“To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee

“To Kill a Mockingbird” is a classic 1960 novel that delves into the complexities of racial injustice and the moral conscience of a small Southern town.

Published in 1960, this Pulitzer Prize-winning book continues to captivate readers with its compelling characters, powerful themes, and thought-provoking narrative. Set in the 1930s during the Great Depression, the story unfolds through the eyes of Scout Finch, lawyer Atticus Finch’s young daughter, growing up in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama. Through Scout’s innocent yet perceptive viewpoint, Lee offers profound insights into the human condition, challenging readers to confront their own prejudices and embrace empathy.

The novel begins with Scout, her brother Jem, and their friend Dill as they embark on a journey of self-discovery and learn valuable lessons about compassion, integrity, and the destructive nature of prejudice. As the story progresses the story shifts around Scout’s father, Atticus Finch, a lawyer who defends a black man named Tom Robinson falsely accused of raping a white woman, Mayella Ewell.

The events lead to tension as the trial unfolds, highlighting the deep-rooted racism and inequality prevalent in Maycomb in the 60s. Despite overwhelming evidence of Tom’s innocence, the biased jury delivers a guilty verdict, highlighting the pervasive nature of prejudice in society. Through Atticus’ unwavering commitment to justice, the novel presents a powerful critique of the flawed legal system and the social barriers that hinder progress. A topic even more timely today.

In parallel to the trial, Scout and Jem experience the cruel realities of racism firsthand. They befriend a reclusive neighbor, Boo Radley, who becomes a symbol of misunderstood innocence. The children’s gradual realization of the complexities of their community challenges their own prejudices and shapes their understanding of empathy and compassion.

Themes and Symbolism

“To Kill a Mockingbird” tackles a multitude of timeless themes, primarily exploring racial injustice, social inequality, and the loss of innocence. Lee uses the symbol of the mockingbird to convey the idea of innocence destroyed by prejudice. Atticus advises Scout and Jem that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird because they provide nothing but joy through their song. Similarly, Tom Robinson and Boo Radley are metaphorical mockingbirds, innocent victims of society’s prejudice and cruelty.

The novel also addresses the theme of moral courage, as embodied by Atticus Finch. Despite facing overwhelming odds and condemnation from the townspeople, Atticus fearlessly defends Tom Robinson, guided by his unwavering sense of right and wrong. Through Atticus, Lee emphasizes the importance of standing up for justice and challenging societal norms, even in the face of adversity.

Impact and Significance

“To Kill a Mockingbird” remains an influential and thought-provoking work of literature that continues to resonate with readers across generations. Lee’s nuanced portrayal of characters, including the fiercely independent Scout, the compassionate Atticus, and the mysterious Boo Radley, enables readers to connect with their struggles and triumphs. The novel’s exploration of racial injustice, empathy, and the loss of innocence encourages introspection and raises important questions about societal norms and the pursuit of justice.

Beyond its literary merits, “To Kill a Mockingbird” has also had a profound impact on American society. It played a significant role in shaping conversations about race and social equality during the civil rights movement of the 1960s and continues to inspire discussions about systemic racism and the importance of empathy in today’s society.

The court scene of the movie “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

Who Was Harper Lee?

Nelle Harper Lee was born on April 28, 1926 in Monroeville, Alabama, the youngest of four children. Her father, A.C. Lee, was a lawyer who once defended two black men accused of murdering a white storekeeper. Both father and son were hanged.

Lee developed a passion for English literature while enrolled at Monroe County High School, under the guidance of her teacher, Gladys Watson, who became her mentor. After graduating in 1944, Lee attended the University of Alabama where she wrote for the university newspaper, followed by a summer school program, “European Civilisation in the Twentieth Century,” at Oxford University in England.

In 1949, Lee made her way to New York City where she first worked at a bookstore, then as an airline reservation agent—while writing in her spare time. Eight-years later, the now 31-year-old Lee delivered a manuscript, “Go Set a Watchman” to the Lippincott publishing house who eventually bought it. At Lippincott, the novel fell into the hands of Tay Hohoff. Hohoff was impressed, and felt “The spark of the true writer flashed in every line”, but saw the manuscript not ready publication, describing it as “more a series of anecdotes than a fully conceived novel.” Lee wrote a series of drafts under Hohoff’s guidance, who later described the process: “After a couple of false starts, the story-line, interplay of characters, and fall of emphasis grew clearer, and with each revision—there were many minor changes as the story grew in strength and in her own vision of it—the true stature of the novel became evident. “Go Set a Watchman” achieved its finished form and was retitled “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Lee opted to use the name “Harper Lee” rather than risk having her first name Nelle be misidentified as “Nellie.”

I never expected any sort of success with Mockingbird. I was hoping for a quick and merciful death at the hands of the reviewers, but at the same time I sort of hoped someone would like it enough to give me encouragement. Public encouragement. I hoped for a little, as I said, but I got rather a whole lot, and in some ways this was just about as frightening as the quick, merciful death I’d expected.

— Harper Lee, 1964.

“To Kill a Mockingbird” was published July 11, 1960, was an immediate bestseller and won great critical acclaim, including the 1961 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction.

In 2010, President Barack Obama awarded Lee the National Medal of Arts, the highest award given by the United States government for “outstanding contributions to the excellence, growth, support and availability of the arts.”

Nelle Harper Lee died in her sleep on the morning of February 19, 2016, aged 89, Monroeville, Alabama.

The post To Kill a Mockingbird: A Timeless Tale of Prejudice and Courage appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Start with Laughter

It’s the weekend of Father’s Day and I wish I had more time to write my thoughts but today was especially busy and this is another photo-finish TGIF edition. I’m not going to even have time to edit so please bear with me.

I have avoided getting into Twitter because I knew it would occupy too much of my time if I ever got addicted. One of the headlines accused Twitter of unfair and unbalanced censorship. So this week I decided to check what all the fuss was about. I decided to follow different political persuasions. What I discovered was a large disparity of media coverage. One persuasion talked extensively about CHAZ or CHOP (the so-called autonomous 6-city block zone) and the other persuasion had avoided any mention of it. One persuasion talked about the Rayshard Brooks killing in Atlanta (where a white cop shot a black man running away with the cop’s stolen taser) while the other persuasion defended the police. Both sides talked about defunding the Police but they both had different meanings of the word “defund.” Of course politicians were playing to the cameras by kneeling (or not kneeling), accusing, blaming, sympathizing, ridiculing — leaving the rest of us confused and more and more distant from each other. After almost a week I realized that it’s true — Twitter is everything I want to avoid.

I understand these are all serious topics but I couldn’t help but  laugh at the silliness. I’m hoping both sides can find common ground. May I suggest we start by laughing at the absurdity?

I decided I’d give you a little test. The first video may upset Conservatives and the last joke may upset Liberals. They’re both clever and funny. If you can’t laugh at them, then may I suggest you’re too serious?  Think about it. We need to unite and help each other create a better world. If you can’t even laugh at these jokes, how do you expect to get there?

Keep safe, keep healthy and don’t forget to greet Dad this Sunday. TGIF people!

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Peter Paul of S Pasadena, CA for sharing this joke.

Video: Asian Son Thinks He’s White

Thanks to Jun of Encino, CA.

It’s a political stand-up comedy. He’s obviously not a fan of Trump so if you are sensitive about this, move on. Otherwise, I think he’s very creative and funny. Lighten up!

Video: Lie Detector Wedding

Thanks to Jun of Encino, CA.

Hope you understand Spanish. Sorry, I couldn’t find an English translation.

Video: Building the Perfect Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder

Thanks to Rodney of Manitoba, B.C.

Video: “Be Thou My Vision” Sung by 300 Irish Churches

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA.

Don’s Puns

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C.who loves puns.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C.

Thanks to Peter Paul of S. Pasadena, CA for sending this strange Father’s Day greeting from a famous Conservative, C’mon, lighten up!

The post Talking Dog appeared first on Traveling Archive.

This week we have a rare contribution from one of my subscribers/friends:

“I dreamed it and couldn’t get it out of my mind, and I swear I was inspired (which is how many of my poems come to me) so I put my dream into verse.” — Lois McKinney

I Had a Dream

(With appreciation for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)

I don’t think I will soon forget
A dream I had the other night.
I dreamed I was caring for six little boys.
Three were black and three were white.

The smallest boy kept running off,
With the biggest, happiest grin.
He thought he and I were having a race,
And he was determined to win!

I picked him up by the back of his shirt
And as he squirmed and wiggled,
He became a suitcase as I carried him,
And plopped him on the grass as he giggled!

Then a little black boy fell to the ground.
His white playmate said “You’ll be okay.
Come with me; I have some games
That I think you and I should play.”

The white boy helped his new friend
To sit under a nearby tree,
And then got a pail of water
To wash the injured knee.

The two of them talked and laughed
At riddles, and silly things that rhyme.
It seemed as though these two little boys
Had been good friends for a very long time.

The other four kids found a ball
And tossed it all around.
They’d cheer each boy who caught the ball
Before it hit the ground!

Such sportsmanship warmed my heart.
It made me feel so good
To see that love for everyone
Was something these kids understood.

Six little boys hadn’t known each others’ names –
Timmy, Ralph, Satchel, Sam, Stu, and Wade –
But later that day they knew all the names
Of the new friends they had made.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful
If assumptions didn’t get in our way,
And we’d think the way the kids did
On that really special day?

We’d judge people by the things they do
And not by the way they look.
If that could happen, all lives would matter,
And prejudice would be a closed book!

Lois McKinney
June, 2020

Thank you Lois for sharing that beautiful poem. TGIF people!

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Chuck of Whittier, CA for sharing this joke.

Video: Chinese Social Distancing

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C and Art of Sierra Madre, CA.

Video: Therapeutic Horse

Thanks to Mike of New York City.

Don’s Puns

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C.who loves puns.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Naomi of North Hollywood, CA.

Thanks to Ernie of Manila, Philippines.

The post The Fottle appeared first on Traveling Archive.

This is heavy stuff. Move on to the jokes if you’re not into this.

“Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future, and renders the present inaccessible.”
— Maya Angelou

I picked up my 6 year old grandson from school the other day.  I observed how he mingled with his classmates. He ran with the pack and joked around like everyone. He was oblivious to the fact that he was the only Asian among a majority of other ethnicities.

When my family moved here to California, our kids were about that age — they too were color blind. I remember my sister, who had lived here in Los Angeles for years, invited us to go and join their church. “We’re all Filipinos here, you’ll feel more at home.” But we politely told her that the reason we came here was to immerse into the rest of America. We wanted to assimilate with our new home. It was (and is) a conscious decision. We are proud of our original culture but there’s enough room in our hearts for others.

To this day we enjoy the variety of friends we have from all over. Our 2 kids are marrying into a different culture. This intermarriage is true for many of my friends and relatives as well … which is why it hurts when people put race in the spotlight of many debates. When you play the “Race Card” it’s a losing battle of entitlement and selfishness. I know there are legitimate grievances but keep in mind, we all have our wants in varying degrees. We all have been victimized in this fallen world.

Have you noticed? The ones with the loudest voices and who are more organized (sometimes with financial backing) usually get their way. But does it make the desires of the silent ones any less important? The majority isn’t always right. Ironically, the ones who demand tolerance are the ones who refuse to give it. They refuse to listen for fear of being discovered to be wrong. It’s harder to admit one’s mistake when one was so sure … when one will be ostracized by one’s friends.

I believe in an Absolute Truth emanating from a Holy God. How about you? When one has never tasted Truth (especially in a world of lies) it’s understandable why they claim Truth does not exist. That’s why adults who grew up in the war-torn Middle East have a wildly different sense of righteousness.  That’s why people whose dreams are shattered or who have lost a loved one turn bitter and alone.

Here’s the sad truth for me. The fact that I singled out my grandson as the only Asian among his peers tells me that I am no longer color blind. Even if I wanted to preserve my innocence the issue was presented to me and I had no choice. Can you blame me when the people who demand racial equality have forced me to open my eyes?

I do have one consolation — I still have hope that mankind’s colors will one day paint the masterpiece intended by God.

But this is just me.

“For we are His masterpiece created anew in Christ Jesus, so the good he planned for us a long time ago would be our way of life.”
— Ephesians 2:10

TGIF people!

Jewish Pilot and Chinese CoPilot

Contributed by Tom of Pasadena, CA

Okay, okay. This is a rare racial joke. And it did make me squirm at first but there’s actually an interesting lesson here.

TGIF Videos

Plane Landing
Sent by Wally of Moreno Valley, CA

Quick video of a plane about to land while a husband is texting his wife.

Watch Video

Married Life from the Pixar Movie UP
Sent by Peter Paul of South Pasadena, CA

This is a classic scene from the movie. In about 4 minutes your emotions jump from happiness to tear-jerking sadness. If you’ve been feeling detached from life recently, this will test if your sensitivity is still working. I knew what was coming and still I cried because it reminded me of some real people.

Watch Video

Parting Shot

Thanks to Scott of Deerfield, New Hampshire who shared this photo

Photo taken from a Men’s bathroom stall.

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