Examples Of Racial Injustice In To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee
In To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, characters resist the status quo many of their family and friends believe in to take a stand against racial injustice. For example, Atticus takes the case to defend Tom against his family’s wishes, because if he didn't, “.... [he] couldn't hold [his] head up in town, [he] couldn't represent this county in the legislature..” (100). Scout was asking Atticus why he would defend Negroes if he wasn't supposed to, and Atticus told Scout he wouldn't be able to live with himself if he didn't accept the case. By resisting the status quo that was preventing lawyers from defending Negroes because of their skin color, Atticus was taking a stand against racial injustice. Atticus was also going against his family's
strong belief that whites were superior to blacks and recieved criticism from his family members. Furthermore, Mr. Link Deas resists the status quo to stand up for Tom. During Tom’s testimony, Mr. Link Deas shouts out “‘that boy’s worked for me eight years an’ I ain't had a speck o’trouble outa him. Not a speck’” to publicize his support for Tom. (261) Link Deas tries to defend Tom against all of Maycomb resident’s beliefs that Tom is guilty because he is black. Like Atticus, Link Deas resisted the status quo to defend what he believes is right. Finally, Mrs. Dubose resists the status quo when she boldly decided to die “...beholden to nothing and nobody” (60). Mrs. Dubose was addicted to morphine and knew she only had a few months to live. She had Jem read to her to slowly lengthen the amount of time between her doses. She wanted to break her addiction before she died, and doing so, she resisted the status quo. Mrs. Dubose, Mr. Link Deas, and Atticus all resist the status quo to take a stand for their own lives, or for the lives of others. No matter, all three of them stood up for justice, especially Atticus. Although not everyone was convinced to believe in racial equality, Atticus resisted the status quo and taught his children to resist as well.
strong belief that whites were superior to blacks and recieved criticism from his family members. Furthermore, Mr. Link Deas resists the status quo to stand up for Tom. During Tom’s testimony, Mr. Link Deas shouts out “‘that boy’s worked for me eight years an’ I ain't had a speck o’trouble outa him. Not a speck’” to publicize his support for Tom. (261) Link Deas tries to defend Tom against all of Maycomb resident’s beliefs that Tom is guilty because he is black. Like Atticus, Link Deas resisted the status quo to defend what he believes is right. Finally, Mrs. Dubose resists the status quo when she boldly decided to die “...beholden to nothing and nobody” (60). Mrs. Dubose was addicted to morphine and knew she only had a few months to live. She had Jem read to her to slowly lengthen the amount of time between her doses. She wanted to break her addiction before she died, and doing so, she resisted the status quo. Mrs. Dubose, Mr. Link Deas, and Atticus all resist the status quo to take a stand for their own lives, or for the lives of others. No matter, all three of them stood up for justice, especially Atticus. Although not everyone was convinced to believe in racial equality, Atticus resisted the status quo and taught his children to resist as well.