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How are Atticus's teachings on racism significant to the story in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Atticus’s teachings to his children support the theme that everyone deserves equal treatment, regardless of race.


Atticus’s view of race is quite different from the rest of Maycomb.  He treats Calpurnia with respect, even though she is his employee.  He lets her raise his children, and makes sure they are obedient to her.  Race has nothing to do with it. 


When Atticus defends Tom Robinson, he is sending a message to his children.  It is the same message Lee is trying to impart to the reader.  Everyone deserves a chance, regardless of race, and it is our responsibility to make change.  Change does not come from society suddenly coming to its senses.  It comes from each person’s decisions. 


To his children, Atticus defends his representation of Tom Robinson, despite the fact that it is unpopular.  He also does not allow his children to use racist language. 



“Do you defend niggers, Atticus?” I asked him that evening.


“Of course I do. Don’t say nigger, Scout. That’s common.”


“‘s what everybody at school says.”


“From now on it’ll be everybody less one—” (Ch. 9)



Atticus describes Tom Robinson as he would any other man.  He explains to Scout that it is every lawyer’s duty to defend a Negro.  He tells her all lawyers do it, although that seems to contradict Maycomb’s opinion.



He’s a member of Calpurnia’s church, and Cal knows his family well. She says they’re clean-living folks. Scout, you aren’t old enough to understand some things yet, but there’s been some high talk around town to the effect that I shouldn’t do much about defending this man. (Ch. 9) 



During the trial, Atticus tells the jury that there are good black men and good white men.  A person should be judged on his actions, not his race.  He reminds them that of any institution, the court should be colorblind.  Although he is not successful in getting Tom Robinson acquitted, he stands up for him.  His children see this, and they learn the lesson on race that Atticus intends to teach them.


The thread of racism and race relations runs throughout the entire book, which focuses on Scout, Jem, and Atticus's lives before, during, and after the trial that shook Maycomb.  It is a coming of age experience for Scout and Jem, and a difficult journey for Atticus.  In the end, however, he made decisions to be proud of and left an enduring legacy in Maycomb and for the reader. 

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