens. The African-Americans were to go to separate churches, schools and live in distinct housing estates from the whites. In this novel, we can see that the finch family worship in a different church from that of Calpurnia. This is evident if Calpurina invites Scout and Jem to her church when Atticus is away.
In the case of the justice system for the blacks, the African-Americans faced the most stringent time during this period. Jim Crows laws ensured that the blacks do not serve in the juries and did not get a fair hearing. Harper, in her book, highlights how badly the court of law and whites treated the blacks. Some white people could take the law into their hands by lynching the black suspects even before they were proven guilty. In the novel, Tom Robinson wants to be lynched by the whites as he waits for the trail. Moreover, we can see that Tom was convicted of a crime he did not commit.
Insight into modern civil movements concerning the novel
The racial and class divisions highlighted in To kill a Mockingbird had begun and continued long after the story started (page 415). The Harper Lee novel was published in the year 1960 when the modern civil movements started. Maycomb, the fictional place where finch family lives are in Alabama where the actual movement started. It is clear that to kill a mocking bird theme of racism and inequality, resembles America during the civil rights movements, which must have inspired the writer.To sum it up, we can tell that it is individuals and events that led to the modern-day civil movements to articulate for justice and equality.