Lorien Konold

Ms. Kadri

Pre AP English 9

Period 1

To Kill a Mockingbird Essay

In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, there are many conflicts that deal

with racism. A man is convicted of a crime, people are killed, and white people think theyre

superior to others. Lee uses these conflicts to get her point across that there is so much racism

in the world. This is still going on today. For many years, artists have came out with songs that

discuss the issue of racism and how it needs to come to an end. The songs Black or White by

Michael Jackson; American Skin by Bruce Springsteen; and Where is the Love? by the Black

Eyed Peas all talk about racism and equality.

Harper Lee develops the theme of racism by getting to know everyones point of view

and their side of the story no matter what race they are through a conversation between Atticus

and Scout. Scout was frustrated because she didnt want to go to school anymore because her

teacher did not like the fact that she could read and write. Atticus responds to Scout by saying,

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. (Lee 39). What Atticus means by this is that you can

understand and get along with people better once you look at their side of the story and what

situation they were in. Also, in the song Black or White by Michael Jackson, he portrays that
everyone should be equal and it doesnt matter about the color of your skin. Michael sings, Its

a turf war on a global scale, Id rather hear both sides of the table, see its not about races, just

places. Faces. by this he means that the world is going through wars with other countries and

that we need to all make peace. He says that he wants to hear both sides of the story and look

at things from the other persons view. It doesn't matter what race they are. In conclusion, these

pieces of evidence support the fact that before you make assumptions or judge someone, you

need to see how they are feeling or what they think.

Lee also develops the theme of racism by getting to know Atticus better and his

parenting. In the story, Mrs. Dubose is terribly sick and Jem reads to her and Jem asks Atticus

questions about the way she lives and why he had to read to her. Atticus replies by saying, I

wanted you to see something about her-- he also adds, I wanted you to see what real courage

is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. (Lee 149). What

Atticus means by this quote is that when he shot the mad dog, he wasnt being courageous and

he didnt want Jem to think that someone who shoots people is courageous. He says Mrs.

Dubose is the most courageous and brave person hed ever known. The song American Skin

by Bruce Sringsteen talks about cops thinking that since they enforce the law, they can take it

into their own hands. Aint no secret my friend, you can get killed just for living in your

American skin. This lyric means that whatever race you are, policemen dont have the courage

to not judge you or have prejudice towards your race. Policemen will automatically think you

look suspicious because of what you look like or the way you talk. These pieces of evidence

explain that courage is not a man with a gun and its someone whos willing to say or stand for

what they believe.

 In Harper Lees novel, she talks about racism and how white people were superior at

that time. People thought that they could disrespect people because of the color of their skin.

After the trial, Atticus was talking to Scout and Jem about how the people on the jury were all

just people, but its what people believe/think that makes them different. Atticus says, As you

grow older, youll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you

something and dont you forget it-- he adds, 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. (Lee 295). Atticus says this because it doesnt matter what someone looks like, they

should treat everyone with respect. The song Where is the Love? by The Black Eyed Peas,

they sing about how the world is going down hill and people are wanting to go to war and forget

that were all just people. But if you only have love for your own race, then you only leave

space to discriminate, and to discriminate only generates hate. Theyre telling us that we

should love all races and if we only only love ourselves, then we will think less of people of other

races. We have this ideal image of the perfect person and if you dont look like them then all of a

sudden youre judged. Judging others leads to hate and conflict with others. Lee and The Black

Eyed Peas both tell people to love everyone and treat everyone with respect.

In conclusion, the world is becoming more and more racist and judgemental. Harper

Lees novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus teaches Scout and Jem that there are people that

have a certain prejudice against people of a certain race. Michael Jacksons song, Black or

White he sings that it doesnt matter what race you are and everyone is equal. Bruce

Springsteens song, American Skin talks about policemen and they have the authority to kill

people and sometimes they take it too far. The Black Eyed Peas song Where is the Love?

Says how the world is forgetting that we are supposed to love each other and people are
focused around war and conflict. Lee, Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, and The Black

Eyed Peas, all are trying to get the point across that racism can affect how people think, feel,

and act.
 Works Cited

Website where I found Bruce Springsteens song:

"Songfacts - Songs About Racism or Discrimination." Song Meanings at Songfacts. N.p., n.d. Web.

26 Feb. 2017. <http://www.songfacts.com/category-songs_about_racism_or_discrimination.php>.

Black or White lyrics:

MICHAEL JACKSON LYRICS. Azlyrics, n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2017.

<http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/michaeljackson/blackorwhite.html>.

Where is the Love? lyrics:

"BLACK EYED PEAS LYRICS." BLACK EYED PEAS LYRICS. Azlyrics, n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2017.

<http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/blackeyedpeas/whereisthelove.html>.