Reference Reviews

Doug’s Student Reference Room

Racism in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, edited by Candice Mancini. 209 p. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2008. ISBN 13: 978-0-7377-3900-2. ISBN 10: 0-7377-3904-5. $24.95.

Forty-eight years after its publication, “To Kill a Mockingbird” remains a favorite among high school students and their teachers in the United States. The infectiousness of Scout’s humor and good will; her innocent struggle to appreciate the layers of tolerance and intolerance in her world; the stolid rightousness of Atticus Finch in the face of hatred and bigotry, still inspire turnings toward a better world. On the other hand, a serious criticism of the novel and its place in American literature has gained some acceptance. This volume adds depth to investigations of Harper Lee and the society she depicts. The background chapter connects Lee’s hometown in Alabama to the fictional Maycomb and explores the real-life inspirations of her father and Truman Capote in the creation of Atticus and Dill. The middle chapter offers a spirited debate over interpretations of the novel; while many view Lee’s work as a denunciation against all types of prejudice, others see the work as subtly perpetuating stereotypes about African-Americans, women and the lower class. One essay in this section suggests that Atticus, rather than heroic, was far too restrained in his response to the injustices he observed. Arguments about the subtle nature of racism in this section pave the way for the final chapter, which explores contemporary perspectives on racism. These essays provide rich material for teachers and students to focus or extend their consideration of the novel and its themes. Students might consider competing perspectives excerpted or read in entirety as preparation for a class discussion, debate or paper. Highly recommended for high school libraries.
—Doug Achterman