Sunday, January 29, 2012

In To Kill a Mockingbird what are some quotes that show racism?

I like
the following quote that has racial implications.  

Lula
stopped, but she said, "You ain't got no business bringin' white chillun herethey got their
church, we got our'n. It is our church, ain't it, Miss Cal?"


The quote is from chapter twelve.  The reason that I like the quote is because it
squarely putsandon the other side of racism.  The two kids have never been on the receiving end
of a racist comment.  They are white children, and even without making racist comments
themselves, they hear white people making nasty comments about black people.  This is the first
time they have heard and gotten a nasty comment about being white. 

The next
quote is probably the quote most often associated with , his parenting, and his views on racism.
 The quote comes from chapter eleven. 

"You aren't
really a nigger-lover, then, are you?"

"I certainly am. I do my
best to love everybody... I'm hard put, sometimesbaby, it's never an insult to be called what
somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is, it doesn't hurt
you."

Atticus is teaching Scout an important lesson
about racism.  First, Atticus shows that words do have power, but only if you let them.  He also
explains that those negative kinds of words often teach you more about the person saying the
insult than it does about the person receiving the insult.  Lastly, Atticus is showing Scout why
he is a "nigger-lover."  It's because he is doing his best to treat everybody the
same.  Atticus isn't in favor of one race more than any other race.  Atticus is teaching Scout
about equality. 

 

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