SsPractise Essay

Introduction:
Composers manipulate form to provide similar ideas to represent different human behaviour
towards differences and social unrest. In the great depression Lee’s To Kill a Mocking Bird is
considered from the perspective of a young girl named Scout as she experiences the racial
injustice faced by Tom Robinson. Meanwhile Parker’s Mississippi Burning is from the
perspective of a collective experience of racism as the whole black community is facing trouble
and injustice from the white people. Although the ideas portrayed in both texts are similar, the
different depiction of human activities during a civil unrest help us understand how the racial
segregation present in a community is established, and the exposure of racism one is exposed
to as a child.

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Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird (1988) is a novel that illustrates the racial segregation present in
racist Maycomb, Alabama. The play is a first-person narrative narrated from the perspective of
a young girl named Scout, who unlike other children is raised by a father who accepts diversity
in the community and considers people of colour to be innocent. One of the major themes
explored throughout the novel is racism. The repetition and of the phrase “negro” emphasises
and degrades the status of coloured people in the community. Throughout the novel we can
see how white people keep on referring to coloured people with this term and we can observe
their negative attitude towards people with colour. Later on, Atticus tells Jem, “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”. With this quote Atticus is trying to educate Jem that not
everything is fair and just. He compares this lesson to the lives of coloured people and how they
are not treated fairly, establishing the racist nature of the people in the community. Along with
the negative attitude expressed to coloured people, the people in the community also show
hatred towards people who support and help the coloured people as they believe that they are
better than the coloured people. We can see how Mrs Dubose yells as Scout and Jem “Your
father’s no better than the nigger and trash he works for”. This quote also demonstrates the
racism present in the community.

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Similarly, Parkers Mississippi burning (1988) also portrays the divide in the community and their
conflicting idea regarding people with colour. Mississippi Burning takes place in an extremely
racist Mississippi in America during the civil rights movement where two FBI detectives go to
investigate the disappearance of three civil right workers. The movie starts with a vector which
segregates white people with the people of colour. A similar vector can also be observed
between the house of Atticus where he teaches that coloured people are equal compared to
the rest of the community who look down on the coloured people. We can see that there are
two water fountains. One are for white people, and one are for coloured. We can also observe
how the water fountain for the white people is in better condition meanwhile the one meant
for people with colour is overflowing. This scene establishes the divide in the community and
gives the audience an idea about how racist the town is. We can also see how the white label is
higher than the black label indicating how the white people have a higher social status and how
they look down on the people with colour. Later on, throughout the film we can see the
repeating motif of fire which symbolises destruction. The white believe that the coloured
people “hate” Mississippi and that they don’t belong there, although ironically the white people
are causing all the destruction by lighting their houses, farms, and churches on fire. This
violence towards the people of colour indicates the racist attitude the white people have
towards the people with colour the physical segregation which is present in the community.

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Another thing we can observe in both Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird and Parker’s Mississippi
Burning is that racism is a learnt behaviour and that no one is born racist. Lee portrays this idea
by narrating the story by the perspective of a young child (scout) which symbolises innocence
which shows us how racism is learnt and not a natural behaviour. Atticus tells Scout “Shoot all
the bluejays you want if you can't hit ‘em but remember it's a sin To Kill a Mockingbird”. The
word “mockingbird" is used to represent innocence and goodness and killing it is a “sin”.
Therefore, the quote indicates how it is wrong to harm innocent beings, just as it is a sin To Kill
a Mockingbird. This quote teaches us how we should always protect the good (which in this
case is Tom Robinson). In the movie, Parker shows the concept of racism is learnt, in the Speech
Scene. Throughout the speech we can see close up shots of children and how they are being
exposed to such racist talk which indicates how the children are learning the nature of racism
which proves that racism is a learned habit.

In conclusion, using thorough analysis of the quotes and film techniques shown in the novel and
prose fiction, we can conclude that both Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird and Parker’s movie
Mississippi Burning use various quotes and film techniques to educate readers on the themes of
racism and segregation of society in the community, with the perspective of a naïve young
Scout and the scenes in the movie.

Introduction:

The manipulation of narrative form by composers serves as a conduit for converging concepts that
portray distinct human responses to societal differences and unrest. Against the backdrop of the Great
Depression, Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" introduces Scout's vantage point, unraveling the
tapestry of racial injustice suffered by Tom Robinson. Conversely, Alan Parker's "Mississippi Burning"
captures a collective narrative, delving into the ordeal of an entire black community ensnared in the
clutches of racism. While both texts converge in thematic essence, their divergent portrayals of human
conduct during societal turmoil illuminate the establishment of racial schisms within a community,
magnifying the varied exposure to racism from childhood innocence to societal participation.
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Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" unfurls as a poignant exploration of racial divisions entrenched in
Maycomb, Alabama. Through the eyes of the young protagonist Scout, the novel navigates the nuances
of a racially prejudiced society. The recurring term "negro" serves as a disquieting refrain, underscoring
the marginalization of people of color. This linguistic choice echoes the pervasive negative sentiment
held by the white population, a sentiment further emphasized by Atticus' sobering revelation: "In our
courts, when it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always wins." The
juxtaposition of "ugly" with "facts of life" underscores the inherent injustice that permeates society.
Mrs. Dubose's venomous outburst, "Your father’s no better than the n***** and trash he works for,"
serves as a testament to the hostile climate, revealing the interwoven fabric of racism and disdain aimed
at those advocating for racial equality.

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Similarly, Alan Parker's "Mississippi Burning" erects a searing portrait of a racially divided community
during the civil rights era. The film employs visual cues like a segregated water fountain to underscore
the chasm between white and colored citizens. This symbol of division, mirrored by the contrasting
environment in Atticus' house, amplifies the community's schism. The juxtaposition is further
illuminated by the contrasting conditions of the two fountains and their labels, embodying the
hierarchical power dynamics that maintain racial inequity. The recurring motif of fire, emblematic of
destruction, holds a dual narrative - the white community's false claim that colored individuals "hate"
Mississippi, and the violent, discriminatory actions the white population perpetrates. This motif
underscores the systemic racism ingrained in the town's core, casting light on the physical and
ideological segregation endured by the black community.

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Both "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "Mississippi Burning" converge in demonstrating the learned nature of
racism. Lee accomplishes this through Scout's perspective, symbolizing the purity of youth that can
either be tainted by prejudice or preserved through understanding. Atticus' exhortation to "Remember
it's a sin To Kill a Mockingbird" subtly aligns with Tom Robinson's unjust trial, revealing the parallel
between the harm done to innocence and the racial bias manifested in the courtroom. Meanwhile,
Parker encapsulates this notion in the Speech Scene, where close-up shots of children absorbing racist
dialogue underscore the insidious manner in which prejudice is propagated across generations.

Conclusion:

In the tapestry of literary and cinematic artistry, "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "Mississippi Burning"
interlace narrative strands to expose the corroding influence of racism and societal divisions. Through
the eyes of Scout and the lens of Parker's camera, both compositions underscore the intrinsic
relationship between learned prejudice, societal dissonance, and the erosion of innocence. These
narratives function as mirrors reflecting the multilayered landscape of prejudice, ultimately inviting
audiences to introspect and confront the enduring impacts of racism on communities.

Introduction:

 Manipulation of narrative form by composers

 Converging concepts portraying responses to societal differences

 "To Kill a Mockingbird" - Harper Lee

 Scout's perspective on racial injustice

 "Mississippi Burning" - Alan Parker

 Collective narrative of a black community facing racism

 Thematic essence and divergent portrayals

 Exposure to racism from childhood innocence to societal participation

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 "To Kill a Mockingbird" setting and racial divisions

 Scout's viewpoint on racial prejudice

 Repetition of "negro" emphasizing marginalization

 Atticus' revelation: "In our courts, when it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white
man always wins."

 Juxtaposition of "ugly" with "facts of life"

 Mrs. Dubose's statement on Atticus: "Your father’s no better than the n***** and trash he
works for."

 Racism and disdain towards racial equality

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 "Mississippi Burning" and racial division during civil rights era

 Visual cues: segregated water fountain

 Contrasting environment in Atticus' house

 Conditions of two fountains and labels indicating power dynamics

 Recurring motif of fire symbolizing destruction

 White community's claim vs. actual actions

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 Learned nature of racism in both texts

 Scout's perspective symbolizing innocence and learning

 Atticus' quote: "Remember it's a sin To Kill a Mockingbird."

 Parallel between harm to innocence and racial bias

 Parker's Speech Scene and close-up shots of children

 Propagation of prejudice across generations

Conclusion:

 Interlacing narratives of "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "Mississippi Burning"

 Exposing influence of racism and societal divisions

 Scout's perspective and Parker's lens

 Relationship between learned prejudice, societal dissonance, and innocence erosion

 Reflection of multilayered landscape of prejudice

 Invitation for audiences to introspect and confront impacts of racism