Community Within Maycomb Essay

So often in a society we are misled at the actual courageous and uncourageous acts that are done amongst a society. Most of the time it is usually because we have our own perception that a society is emulated from the way someone may act or the lineage and community in which some are born into. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee shows the strengths and weaknesses of a community through the white community, black community, and lastly the community within a family. Though there is much strength in a White community, like holding their values high, there are also weaknesses like being racist toward the â€Å"Blacks. For instance Jem points out a weakness in the White community when he tells Scout, â€Å"They’re real sad†¦ They don’t belong anywhere. Colored folks won’t have ‘em because they’re half white; white folks won’t have ‘em cause they’re colored, so they’re just in-between, don’t belong anywhere. † Back during the 1930’s interracial marriage was unheard of and if it was it was thought of as impure or inadequate therefore disregarded. Experts Joyce Moss and Gorge Wilson say, â€Å"†¦ Racial relations where complicated by various restrictions in the 1930’s. Breaking the taboo against sexual intercourse between a black man and a white woman was considered by most whites and some blacks†¦ most serious offence. This kind of miscegenation would ‘taint’ racial purity. † This then re-states the negativity of racism during the time of Maycomb in the White community. Despite of Macomb’s racist perspectives they also share very important morals between their communities. Atticus Finch shares with Scout,† you never really understand a person until you consider things from his [or her] point of view†¦ ntil you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it. †(Chapter 3) This excerpt shows how high Atticus being from the White community, keeps his standards and beliefs held high so that he may be looked up as Macomb’s role model. In conclusion this states, though Maycomb may struggle with some things that still to this very day affect us as a community, Maycomb is also showing how it is to be keeping their morals in mind. From the outside looking in it may seem as though the Black community has no strength despite the fact there is. During the time period the Blacks had no problem with helping one another. If one didn’t know the other one knew and they assisted one another. During church scout asks â€Å"How we gonna sing [the songs] if their aint any hymn books? † â€Å"[Zebo cleared his throat and read in a voice†¦ ]. We tend to always focus on the main idea but this tiny detail helps the Blacks unite with each other because they are able to participate in activities like sing in church by just being able to work with each other to read the hymnal and be a religious community. Scout being from the White community she doesn’t understand the ways of the â€Å"blacks† and how they choose to be one. KJ The book girl states, â€Å"The black community as a whole is a very close congregation, as it has to be to survive the harsh treatment by the white community†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Because the Blacks have been kind of segregated by the White community, it has taught them to become and be closer. In difference to the negative conversations that go on in the Black community as well. You ain’t got no business bringin’ white chillun here—they got their church, we got our’n. It is our church, ain’t it, Miss Cal? † said Lula. This is the first time Jem and Scout experience direct racism which is usually never heard of because they are white. This makes them in a real uncomfortable position in which they have never been. The weakness in the Black community is they are racist back and don’t want to make a difference well most of them anyway. Even though Lula is from the black community she is prejudice towards the whites. This is a weakness in the black community though they help one another they don’t realize how to be the bigger person in the sense of acting with dignity and not stooping and lowering you self to discriminate against different raced people. There are much strength as well as many weaknesses within the kinship of a Family community. Atticus instills within his kids that, â€Å"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. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway. † A Review of General Semantics says that,† Atticus agrees to defend a black man named Tom Robinson who has been accused of [a heinous crime] raping Mayella Ewell a white woman. During the trial, Atticus provides sufficient evidence†¦ if fact provides that Mayella’s father Bob[Ewell] is responsible for marks on her face†¦ however the all-white jury convicts Tom[Robinson] away†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Action speaks louder than words have always been the saying for a society especially when parents say it. Atticus is teaching his kids the moral of standing up for what is right and to have full courage when doing so. He defends Tom Robinson to not only prove that this man has done nothing wrong but also to teach his kids the moral of standing up for what you believe in and having courage to do so is far more meaning full than feeling powerful verse feeling courageous for doing the right thing. In contrast to the benefits of a positive family community. In contrast to a positive family environment Robert also know as Bob Ewell, is determined to have a black man imprisoned for a crime that he has not committed. Atticus, while on the trial with Mayella Ewell Atticus asks her, â€Å"Why don’t you tell the truth, child, didn’t Bob Ewell beat you up? † Bob Ewell being a horrifying father has done a crime that if people knew what he has done the community would probably never speak to or even regard him again. He has raped and beaten his own flesh and blood. The inhumanity that he possesses within his family as the head of the house hold is unfathomable.