To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee :: essays research papers

In the opening chapters of To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper downwind introduces several subtle instances of racism. However, when Jem and Scout be welcomed into Cals church building in chapter 12, the reader really gets to travel behind the false disguise of Maycomb Countys white society to see the harsh realities of the injustices suffered by the blacks. The black connection is completely separate from the whites -- in fact, Cal lives in a totally distinguishable part of town Another example of total racial separationism is the fact that Jem and Scout have never been to that part of town, so they argon unfamiliar with the Churchs way of singing hymns (lining), and they tangle witht understand nigger talk. Even Lula, one of the black church building members, says, they got their church, we got ourn.Poverty is another(prenominal) injustice suffered by the blacks. Their initiative Purchase Church is very old and worn out. The paint is cracked and peeling, it has no ceiling, on t hat points a rough oak pulpit, and cheap cardboard fans mustiness be used to keep the congregation cool. There is no piano, harmonium or church program in sight, and the whole church has to assign one hymnbook The graveyard contains only a few valuable headstones, with most graves merely outlined by broken glass. A further degradation occurs during the rest of the week, when the church building is used by whites for gambling. A majority of the black community is illiterate because there are no schools for blacks in Maycomb County. Their only way of learning is from their parents or another elder. For example, Mrs. Buford taught Cal, and Cal taught her son, Zeebo. Consequently, only four blacks in the whole church can read.In Tom Robinson case, he has virtually no chance of winning rigorously due to his race. During his trial, Bob Ewell accuses Tom of raping his girl. Even though the Ewells are considered to be the white trash of Maycomb County, nearly all of white community supp orts them because they are white and Tom is black. Despite all of these injustices, Chapter 12 also creates a feeling of support and sympathy for the black community. For example, even though theyre oppressed, the black community still has a sense of pride. Their church is called First Purchase because it was paid for with the first earnings of freed slaves. This shows the blacks considerable devotion to their religion.