Of Course Atticus Finch Was a Racist—And That’s Okay

The Federalist ^ | 07/14/2015 | David Marcus

[SeekAndFind]

Just as is the case today, the educated class held the pronouncements of science quite dearly. The best science of Atticus’s time would have confirmed the belief that whites were superior and interbreeding was bad for mankind.

MY QUESTION:

WAS THE "SCIENCE" CONSIDERED "SETTLED" THEN?

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ATTICUS FINCH

[quadrant]

Unfortunately, some people mis-understand the nature of Finch's feelings. He may have very negative opinions of black people, but as a lawyer and a human being be quite unwilling to allow a man to be convicted of a crime he did not commit.

[2ndDivisionVet]

“I will say then that I am not, nor ever have been in favor of bringing about in anyway the social and political equality of the white and black races – that I am not nor ever have been in favor of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality. And inasmuch as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race. I say upon this occasion I do not perceive that because the white man is to have the superior position the negro should be denied everything.”

"There is a natural disgust in the minds of nearly all white people to the idea of indiscriminate amalgamation of the white and black races ... A separation of the races is the only perfect preventive of amalgamation, but as an immediate separation is impossible, the next best thing is to keep them apart where they are not already together. If white and black people never get together in Kansas, they will never mix blood in Kansas ..."

"In the language of Mr. Jefferson, uttered many years ago, "It is still in our power to direct the process of emancipation, and deportation, peaceably, and in such slow degrees, as that the evil will wear off insensibly; and in their places be, pari passu [on an equal basis], filled up by free white laborers."

"Our republican system was meant for a homogeneous people. As long as blacks continue to live with the whites they constitute a threat to the national life. Family life may also collapse and the increase of mixed breed bastards may some day challenge the supremacy of the white man."

~Abraham Lincoln

[longfellow]

He did chase a WHITE whale.

[Bratch]

AFI's 100 Years...100 Heroes & Villains: #1 Hero - Atticus Finch

[blueunicorn6]

And he was a dog shooter.

People miss that part.

Atticus could kill to defend his family and town against a mad dog.

People just conveniently forget that.

What was the author saying when she put this in the story?

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Bump.

[goodwithagun]

I teach TKAM to my juniors. Every year I find a new conservative nuance. The book is extremely conservative. Atticus gives his children tools to deal with life's unfairness, he does not helicopter parent. While Atticus does not approve of certain words, he tells his children that others have the right to use them. At the end of chapter four, Lee (or Capote) creates an amazing anti-welfare metaphor condemning those who both abuse and enable social programs. Atticus’ closing argument in the trial would make our Founders weep with joy. Atticus never exhibited self importance because he was doing what was right when nobody else was not.
The quote posted in The Times does not mean Atticus is racist: “the Negros down here are still in their childhood as a people.” I think the past few months of modern history prove that.

[fhayek]

Peck considered running against Reagan in his re-election bid for governor of California in 1970. Liberal.

[goodwithagun]

To paraphrase Miss Maudie, Atticus was comfortable doing the jobs that nobody else had the nerve to do. Our personal biases are fine as long as we don't violate anybody’s basic Constitutional rights.

[Rinnwald]

What was the author saying when she put this in the story?

She was indicating that Atticus was a real man and not a poofter. It was meant to innoculate the character's views on equality from being degenerate, or viewed as an aberration.

TKaM was some mighty fine liberal propaganda. Not that the races shouldn't be treated equally and with dignity, but as a libel against southern culture. All of the institutions, save for the lone hero, were evil, turning everything upside down. The only other white male that did right was the weirdo and recluse Boo Radley.

[miserare]

Harper Lee is a big phony. TKAM was actually written by Truman Capote, who took pity on his feeble-minded cousin and wanted to provide her with an income for life.

[Barry Cratus]

[atc23]

I said it - Lincoln is on the purge list.

[Captain Peter Blood]

Disagree with your analysis as Lee helped Truman write “In Cold Blood”.

Now what I have been thinking about is the possibility that ,if this new book is legitimate, is Truman helped write that one and may outlined the original character of Atticus Finch given the thinking and feelings of 1930’s Alabama.

[miserare]

Guess we will never know the truth, since Capote is dead, and Ms. Lee’s handlers will never let her be interviewed.

[atc23]

Harper Lee is a southern lady - before anything else. She is old school.

[blueunicorn6]

Of course.

But in the story, Atticus kills a dog. A dog is “Mans Best Friend”.

Why not some other danger?

[bgill]

Much ado about nothing.