Introduction
The theme of racial prejudice and ethnic inequality occupies a significant place in history and is the subject of many literary works. Writers from different eras described the problem and used distinctive ways of presenting a situation in which society accepted bias and stigmatization as natural elements of everyday life. As examples of such works, one can mention Harper Lee’s (1962) outstanding novel To Kill a Mockingbird and James Baldwin’s (1963) world-famous letter to his nephew called “My Dungeon Shook.” The topic of racism as a factor that poisons normal social coexistence is acute in both works and directly conveys the authors’ views on the impossibility of building normal human relationships under existing prejudices.
Different Emotional Context
Although the authors of the works in question clearly adhered to the position of the inadmissibility of racism, their approaches to expressing their views differed. For instance, through metaphors and hidden meanings, Lee (1962) conveys an attitude to the problem, while Baldwin (1963) uses lively and emotional language, thereby showing his anxiety. At the same time, both works include important ideas that stigmatization is the scourge of society and cannot be considered an adequate evaluation criterion.
Atticus Finch, the protagonist of Lee’s (1962) novel, says the following: “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view” (p. 34). This statement highlights that stigmatizing a person is irrational when the context is unknown. In other words, no one should build personal assumptions about others based solely on personal perceptions. When this practice becomes widespread, which is especially noticeable in the context of American history in recent centuries, society begins to pursue false ideals. Therefore, the fight against racial prejudice is not only a legal but also a socially justified measure designed to help people live in harmony.
Racial Prejudice and Humanism
The topic of humanism, which can be traced in the novel, is clearly raised in the letter. To address racial prejudice, Baldwin (1963) suggests that the first step is to try showing love toward those who show bias. When addressing his nephew, he says the following: “You must accept them and accept them with love,” meaning the white population by “them” (Baldwin, 1963, para. 5). This approach to understanding the way to solve the problem involves the absence of direct struggle and the encouragement of voluntary acceptance of the difference between people.
As history shows, gradually, humanity began to realize the inadmissibility of racial contradictions and the manifestation of bias toward representatives of ethnic minorities solely due to their origin. However, even in the modern world, this problem persists, albeit not on the same scale as several decades ago. Racial bias is a historical relic that takes a long time to overcome. As Lee (1962) writes, “the one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience” (p. 109). Such a position approach, based on humanism and moral and ethical values, is one of the few principles that can help dispel stereotypes about racial inequality.
Conclusion
The inadmissibility of racism and the need to combat racial prejudice are touched upon in To Kill a Mockingbird and “My Dungeon Shook.” Despite the distinctive emotional context, the message of the inhumane nature of stigmatization and bias based on personal perceptions is clear. The context of humanism emphasizes the importance of popularizing the idea of maintaining harmony between people, including through the meeting of moral and ethical values and respect.
References
Baldwin, J. (1963). My dungeon shook. History Is a Weapon. Web.
Lee, H. (1962). To kill a mockingbird. Popular Library.