During the beginning of time to about the mid-1900's, African-Americans had barely any rights. They couldn’t go to certain places like schools and they weren’t allowed to do some things like drink from a white water fountain. Almost every place had signs that said, “Whites Only” or “No Blacks”. It wasn’t just some white people who were racist, it was everyone. Because of the era they grew up in, everyone hated blacks. In the novel, racism is handled the same way. The book took place in the 1930's and people still had the burning hatred for black people. All of them except the Finch’s anyhow. Atticus wasn’t racist and he tried to keep his family thinking the same way, that blacks have the same rights as everyone else. Harper Lee addresses the issues of blacks in the story through the characters of Atticus Finch, Bob Ewell, and Tom Robinson.
One character that shows Harper Lee’s conveyence of African-American issues is Bob Ewell. Bob Ewell is a low class man who is very racist and very stubborn. He is also the father of Mayella Ewell, who accused Tom Robinson of raping her. Bob Ewell lives near the dump and is very poor. One way that Bob Ewell helped convey Harper Lee’s message of African-American’s is when Link Deas says, “Ewell?” “I say Ewell!” The windows normally packed with children were empty. “I know every last one of you’s in there a-layin’ on the floor! Now hear me Bob Ewell: if I hear one more peep outa my girl Helen about not bein’ able to walk this road, I’ll have you in jail before sundown!” (Lee 249). This quote is from when Bob Ewell is following Helen Robinson when she goes to work. He whispers obscenities quietly and is caught by Link Deas. This shows the struggle of African-Americans to freely walk around without getting profanity yelled at them. Another way Harper Lee uses Bob Ewell is when Scout asks, “Cal, I know Tom Robinson’s in jail an’ he’s done something awful, but why won’t folks hire Helen?” (Lee 123). This quote is when...