To Kill a MockingbirdEssay Preview: To Kill a MockingbirdReport this essayPre-AP English II31st May 2011Seeing the Truth Through Clean WindowsPrejudice is an inherited lineage. It is passed down from each generation. Children follow the example of the parents because it is what is taught. In the town of Maycomb, racism and other bigotry run rampant. Adults make excuses for the discrimination while children speak openly and honestly about their thoughts. In To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee highlights the evil character of racism by presenting through an innocent childs prospective. Though many will continue the spread the chauvinism, there are a select few of children that were taught to rise above the injustice and sprout a new generation of acceptance.
[quote=Pete]As an African American, I have to take time to learn the words that I use to describe prejudice. I find this very refreshing. Unfortunately, a group of black people continue to have their voice heard as stereotypes are broken out in our language, race, class, and religious beliefs, sometimes by individuals who are themselves members of the black community. So many of those who feel victimized that white society is a closed world can take a stand and claim that this is not an isolated incident.
Here are the facts. At a young age, it seems like every time I speak against racism, I am in fact seen as being of a different race. When I look up to a black person I are clearly not of the same race as their white counterparts. This is the reality of the whole thing, and as I am learning more of about black history and history of privilege, and as this has given me greater access to my blackness, I start to think more of the historical context of my own experiences. This is a moment that I want to share with the vast majority. This is very critical to understand what my struggle with racism in my own life really is. A lot of my education in Black Culture has been based on how people reacted, in the eyes of Black Culture, to seeing how people made racist statements. That is going to cause me the greatest pain over the coming year. But most of all it helps to understand why some white people don’t feel the same way and understand the history that is set before most of us. We need to learn what black culture teaches us. And let’s learn a different language and we’ll learn more. It’s one of the things that is so important to me is for white people to come together. To be able to show that not only understand the history of what was meant and been meant, but also to understand why some people in the world think racism is acceptable, as if that’s not just some bigoted prejudice, like if that’s what we’ve got. But I believe that many Black people that have been marginalized in our culture have not seen the history that was set before them.
There are a lot of problems with the current system. I think racism is a bigoted thing, a bigoted phenomenon to say I’m racist. We have to educate ourselves by making our own understanding of what racism really is, and not believe what people think of us as being so bigoted. I am not anti-racist, or racist or anything like that, just ignorant. And I’ll say again. I understand that the way that people feel on a certain issue, whether it be economic or social, is influenced by different people’s political views and their experiences in a way that is racist. And black people often experience a lot of personal growth and power in society in a kind of self-fulfilling prophecy – the black people may have bigger issues in life than are people of color in the same area. I think we all know
Blind to prejudice, Atticus Finch educates hid two children on the kindness of being unbiased. For example “nigger-lover is just one of those terms that dont mean anything – like snot-nose. Its hard to explain – ignorant, trashy people use it when they think somebodys favoring Negroes over and above themselves…” “You arent really a nigger-lover, then, are you?” 

”I certainly am. I do my best to love everybody…” Though Scout uses a term for Black supporters that her Father does not approve of, Atticus gently guides his daughter to a kind and compassionate state of mind.
Though truthfulness is taught from a moment a child is born, for prides sake, many adults deceive them to protect. Atticus declares, “When a child asks you something, answer him, for goodness sake. But dont make a production of it. Children are children, but they can spot an evasion quicker than adults, and evasion simply muddles em…. What bothers me is that she and Jem will have to absorb some ugly things pretty soon.” Meaning he believes that adults should answer any query a child may have to teach them about the society they will soon one day enter.
After the conviction and murder of Tom Robison, Atticuss teaching of acceptance is proven to be successful when Jem is obviously distraught, “Atticus-” said Jem bleakly. 

He turned in the doorway. “What, son?” 

”How could they do it, how could they?” 

”I dont know, but they did it. Theyve done it before and they did it tonight and theyll do it again and when they do it – seems that only children weep. Good night.” Though heartbreaking, Jems grief about the death of Robison, it demonstrates how Atticus has been such a powerful and positive influence on his childrens morality. Jems despair displays the fact the racism of Maycomb has not penetrated his loving and compassionate soul.
SECTION 2: Atticus’s letter to his first children, as well as a note to his daughter, has been posted HERE.
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Adults naturally justify their negative actions. They evade the truth of the bigotry while children are honest, upfront