In TKAM, Mayella Ewell is supposedly raped by Tom Robinson. During the trial, instead of defending the innocent man who was only trying to help her, she tried against him and defended her father, who actually hit her, resulting in his murder. This exhibits white privilege. Innocent Tom didn't have the privilege that Mayella did. White privilege is in the news today too.
#alllivesmatter is a "movement" started by people to counteract black lives matter. While black lives matter is directed towards the violence targeted at African Americans, all lives matter is a passive aggressive response from people who are defying the movement.
Yes, all lives do matter, but that's not the point. The purpose of this movement is to promote pride and support members of the black community. By saying all lives matter, people ware turning the focus to themselves as opposed to trying to change these upsetting events that have happened in the last few years, and to me, that's just backtracking the progress that we've already made.
-Zosia
Racial Inequality
Friday, December 4, 2015
Thursday, December 3, 2015
News Today
Duke Racism? This link is about racism incident that happened literally around the corner at Duke University. where there is poster of the black lives matter slogan was vandalized by a Caucasian person using derogatory words. To me this was just unnecessary there was no point in this person going out to do this, if that person really feel like that they should have just kept it to themself because that was so rude of someone to do. And the people of color that attend the University may feel unsafe or weary of their surroundings because they don't really know who could do something like that or it is like that. A section in To Kill a Mockingbird that reminds me of this is Mrs. DuBose is talking to Jem and Scout about how their dad represents Tom Robinson. "Your father's no better than the niggers and trash he works for!" By Mrs.DuBose saying that,that shows how low of a person she is. Her saying that was so unnecessary and disrespectful, and to say that to children was just over the top and didn't make any sense.
~Sequan Patterson
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
TKAM in the News
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/yale-student-halloween-costumes-christakis_5644baa8e4b045bf3dedfe1e
The article in the link above is about some certain controversy about cultural insensitivity through Halloween costumes at Yale University. A women on one of Yale's committees' sent out an email warning campus students to watch out of offensive and insensitive costumes. Many people got offended really quickly. Students started to get upset with the comment because they felt as if some were being called out for not standing up for something they believe when in reality, they were but were never really heard.
I feel like this happens all the time. People stand up for things without getting acknowledged for it or listened too. For example, even in TKAM, if you never noticed, there were some smaller characters (and Atticus) who felt like things aren't equal ever when they should because it doesn't matter if you have more money or opportunities or the color of you skin is different. Those smaller characters stood up for what they believed but were never really noticed for it except maybe once or twice publicly except for Atticus.
Also, the insensitive and racist costumes are already a topic of conversation on their own. The costumes are most of the time a mixture of overdramatic stereotypes that get more hurtful over time. They make me think about how all races have a certain stereotype attached to them as sad as it is. I remember while reading that multiple times someone/people have based a certain type of talking on a certain race (example: Calpurnia talking about how African American's talk compared to everyone else). It makes me think about how even now, if you're a white girl (or your gonna be a white girl for Halloween which is something I saw someone do), you need starbucks and uggs or something like that. In all honesty, it may not seem hurtful but it can be. You never know how someone feels about something like that.
Overall, incidents like this happen everyday and we can stop it because it's not okay.
The article in the link above is about some certain controversy about cultural insensitivity through Halloween costumes at Yale University. A women on one of Yale's committees' sent out an email warning campus students to watch out of offensive and insensitive costumes. Many people got offended really quickly. Students started to get upset with the comment because they felt as if some were being called out for not standing up for something they believe when in reality, they were but were never really heard.
I feel like this happens all the time. People stand up for things without getting acknowledged for it or listened too. For example, even in TKAM, if you never noticed, there were some smaller characters (and Atticus) who felt like things aren't equal ever when they should because it doesn't matter if you have more money or opportunities or the color of you skin is different. Those smaller characters stood up for what they believed but were never really noticed for it except maybe once or twice publicly except for Atticus.
Also, the insensitive and racist costumes are already a topic of conversation on their own. The costumes are most of the time a mixture of overdramatic stereotypes that get more hurtful over time. They make me think about how all races have a certain stereotype attached to them as sad as it is. I remember while reading that multiple times someone/people have based a certain type of talking on a certain race (example: Calpurnia talking about how African American's talk compared to everyone else). It makes me think about how even now, if you're a white girl (or your gonna be a white girl for Halloween which is something I saw someone do), you need starbucks and uggs or something like that. In all honesty, it may not seem hurtful but it can be. You never know how someone feels about something like that.
Overall, incidents like this happen everyday and we can stop it because it's not okay.
Blog post # 3
i saw another side of scout when scout thought that the lady's were cool by how they were looking, its like if she actually could have a lady side that would work on her if she turned like that but since she liked it, it makes me feel like shell be like that more in the future.
the ladys were cool in fragile pastel prints:most of them were heavily powdered but unrouged: the only lipstick in the room was Tangee Natural. Curtex Natural sparkled on their fingernails, but some of the youngest ladies wore rose. They smelled heavenly.
another side of scout that i saw was her not being rough and mean aggressive instead she was being noble and right, because she took from what Atticus tells her, and basically how he is unviolent. instead of fighting Cecil Jacobs and just gets called a coward. drew a bead on him, remembered what Atticus had said, then dropped my fists and walked away, "Scout's a cow- ward!" ringing in my ears. It was the first time I ever walked away from a fight.
Somehow, if I fought Cecil I would let Atticus down. Atticus so rarely asked Jem and me to do something for him, I could take being called a coward for him. I felt extremely noble for having remembered, and remained noble for three weeks.
A part from TKAM that really provoked me and filled me with anger was when Atticus went to the post office and got spat on the face by bob Ewell over helping Tom Robinson in the trial.
according to ms Stephanie Crawford, however, Atticus was leaving the post office when Mr. Ewell approached him, cursed him, spat on him, and threatened to kill him.what i thought was terribly wrong here exactly everything that Mr.Ewell did to Atticus from spitting on his face to threatening him. what thought that Atticus was right, because Atticus didn't bat an eye just took out his handkerchief and wiped his face and stood there and let Mr.Ewell call him names.what should have happened was Atticus to say something smart that Mr.Ewell couldn't understand and walk away, and also for Mr.Ewell to just leave Atticus alone because it only made Mr.Ewell look even worse of a person.
I would like to relate this to Baltimore, MD — A police sergeant was suspended Tuesday after cellphone videos captured him spitting in the face of a handcuffed man. Although the man was restrained on the ground and not fighting back, police charged him with assault, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct. in both of these situations the someone spat on someones face, the victim getting spat didn't do anything but on the Baltimore situation it was because he couldn't, and on TKAM Atticus didn't want to because he knew what was best.
i saw another side of scout when scout thought that the lady's were cool by how they were looking, its like if she actually could have a lady side that would work on her if she turned like that but since she liked it, it makes me feel like shell be like that more in the future.
the ladys were cool in fragile pastel prints:most of them were heavily powdered but unrouged: the only lipstick in the room was Tangee Natural. Curtex Natural sparkled on their fingernails, but some of the youngest ladies wore rose. They smelled heavenly.
another side of scout that i saw was her not being rough and mean aggressive instead she was being noble and right, because she took from what Atticus tells her, and basically how he is unviolent. instead of fighting Cecil Jacobs and just gets called a coward. drew a bead on him, remembered what Atticus had said, then dropped my fists and walked away, "Scout's a cow- ward!" ringing in my ears. It was the first time I ever walked away from a fight.
Somehow, if I fought Cecil I would let Atticus down. Atticus so rarely asked Jem and me to do something for him, I could take being called a coward for him. I felt extremely noble for having remembered, and remained noble for three weeks.
A part from TKAM that really provoked me and filled me with anger was when Atticus went to the post office and got spat on the face by bob Ewell over helping Tom Robinson in the trial.
according to ms Stephanie Crawford, however, Atticus was leaving the post office when Mr. Ewell approached him, cursed him, spat on him, and threatened to kill him.what i thought was terribly wrong here exactly everything that Mr.Ewell did to Atticus from spitting on his face to threatening him. what thought that Atticus was right, because Atticus didn't bat an eye just took out his handkerchief and wiped his face and stood there and let Mr.Ewell call him names.what should have happened was Atticus to say something smart that Mr.Ewell couldn't understand and walk away, and also for Mr.Ewell to just leave Atticus alone because it only made Mr.Ewell look even worse of a person.
I would like to relate this to Baltimore, MD — A police sergeant was suspended Tuesday after cellphone videos captured him spitting in the face of a handcuffed man. Although the man was restrained on the ground and not fighting back, police charged him with assault, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct. in both of these situations the someone spat on someones face, the victim getting spat didn't do anything but on the Baltimore situation it was because he couldn't, and on TKAM Atticus didn't want to because he knew what was best.
blog post # 5http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/bail-set-10k-student-arrested-racial-threats-35520450
what happened here was that a 19 year old male named Tysen Campbell got bailed in jail for $10000. He was arrested on campus Monday and accused of making racial threats against black students and others on social media.This relates to my motif because its dealing with race, the white male was being racist and threatening black people on the campus, and a lot of students did not show up to school because of the threat. This also relates to TKAM because of the trial with Tom Robinson Bob ewell and Mayella Ewell. what had happened here was that ewells were blaming a black male named tom Robinson for raping and abusing Mayella they did only because Mayella tried to take advantage of tom robinson by kissing him but Tom Robinson refused and Mayellas dad found out, and accused Tom Robinson but only because he was black. Without good evidence the ewells won an unfair trial.
what happened here that was wrong was how the ewells won an unfair trial because they didn't deserve to win, they werent telling the truth. What could have happened right was for Mayella to just tell the truth, even though her father Mr.Ewell would of beaten her badly it would been the right thing to do.
I can relate this to when Aunt Alexandra- shows racism towards Calpurnia, when she was talking to Atticus.this was very unfair like the other article because it was unfair Aunt Alexandra was being rude to someone that did nothing her.I honestly thing that some people deserved to be others people shoes to understand how it feels like being treated unfair like that.
what happened here was that a 19 year old male named Tysen Campbell got bailed in jail for $10000. He was arrested on campus Monday and accused of making racial threats against black students and others on social media.This relates to my motif because its dealing with race, the white male was being racist and threatening black people on the campus, and a lot of students did not show up to school because of the threat. This also relates to TKAM because of the trial with Tom Robinson Bob ewell and Mayella Ewell. what had happened here was that ewells were blaming a black male named tom Robinson for raping and abusing Mayella they did only because Mayella tried to take advantage of tom robinson by kissing him but Tom Robinson refused and Mayellas dad found out, and accused Tom Robinson but only because he was black. Without good evidence the ewells won an unfair trial.
what happened here that was wrong was how the ewells won an unfair trial because they didn't deserve to win, they werent telling the truth. What could have happened right was for Mayella to just tell the truth, even though her father Mr.Ewell would of beaten her badly it would been the right thing to do.
I can relate this to when Aunt Alexandra- shows racism towards Calpurnia, when she was talking to Atticus.this was very unfair like the other article because it was unfair Aunt Alexandra was being rude to someone that did nothing her.I honestly thing that some people deserved to be others people shoes to understand how it feels like being treated unfair like that.
She waited until Calpurnia was in the kitchen, then she said, “Don’t talk like that in
front of them.”
“Talk like what in front of whom?” he asked.
“Like tan hat in front of Calpurnia. You said Braxton Underwood despises Negroes right in
front of her.”
“Well, I’m sure Cal knows it. Everybody in Maycomb knows it.”
I was beginning to notice a subtle change in my father these days, that came out when
he talked with Aunt Alexandra. It was a quiet digging in, never outright irritation. There
was a faint starchiness in his voice when he said, “Anything fit to say at the table’s fit to
say in front of Calpurnia. She knows what she means to this family.”
“I don’t think it’s a good habit, Atticus. It encourages them. You know how they talk
among themselves. Every thing that happens in this town’s out to the Quarters before
sundown.”
News Today
disabilities discrimination
In todays world there's a lots of discrimination against people with disabilities. this article talks about what this people feel when a person sees them or takes the handicap parking lot wen they really don't need it or when the taxis don't give service because they don't want to deal with the extra work.
We all humans actually do all theses opinions, we might be thinking we're helping them but we're actually making hem feel stupid and their not. Some might not intend to make them feel like this on purpose but other people do. they see this humans like they are nothing or that their a really weird human specie when they are not. They are humans just like everybody.
" Mr. Underwood didn’t talk about miscarriages of justice, he was writing so children could understand. Mr. Underwood simply figured it was a sin to kill cripples, be they standing, sitting, or escaping. He likened Tom’s death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and
children, and Maycomb thought he was trying to write an editorial poetical enough to be reprinted in The Montgomery Advertiser"
When Mr.Underwood talk about how they kill Tom only because of his arm remind me of discrimination against people with disabilities. I guess other then racism at him for his color they were racism at him because of his arm.
disabilities discrimination
In todays world there's a lots of discrimination against people with disabilities. this article talks about what this people feel when a person sees them or takes the handicap parking lot wen they really don't need it or when the taxis don't give service because they don't want to deal with the extra work.
We all humans actually do all theses opinions, we might be thinking we're helping them but we're actually making hem feel stupid and their not. Some might not intend to make them feel like this on purpose but other people do. they see this humans like they are nothing or that their a really weird human specie when they are not. They are humans just like everybody.
" Mr. Underwood didn’t talk about miscarriages of justice, he was writing so children could understand. Mr. Underwood simply figured it was a sin to kill cripples, be they standing, sitting, or escaping. He likened Tom’s death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and
children, and Maycomb thought he was trying to write an editorial poetical enough to be reprinted in The Montgomery Advertiser"
When Mr.Underwood talk about how they kill Tom only because of his arm remind me of discrimination against people with disabilities. I guess other then racism at him for his color they were racism at him because of his arm.
Black vs. White
"Scout," said Atticus, "n*****-lover is just one of those terms that don't mean anything...trashy people use it when they think somebody's favoring Negroes over and above themselves."
During the 1930's, racism was very strong in the southern states and segregation was in effect. In this point of the book, Atticus is giving scout a lesson in how racism works. He's explaining the power of language, not only as a way to shame those who don't fit the racist line, but also to set the terms of the debate.
In what Atticus was saying, I think he should've refrased it in a way that wasn't very bias toward negroes, because then it looks like he's favoring black people over white people, in hoping that that idea rubs off on Scout.
“I’ll repeat the question,” said Atticus. “Can you read and write?”
“I most positively can.”
“Will you write your name and show us?”
“I most positively will. How do you think I sign my relief checks?”[...] “What’s so interestin‘?” he asked.
“You’re left-handed, Mr. Ewell,” said Judge Taylor.[...]Mr. Gilmer asked him one more question. “About your writing with your left
hand, are you ambidextrous, Mr. Ewell?”
“I most positively am not, I can use one hand good as the other. One hand good as
the other,” he added, glaring at the defense table.
Jem seemed to be having a quiet fit. He was pounding the balcony rail softly, and
once he whispered, “We’ve got him.”
This is a section from the trial where Atticus is questioning Bob Ewell to see which hand he writes with because Tom Robinsin's left arm is crippled meaning he couldn't have hit Mayella due to her injury being on her right side. And Mr.Ewell has a past in beating on his daughter. So Atticus did that just to see if Bob was left handed, making it look like the beating came from her dad and NOT Tom. What was wrong with what had happened was that the jury didn't even care or take that into consideration when consulting whether or not Tom was guilty or not, ending in the verdict to be "guilty."
An incident where the person who committed the crime got away with it was the Trayvon Martin case. In this case George Zimmerman had wrongfully shot and killed Trayvon Martin saying it was in self defense. There wasn't any real evidence to back up his claim, but in the end he was found not guilty.Trayvon.
Are We Beginning Our Decline?
88. There were 88 Democrats in the House of Representatives (along with all of the Republicans) who voted to allow racial discrimination in car dealerships, with a finishing vote of 332 to 96. This means that when this vote is put to order, car dealerships will be allowed to charge you more based on your race, nullifying the act that the CFPB put into order to equalize prices. How messed up is that? Even though it's wrong, and most of them know it's wrong, money rules over equality. Luckily, none of them were from NC. However, what does that say of us as people? Even in the 21st century, when we were supposed to have a decrease in racism, money still clouds our judgement and makes greedy, horrible creatures. We shouldn't be thinking like we're in TKAM! This is the kind of decision I can see AA and Francis making, not a 21st century democrat! we're supposed to be advancing, not declining. I guess this really was the peak of America's society. Perhaps we'll follow the events of the Roman empire and have our fall, but rather than losing technology and state of living, we'll lose our morals and conscience. Who knows how the future is going to go but if people are going to go back and resume the mental state that they would've had in TKAM, I don't want to take part. Next thing you know, it's not going to be just race, it'll be gender too. We already have discrimination against minorities based on sex, gender identity, race, and sexuality, but it's mainly kept lowkey so the discriminators don't get chewed out. If we continue like we are, the discrimination will be even more blatantly obvious. *sighs* Maybe someone in the government will do something about it, may be they won't. Either way, we need change.
Until Next Time!
-Nicole
Until Next Time!
-Nicole
The Trial
Today I want to talk about one case that was presented in "TO KILL A MOCKING BIRD" the case is that a black male was accused of raping a white woman. Tom Robinson was the African male who was accused of raping Mayella Ewell, the daughter of Bob Ewell. Tom Robinson was found guilty, in Tom had a limp arm which means that he could not had raped her, in my opinion he was declared guilty because of his race which in that time period people were not equal."We know all men are not created equal in the sense some people would have us believe. Some people are smarter than others, some people would have more opportunities because they're born with it..." this is said by Atticus which is true. He is saying that we as humans are equal because we are humans, By him saying that some people are smarter than others doesn't mean that they should be treated better.Tom Robinson was killed by police officers,he was shot 17 times which was horribly wrong because he was trying to scape jail but he was half way to the fence and they shot him. You might be thinking but he was trying to escape jail they did what they were supposed to. You are wrong, Tom Robinson had a limp hand which would take him more time to jump the fence which would have gave the officer the opportunity to catch him but they shot him 17 times which to Atticus took one shot to kill a dog.
TTKAM News
Sandra Bland was arrested on July 10 because of assaulting a police officer after a traffic stop, video evidence shows that the officer asked Bland to put out her cigarette but she refused, he arrested her right after. She was found dead in Waller County jail 3 days later after supposedly hanging herself with a plastic bag, there was no cameras in Bland's cell only cameras in the hallway.The police officer shouldn't have pulled Bland out of her car because there wasn't no reason to, he should have just gave her the ticket and walked away, if he would have did that then she wouldn't be dead right now.
Tom Robinson was arrested trialed because he accused of raping Mr.Ewell daughter Mayella. He was going to be put in a jail out of the county so that he can be safe but he supposedly tried to escape and he ended up being shot 17 times in the back. The police officers that was watching Mr.Robinson should have chased him instead of shooting warning shots at him, those police officers should be charged with murder but they won't because they was just "warning him".
These two incidents could have been avoided but two African Americans ended up dead because of either discrimination or the testimony's the police gave. Tom and Sandra was both innocent.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-sandra-bland-case-20151130-story.html
Tom Robinson was arrested trialed because he accused of raping Mr.Ewell daughter Mayella. He was going to be put in a jail out of the county so that he can be safe but he supposedly tried to escape and he ended up being shot 17 times in the back. The police officers that was watching Mr.Robinson should have chased him instead of shooting warning shots at him, those police officers should be charged with murder but they won't because they was just "warning him".
These two incidents could have been avoided but two African Americans ended up dead because of either discrimination or the testimony's the police gave. Tom and Sandra was both innocent.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-sandra-bland-case-20151130-story.html
The case of Eric Gardener
blog #5 Lourdes-Pietri
Eric gardener 47 year old father of 6 was out on a warm july afternoon. He was 6'3 and 350 pounds. He had so many health problems at the time.
Eric gardener 47 year old father of 6 was out on a warm july afternoon. He was 6'3 and 350 pounds. He had so many health problems at the time.
The Trial
In this entry, I'll be discussing the Tom Robinson trial, Tom Robinson, a young African American man, was accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white man named Bob Ewell's daughter. In the end, Tom was found guilty. Robinson was said to have a limp arm and would obviously not have the strength to do such a thing. In my opinion, I believe society is the cause of him being found guilty.
In TKAM, Atticus Finch states the something that I find really important during this time:
"We know all men are not created equal in the sense some people would have us believe--
some people are smarter than others, some people would have more opportunities because they're born with it..."
Atticus is telling the truth in this sense. Society during this time was clear on the fact the blacks and whites weren't equal. Someone else, whom I'm not sure by name, made the comment saying that if it was a white man accused, people would look past it. Its how society made people believe.
In TKAM, Atticus Finch states the something that I find really important during this time:
"We know all men are not created equal in the sense some people would have us believe--
some people are smarter than others, some people would have more opportunities because they're born with it..."
Atticus is telling the truth in this sense. Society during this time was clear on the fact the blacks and whites weren't equal. Someone else, whom I'm not sure by name, made the comment saying that if it was a white man accused, people would look past it. Its how society made people believe.
Trials Then and Now
The incident that I want to talk about today involves the Tom Robinson trial in "To Kill a Mockingbird". In the Tom Robinson trial, a black man was accused of raping a white man's daughter. After a long day through the trial, the man was found guilty. After reading this trial, I thought about an incident that happened in my family during this time period also. In a small town called Rich Square, a black man was accused of raping a young white woman. The trial was called "The Buddy Bush Trial." Buddy Bush went through the same things as Tom Robinson. Buddy was found guilty also yet it was evident through the trial (and the story because it's also a book) that he was not guilty. Buddy had to escape before he had to go to jail or die for something he didn't do. My grandpa and great-grandpa helped buddy bush escape.
I believe that in both trials, things should have been evaluated better. I think it's also based on society and how African Americans during this time were treated.
I believe that in both trials, things should have been evaluated better. I think it's also based on society and how African Americans during this time were treated.
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Bob Ewell is the Worst
In the trial, Tom Robinson, a black man, was tried for raping a white woman, a crime that he did not commit. What truly happened is that a young white woman named Mayella Ewell asked him into her house to have help with something. She then tried to kiss him but he pulled away, and when her father walked in, he beat her and made racist comments to Tom. Though completely innocent, Tom was convicted and Bob was called innocent.
This part in the book has always made me so angry no matter how many times I read it. Mayella Ewell assaulted a man and then lied her way through his trial, and allowed him to be convicted while her father, who is a terrible racist person is left innocent? That's so wrong. I was SO angry with her and her father for lying, discriminating and being so unfair. If they would just tell the truth and not do such terrible things, maybe it would be a better world.
"I've asked this county for fifteen years to clean out that nest down yonder, they're dangerous to live around 'sides devaluin' my property-"
This quote is talking about people and he says "clean out that nest." This quote shows who Bob Ewell really is, and if the justice system in TKAM would have payed attention (like Atticus was) then maybe they would have caught on.
You can see how this connects to current events, and even events from a long time ago, like the Emmett Till case, where a black man committed no crime towards a white woman but faced backlash resulting in murder from the white community. We don't know for sure whether Harper Lee used this purposefully in her writing (the Till case having occurred 5 years prior to the publishing of the book) but either way the court has an unrealistic idea of black men being violent in relation to white women and jumps to extreme conclusions, according to bias or obviously unreliable evidence.
-Zosia
This part in the book has always made me so angry no matter how many times I read it. Mayella Ewell assaulted a man and then lied her way through his trial, and allowed him to be convicted while her father, who is a terrible racist person is left innocent? That's so wrong. I was SO angry with her and her father for lying, discriminating and being so unfair. If they would just tell the truth and not do such terrible things, maybe it would be a better world.
"I've asked this county for fifteen years to clean out that nest down yonder, they're dangerous to live around 'sides devaluin' my property-"
This quote is talking about people and he says "clean out that nest." This quote shows who Bob Ewell really is, and if the justice system in TKAM would have payed attention (like Atticus was) then maybe they would have caught on.
You can see how this connects to current events, and even events from a long time ago, like the Emmett Till case, where a black man committed no crime towards a white woman but faced backlash resulting in murder from the white community. We don't know for sure whether Harper Lee used this purposefully in her writing (the Till case having occurred 5 years prior to the publishing of the book) but either way the court has an unrealistic idea of black men being violent in relation to white women and jumps to extreme conclusions, according to bias or obviously unreliable evidence.
-Zosia
Life and a Book: Payback
Brazil is making headlines for an new stand on social media racism. Recently, they have been putting racist Facebook comments on billboards near the writer's house.
Now the point of these billboards are not to call people animals but bring to light the rudeness and stop racism. Yet, this whole scenario reminds me of Tom Robinson's trial. Just like in this Bob Ewell's racism and lies were brought to light. In a way the reaction embarrassed reaction of Bob Ewell is probably the same type of embarrassment that the people who put the up the billboards hoped to get out of the commentators. Though probably not extreme as how Bob Ewell reacted! Though it's kind of interesting to see the parallels between real life and a book. Talk about payback, would you ever want to see your rude comments up for the public too see!
Serach Patterson
TKAM + News = Racism
"There's something in our world that makes men lose their heads-they couldn't be fair if they tried. In our courts, when it's a white man's word against a black man's, the white man always wins. They're ugly, but those are the facts of life."
The event I chose involved the complaints about the suspension rates of different racial groups in the Durham Public School system. According to the Duke Chronicle, only about 13.9% of white students are suspended in Durham Public schools, while 52.2% of all black students are suspended, about four times as many as suspended students who were white.
One interpretation of this data was that more white students were able to get let out of being suspended or were let off than black students. A lot of them probably had good reasons for their behavior, as well as white students. Some of them may have had no reasonable defense, and the same amount probably existed among white students. And yet, more white students were able to get out of it than black students.
What should have happened was that every student about to be suspended should be listened to, and if they had a reasonable reason for their behavior, they should be let off. But if they truly had no defense, they should be suspended, regardless of race.
This is in some ways, relatable to an event from TKAM, where Atticus is explaining to Jem why they lost the case. He said that in their world, white men always won over black men in arguments. It is similar to this news story, because in both cases, the word of a white person is more likely to be considered by the authorities than the word of a black person. And both cases are discriminatory towards non-white races in general.
The event I chose involved the complaints about the suspension rates of different racial groups in the Durham Public School system. According to the Duke Chronicle, only about 13.9% of white students are suspended in Durham Public schools, while 52.2% of all black students are suspended, about four times as many as suspended students who were white.
One interpretation of this data was that more white students were able to get let out of being suspended or were let off than black students. A lot of them probably had good reasons for their behavior, as well as white students. Some of them may have had no reasonable defense, and the same amount probably existed among white students. And yet, more white students were able to get out of it than black students.
What should have happened was that every student about to be suspended should be listened to, and if they had a reasonable reason for their behavior, they should be let off. But if they truly had no defense, they should be suspended, regardless of race.
This is in some ways, relatable to an event from TKAM, where Atticus is explaining to Jem why they lost the case. He said that in their world, white men always won over black men in arguments. It is similar to this news story, because in both cases, the word of a white person is more likely to be considered by the authorities than the word of a black person. And both cases are discriminatory towards non-white races in general.Guilty
"Guilty...guilty...guilty...guilty."
This trial made me the angriest I've been in TKAM, I practically had steam coming out of my ears! Even though the sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach told me this was going to happen, there was still that naive sliver of hope that the trial would have a happy ending and justice would win. In the trial, Bob Ewell first stated his recollection of how the events went from his POV, but his explanation is riddled with holes made from sharp questions from Atticus. We find out that Bob is left handed, making it perfect for him to slap Mayella across the right side of her face. After Bob has insulted his way out of the witness seat, we get an account of the story from Mayella but like her father's story, it's filled with flaws and holes. Mayella pulls the pity card and bursts into tears after saying Tom choked her and refuses to answer more questions. I wanted to slap this girl across the face so bad, how could you lie so shamelessly? She is removed for the testimony area and Tom is sent up. As he stands, we see that he's crippled and that his left arm is much shorter than his left. This should've made it obvious that Bob and Mayella were lying, but I guess white supremacy always wins over the black truth. He tells his story, completely contradicting Mayella and Bob, and we are sent to wait for what should've been an obvious verdict. The Judge counts the votes, saying 'guilty' over and over again, causing my heart to boil with rage. Even in the current day, we haven't fixed the prejudice that we have against blacks, shown in multiple trials and convictions of blacks, as well as racial discrimination.
So, the big problem here is that even though we've improved, we're still not a completely unbiased, unracist nation and still discriminate. Maybe it's time to completely get rid of that.
Until Next Time!
-Nicole
This trial made me the angriest I've been in TKAM, I practically had steam coming out of my ears! Even though the sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach told me this was going to happen, there was still that naive sliver of hope that the trial would have a happy ending and justice would win. In the trial, Bob Ewell first stated his recollection of how the events went from his POV, but his explanation is riddled with holes made from sharp questions from Atticus. We find out that Bob is left handed, making it perfect for him to slap Mayella across the right side of her face. After Bob has insulted his way out of the witness seat, we get an account of the story from Mayella but like her father's story, it's filled with flaws and holes. Mayella pulls the pity card and bursts into tears after saying Tom choked her and refuses to answer more questions. I wanted to slap this girl across the face so bad, how could you lie so shamelessly? She is removed for the testimony area and Tom is sent up. As he stands, we see that he's crippled and that his left arm is much shorter than his left. This should've made it obvious that Bob and Mayella were lying, but I guess white supremacy always wins over the black truth. He tells his story, completely contradicting Mayella and Bob, and we are sent to wait for what should've been an obvious verdict. The Judge counts the votes, saying 'guilty' over and over again, causing my heart to boil with rage. Even in the current day, we haven't fixed the prejudice that we have against blacks, shown in multiple trials and convictions of blacks, as well as racial discrimination.
So, the big problem here is that even though we've improved, we're still not a completely unbiased, unracist nation and still discriminate. Maybe it's time to completely get rid of that.
Until Next Time!
-Nicole
Blast from the past
"There's something in our world that makes men lose their heads—they couldn't be fair if they tried. In our courts, when it's a white man's word against a black man's, the white man always wins. They're ugly, but those are the facts of life. […]"The one place where a man ought to get a square deal is in a courtroom, be he any color of the rainbow, but people have a way of carrying their resentments right into a jury box." (pg.38-40)
This quote really speaks out to me because throughout history there has been and will always be racial discrimination and injustice, unfortunately.And you would think that even with people having there prejudices that they would at least have the decency and respect to allow everyone a say so without wrongly being accused of something he or she didn't do. This world is very corrupt, an innocent black male could be walking down the street and could get "accidentally" accused and killed for just being present and black at that very moment.While a white man could go shoot up some place get arrested but gets treated with care and with grace.There's white privilege and sadly there will always be.
Local Relations
This news story was of a police who went to far with what he did he shot a black man excessively basically police brutality. What wrong was using the force that he did and shooting and killing him. What should have happened was the police should have sense to not do something like that.The problem this shows is that these white attorneys shot 5 black lives matter protesters. Only 4 of 5 survived from the shots . This is just plainly wrong the attorneys are charged with murder.
Connections In Life
In the book there was a quote that really appealed to me it was ''theres something in our world that makes men lose their heads they couldnt be fair if they tried.'' ''In our courts when its a white word aginst a black mans the white mans word the white man always wins.'' ''theyre ugly but those are the facts of life.'' This connect to me in my life how sometimes when getting in trouble sometimes the more who was whiter in color would get the advantage and come winning were i would lose but he would know that he was wrong.
Blog 4
In Tom Robinsons trial, Atticus defended Tom with great evidence to support him and help prove his innocence. The key thing that Atticus pointed out was that Tom couldn't have punched or strangled Mayella with his left arm because it was hurt in an accident. All the evidence Atticus said showed that he was innocent. Even Mayellas and her fathers testimonies didn't seem to go together at some points of their stories.
In the end the jury says that Tom Robinson is guilty. It bugs me how the jury found Tom guilty when all the evidence showed he was innocent for something he didn't do. I guess the jury was racist toward Tom because he was a black man accused of hurting a white woman. What should have happened was the jury said that Tom Robinson was innocent of the crimes against him.
In the end the jury says that Tom Robinson is guilty. It bugs me how the jury found Tom guilty when all the evidence showed he was innocent for something he didn't do. I guess the jury was racist toward Tom because he was a black man accused of hurting a white woman. What should have happened was the jury said that Tom Robinson was innocent of the crimes against him.
Racist Jury?
One of the reasons Tom Robinson was found guilty was because of the racially prejudiced jury. All white, of course they didn't want to prove him innocent. This type of prejudice in the court system is not just something that Harper Lee made up. It still happens today.
Turns out, lawyers will choose their jury by the color of their skin. On Nov. 2, there was a re-trial for an old case from 1987. A black teen was charged for murdering an elderly white woman. The jury for the re-trial was chosen simply by the color of the potential jurors' skin tone. Apparently, this was definitely not the first or last time. It happens all the time!
Found in prosecutor's notes was a list of the jurors, with a note next to their name. Either "W" (meaning white), "B" (meaning black), or "B#1" (meaning black and definitely not a good candidate). I don't understand how this is fair, or even legal. Turns out that way back in 1986 the Supreme Court ruled that jurors could not be taken of the stand on the basis of their race or gender. THEN WHY ARE WE BREAKING THE RULES?
If a prosecutor is asked why they are removing a certain person from the jury, they have 2 options: give a non-racial reason, or use a peremptory challenge (meaning they don't have to explain themselves). This needs to not be allowed, because while it still is in place, trials such as the Tom Robinson case or the Nov. 2 case will never be justly charged.
Turns out, lawyers will choose their jury by the color of their skin. On Nov. 2, there was a re-trial for an old case from 1987. A black teen was charged for murdering an elderly white woman. The jury for the re-trial was chosen simply by the color of the potential jurors' skin tone. Apparently, this was definitely not the first or last time. It happens all the time!
Found in prosecutor's notes was a list of the jurors, with a note next to their name. Either "W" (meaning white), "B" (meaning black), or "B#1" (meaning black and definitely not a good candidate). I don't understand how this is fair, or even legal. Turns out that way back in 1986 the Supreme Court ruled that jurors could not be taken of the stand on the basis of their race or gender. THEN WHY ARE WE BREAKING THE RULES?
If a prosecutor is asked why they are removing a certain person from the jury, they have 2 options: give a non-racial reason, or use a peremptory challenge (meaning they don't have to explain themselves). This needs to not be allowed, because while it still is in place, trials such as the Tom Robinson case or the Nov. 2 case will never be justly charged.
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