Theme Of Racial Discrimination In To Kill A Mockingbird

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In the game of chess, white is given the unfair advantage of the first move and is theoretically more likely to beat the black. This is similar to the racial inequality of blacks compared to whites in society. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, racial discrimination is an underlying theme. This issue is brought up in a town in the south and then narrated by the uncorrupted view of a child. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, racial discrimination is brought to light in a single chapter through the character Crooks. Both novels were set around the Great Depression Era, around 1930 in the United States. These plots reflected the reality at the time; shadowing real people and real trials. The world today is affected by the implicit bias which …show more content…
For instance in the town of Maycomb, Miss. Maudie realizes there is, “[A] handful of people in this town who say fair play is not marked White Only; the handful that say a fair trial is for everybody…”(Lee 236) Ms. Maudie acknowledges that the whites are discriminating against the blacks, and believes that no one should be treated unfairly in court or in life on the basis of race. She knows that her view is only shared by a few. Moreover, Ms. Maudie is satisfied that the jury even hesitated before deeming Tom guilty, she calls this a baby step. Ms. Maudie thinks Atticus standing up for the right thing showed and others and is a way to end the discrimination. At the least, this hesitation is an improvement because the jury actually thought about the issue and is a change. Ms. Maudie notices that there is a group not approving of the racial discrimination because of the trial. Seeing opposers of the unjust practice and having an environment free of racial discrimination will change the handful to a huge …show more content…
An example is the student Cecil. In the Hitler discussion, he states, “[T]hey're supposed to change money or something, but that ain't no cause to persecute ’em. They’re white, ain’t they” (Lee 245). Cecil is in third grade and has been indoctrinated from people around him that changing money is acceptable, but being unjust to whites is not. He is accustomed to the cultural idea that whites are superior and aren’t discriminated against. Another example is a modern day experiment that exposes that implicit bias is unintentionally picked up by young children. The test revealed that the majority of the children favored the lighter skin over the darker skin and these values were never taught. (A conversation about Race). The children learned this not from their parents, but from other people or media. Unintentional racial discrimination in children is created by a lack of knowledge, and awareness is a step closer to end this hurtful cycle.
Racial discrimination is not beneficial and creates unfairness and inequality, both which are negative consequences. As a result of continued racial discrimination, black male students start with disadvantages, being more carefully watched and more likely to be punished. (Racial Profiling in Preschool.) This hinders their academic success along with a higher probability of dropping out and even jail. Sending someone on this pathway towards
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