How is racism dealt with in To Kill a Mockingbird?

One of the main themes addressed throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird is the topic of racism. Harper Lee uses the setting, plot, and various characters to depict racism in the Deep South. During the 1930s, Jim Crow laws, which segregated blacks from whites in public places, were enforced in Southern states. Black people were victims of racial inequality and injustice throughout the South during that time period. The novel takes place in...

One of the main themes addressed throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird is the topic of racism. Harper Lee uses the setting, plot, and various characters to depict racism in the Deep South. During the 1930s, Jim Crow laws, which segregated blacks from whites in public places, were enforced in Southern states. Black people were victims of racial inequality and injustice throughout the South during that time period. The novel takes place in the prejudiced town of Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930s. The majority of the white citizens in Maycomb are prejudiced towards black people and continually use racial slurs throughout the novel. Atticus Finch is given the difficult task of defending Tom Robinson, a black man, in front of an all-white jury. Atticus and his children suffer discrimination from family members and neighbors for defending a "Negro." Scout, the novel's protagonist, deals with several people accusing her father of "lawing for niggers," and being a "nigger-lover." Atticus explains to his children that anybody who cheats a black person is "trash," and that his children should treat people equally, despite their differences. Atticus is a morally upright individual who challenges Maycomb's prejudiced views. However, Tom Robinson is wrongly convicted of raping and assaulting Mayella Ewell for the simple fact that he is black. Despite the lack of evidence and conflicting testimonies from the Ewells, Tom Robinson is found guilty by a prejudiced jury. Lee examines the delicate race relations in Alabama by depicting how the citizens of Maycomb negatively view and treat black people, as well as those who associate with them, like Atticus and Dolphus Raymond.