Racial Dishonesty In To Kill A Mockingbird

Did you ever wonder why someone thought to separate blacks from whites, then wonder why someone decided to join them together again? In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, many uncomfortable situations were addressed that many people today preferably don’t like to discuss. This is why Atticus Finch encourages his children, Jem and Scout, to be aware of segregation. Within the novel, there is a rape case that discusses a black man being accused of the crime. This case afflicts many emotions and actions of multiple characters, but specifically Atticus, the lawyer on the black man’s side. The emotions from him are about how his life revolves around social disrespect and racial dishonesty which causes Atticus to act effectively and
with energy so these social problems can be relieved. Lee reveals that Atticus wants to diminish racial norms in Maycomb by teaching his kids about racial dishonesty and social respect, so as they grow older and change, Maycomb can change with them.
Atticus is an honest man that believes in treating everyone with appreciation which is why he taught Jem and Scout about racial dishonesty.
Atticus explains to Jem that no matter the circumstances, you should treat every man kindly, although their appearances may not be appealing to you. “As you grow older, you’ll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don’t you forget it-- Whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash”(298). The lesson Atticus is teaching is that no one should be treated differently because of their social status, and that you appear disrespectful talking to someone like that. Atticus taught Scout about phrases that were commonly used to associate white people with black people in a bad manor, to Scout. “‘Scout,’said Atticus, ‘nigger-lover is just one of those terms that don’t really mean anything-- like snot nose. It’s hard to explain-- Ignorant, trashy people use it when they think somebody’s favoring Negroes over and above themselves...they want a common, ugly term to label somebody”(107-109). Atticus explains this to Scout because although inconsiderate people use these names to shame anyone in relation to black people, (Atticus wanted to make sure Scout wasn’t losing her head over what he believed he truly was.) These events changed Jem’s point of racial dishonesty by showing him there will always be a bias
point of view, and for Scout there is always a positive thing to come out of something unpleasant.
Atticus is also a man that makes sure respect is key, this is why he taught his children about social respect. He wanted to tell Jem and Scout that not everything isn’t as it may seem. “I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hands, it’s when you’re licked before you begin anyway you still have to see it through no matter what”(112). Atticus told his children that you have to be courageous in many situations, but you have to be respectful of others when they decide to do something outrageous; just because they look ordinary doesn’t mean they can’t do an extraordinary act of courage. Similarly, empathy is just as important as seeing the true traits in everyone to Atticus. He explains that you can’t really know someone until you live in their skin. “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”(30). Atticus is explaining that you shouldn't jump to any conclusions after seeing only the surface of someone's life, such as when Scout did so to Walter Cunningham at the dinner table. This relates to social respect because if you can empathize, there may or may not be racial segregation; they could be seen as an average person. With social respect, Atticus is able to show his children that everything isn't as it seems you have to scratch the surface to get started.
Atticus has a passion to diminish all racial norms of racial dishonesty and social respect through his children so they can continue to change these “norms”.
While continuing, Atticus takes his time in explaining that there will always be racial dishonesty, but no matter the luxuries that a person has, it doesn’t make it right for them to shame black people. Another thing is that if you stop encouraging a certain phrase said in society, you can better support black people rather than forgetting about them and moving on. In comparison, we have to have full respect for everyone in society, such as seeing real courage in someone, empathizing for one another, and even seeing one’s life from another point of view, to see what their life is truly like. Today, we even have semblance segregation, with black people being shot in Chicago, and cries of “black lives don’t matter.” In comparison, all lives matter, they matter just as much as the person reading this, or the person in the next room. Atticus wants to prevent these unacceptable social norms, but what would it be like now if there was really no one who did something like this to change our
society?