Prejudice and Discrimination

The trial in which Tom Robinson was wrongly sentenced by a jury of white men, for the rape of Mayella Ewell, demonstrates how in Maycomb County “people are ugly about folks right at home.” Tom was judged merely by the colour of his skin and not on the evidence put forth by Attitus. Due to the general acceptance that Negros will be treated differently there was a miscarriage of evidence. Tom Robinson is a reflection of the society as a whole. The fact that no one realised the unfair treatment of Tom Robinson made his death much more tragic. Tom was denied justice.

Maycomb County is a classic southern town full of gossip, tradition and burned with a legacy of racism. People only know Tom Robinson through what others say about him. They see him for what they believe he is. There are a number of factors that foster racial prejudice in the County; a sense of superiority, fear and an ignorant mainstream attitude. In Maycomb the residents of the township only associate civilly with peo...