How has racism affected the lives of Jem and Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird?

The issue
of racism in Maycomb has a
significant effect onandin three ways: 1) through their relationship
with
their father, , 2) through their interactions with other children at school, and 3) at
the
end of the novel when they have to endure an attack by the racist Bob
Ewell.

Because Atticus is the lawyer who is representing
Tom Robinson, a black disabled man in
the Maycomb community who has been
accused of rape of a white woman by her cruel and vindictive
father, the
court case comes home with Atticus every evening. Jem in particular takes an

interest in the case, and his idealism about the world and notions of justice is rattled
when
Tom is found guilty despite his obvious innocence.

Scout deals with the
effects of racism when other children at school
make racist and derisive comments about her
father and his work as a lawyer
defending Tom Robinson. Scout is too young to understand exactly
what the
words mean, but she knows that the tone and the meanness with which the insults
are
delivered are hostile gestures toward her beloved father.

Finally, both Scout
and Jem are targeted by Bob Ewell, the father of
the girl who accused Tom Robinson of rape. Bob
takes revenge on Atticus by
attacking Jem and Scout one evening as they are walking by
themselves in the
dark. During the attack, Bob breaks Jem's arm and terrifies Scout, who is

protected by an absurdly solid ham costume.

Both children learn hard
lessons
about fear and violence as the novel progresses. The impact of racism
on both children is
significant as evidenced by the events
above.