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Caitlin Farmer Mrs. Knowles English I-Block 1 13 December 2013 A Dreadful Disease Racism is described as the hatred of another race or to other races. In this case, racism is seen between whites and blacks. Racism has been alive for as long as anyone can remember. From slavery, to Jim Crow laws and segregation, racism has been felt through America for hundreds of years. Only a handful of African American leaders have made an extraordinary difference such as; Rosa Parks, Malcom X, and Martin Luther King. But one man unknown to society, but well known in this narrative by Harper Lee made a stand earlier in the 1930s, by defending a black man in a court case. This brave man she created was named Atticus Finch. In the novel To Kill a Mocking Bird, Harper Lee develops the theme of racism between whites and blacks in a small southern town called Maycomb located in Alabama through the description of a trial where an innocent black man named Tom Robinson was accused of raping a white woman, while his lawyer Atticus Finch felt the wrath of white supremacists for defending Robinson. Tom Robinson was accused of raping a white woman even though the evidence proved he was innocent. Also, his lawyer felt the disapproving voice of the town just for defending a black man. A strong example of this is shown when Mayella Ewell says, That nigger there yonder

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took advantage of me an if you fine fancy gentleman dont wanta do nothin about it then youre all yellow stinkin cowards(251). This represents the theme because Mayella is saying that if they do not convict Robinson that they are all cowards. One of the many reasons she says this is because she wants someone else to have to bear the consequences of her fathers doings. This shows even though a black person may be innocent, that during this time a black person would still be proven guilty. In this case Tom Robinson is convicted of raping her, even though the evidence proves that he is innocent; the jury of all white men still proved him guilty, just because of his skin color. They thought that it was better to have a black man convicted for rape than a white man. Robinsons lawyer feels the anger of the town and their views of racism for even defending Robinson. His lawyer, Atticus Finch felt this, especially with Bob Ewell, Mayellas father. A strong example of this is shown when the narrator states, It was Miss Stephanies pleasure to tell is: this morning Mr. Bob Ewell stopped Atticus on the post office corner, spat in his face and told him hed get him if it took the rest of his life(290). This communicates the theme because It shows that Bob Ewell did not like the fact that Atticus was defending a black and the fact that Atticus wanted to defend a black person. He could not stand the fact that a white person wanted to defend and innocent black person. Also, this shows that Mr. Ewell felt that a white persons word should have more meaning that a black persons word, therefore, emphasizing the racism in that town. Racism has been felt all over the world in many different cultures, but the tension between whites and blacks was felt more intensely in the southern parts of the United States. Through riots, trials, and freedom walks African Americans have fought for their freedom. Racism is like a disease, a deadly disease. No one is born with this disease, it is simply taught in the home or in

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the area that a person may live in. Leading me to say that someones skin color should not dictate the way you treat them or how you view them. Everybody is somebody, not matter what.