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Post by juliecallan on Jul 13, 2016 20:34:58 GMT
In the middle of chapter eleven, Jeremy Finch, is confused on a certain term that could mean something bad as long as you let it get to you. "You aren't really a nigger-lover, then, are you?"
Jem asked this question because it could either be good or bad. It could mean his father, Atticus, is apart of something that could change the world, or bring it crumbling down... if you let it get to you.
"I certainly am. I do my best to love everybody... I'm hard put, sometimes—baby, it's never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is, it doesn't hurt you." Atticus believes that all men and woman are equal, whether their black, white, blue, or orange. That no matter on the outside of how we look, it all depends on our inside, and that we are all the same. In giving Scout a lesson in the definition of racism, Atticus also does the same for us, the readers. On the basis in this conversation, racists use "nigger-lover" to suggest that a person is trying to give African-Americans special rights, but Atticus points out that all he's arguing for is equality, loving everybody the same. That a higher power created us differently but yet, the same. That we are all unique while also being the same and not one person, or ethnicity, is lower than the other. Furthermore, Jem and Scout are at the age where they are old enough to understand about racism and equality, but young enough to adapt to what's going on.
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Post by sadiehedemark1076 on Jul 15, 2016 1:12:44 GMT
I agree. As Scout and Jem learn from their father they learn to not judge based on color. Which is why I think that Cal is an important character because she is a black lady living in a house of white folks. Jem and Scout didn't see her as their slave, they saw her more as a motherly figure. I think that having Atticus there to help them with the concept of racism, they understand more. Also the fact that Atticus was defending a black man made talk around the town spread like a wildfire. I think as young as Jem and Scout were, it was harder for them to understand. In society today we still struggle with equality and racism, but I will admit it has gotten better over the years.
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Post by dianadelvalle on Jul 15, 2016 18:00:12 GMT
I agree with you. The Finch family was mediator in the middle of this cultural issue that, though they tried, were unable to overcome. Despite it being his job, Atticus, who was very well respected by everyone, recieves blows from all sides of the dice. The white towns people think of him as being a "nigger-lover," his sister seeing him as irresponsible, and even a few black people who have been so oppressed (Lula at The First Purchase Church), they see nothing but a crossing of strict boundaries. This sense of traditional segregation has plagued them for so long that the community refuses to give it up. Thus, when Atticus tries to equalize people in the name of the law, it is seen as threatening the white way of life. Jem and Scout didn't reconize it for racism until a little later in the development of the story because they were the children of a lawyer; the law was the law, and justice is absolute despite those involved. To see the increasingly disturbing reactions to the Tom Robinson case first-hand, they realized this was not the case.
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Post by paigestan on Aug 1, 2016 21:46:47 GMT
I agree with you that everyone is equal and Atticus is trying to prove that even when no one is appreciating him for it, whatever he does is wrong and somehow turns into a big racism fest. What doesn't make sense is that he states "it just shows how poor that person is" its still not right to call people names based on how much money they make. No one should feel different based on there own salary. Atticus has a higher paying job and for him to look at other people based on how much money they make it still isn't seeing everybody equal.
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Post by shanarabrinkman on Aug 3, 2016 3:49:49 GMT
I agree that everyone is equal, or should be. As Atticus continuous to teach Scout and Jem lessons throughout the book, one of which being that everyone is equal, he also teaches us readers that "you cant judge a book by its cover", which I believe goes hand in hand with "put yourself in someone else's shoes" yet another lesson Atticus was trying to teach his children.
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Post by rykerseats on Aug 3, 2016 17:09:06 GMT
I agree. Atticus was not trying to get all of the attention he got by being a "nigger lover". He was trying to do what was right and give everyone a far chance in the court room. Jem and Scout understood that being equal is a good thing and they did not understand why they were being picked on. I think they got this way because they had an African American woman in their house for most of their lives. Cal was like a mother to them. I don't think they got the equality idea in there head all from Atticus.
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Post by natestafford on Aug 3, 2016 22:46:14 GMT
I agree, Atticus does want everyone one to be equal, not for the attention but he truly believes and strives for everyone to be equal. Atticus through out the entire novel he was always giving lessons to Jem and Scout, but between the lines he was actually giving us as the reader a lesson on equality. His teaching of Jem and Scout showed up in many different parts but mainly during Tom Robinson's trial, when they went to watch the trial they sat in the colored section and not in the white section. Atticus later said "Which, gentlemen, we know is in itself a lie as black as Tom Robinson's skin, a lie I do not have to point out to you. You know the truth, and the truth is this: some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral, some Negro men are not to be trusted around women—black or white. But this is a truth that applies to the human race and to no particular race of men..." Atticus is saying that we need to judge people by who they are not their skin, bringing him back to his internal morals.
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Post by marliegroshans on Aug 5, 2016 17:12:56 GMT
I agree as well. Atticus tries to love everybody because he sees everyone as equals no matter their color, and is trying to pass that on to his children at a young age, so they don't become judgmental of someone else's race as adults. Although, at first Jem and Scout don't understand the situation completely at first they soon get understand his morals, and have them too.
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Post by isabellalyda on Aug 9, 2016 3:17:50 GMT
I agree with you Julie, and I think it was interesting for you to mention that about Scout and Jem's age. Atticus knew they were old enough to understand, and that was an important aspect considering all that has happened in the novel. They were at the perfect age to learn what Atticus taught them without the conflict of "what they've known their whole life." Despite the town and its opinions, the Finch family remained strong in what they believed in and didn't let the things that people said get to them.
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Post by Grace Schwarzenberger on Aug 9, 2016 18:16:33 GMT
I believe that Aticus explained "nigger-lover" very well to his son. I also think Jeremy is a very impressionable young man.We all have been in a point in our lives were we have heard something that can be good or bad depending on how you take it, but it also depends on the person. I think Jeremy did believe in"lloving everyone the same" , but he had not been exposed to someone trying to label it in such a controversial way.
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Post by sheaward101 on Aug 10, 2016 5:47:20 GMT
I agree with your analysis of Aticus, however Jem and Scout do a pretty good job of adapting to the conditions they are placed in. Aticus does an extraordinary job raising them and teaching them to understand other people, which he repeatedly reminds Scout of doing. They either brush it off, or try to get more information on their situations. I would do the same thing, and I am much older than the two of them. For most of the novel, Scout and Jem didn't have control over their circumstances, so they just accepted it. So in turn they adapted to their situations rather well.
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Post by kassidydye on Aug 11, 2016 23:14:20 GMT
I agree that everyone is equal and that everyone should be treated equal. Jem and Scouts father Atticus shows that judging someone without getting to know that person isn't a good road to take. So with the lessons Atticus teaches he shows that everyone is equal and that everyone should be treated that way also.
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Post by samuellongwell on Aug 12, 2016 20:29:37 GMT
I agree. I think that Atticus did a good job raising his kids teaching them that everyone is equal no matter what skin color they are.
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Post by benswanson00 on Aug 13, 2016 15:04:02 GMT
I agree with your statement. I believe that Atticus not only thinks that his children are old enough to understand that racism and discrimination are not moral, and young enough to not be stubborn on their current opinion on race and discrimination. He is trying to teach them to love everyone so they can go on to change the future for the better.
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Post by benswanson00 on Aug 13, 2016 16:41:19 GMT
I agree with your statement. I believe that Atticus not only thinks that his children are old enough to understand that racism and discrimination are not moral, and young enough to not be stubborn on their current opinion on race and discrimination. He is trying to teach them to love everyone so they can go on to change the future for the better.
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