by Jen Hudson

Created on: February 25, 2009

Few books have captured the historical implications of racial injustice, gender issues, and maturation like To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Published in 1960, this coming of age novel has been read in classrooms for nearly 50 years, and will continue to line the bookshelves of young and old for years to come.

The protagonist, Jean Louise Finch, is a tomboy better known as "Scout". Scout is no stranger to trouble; running her foul mouth and getting in fights are things many students can relate to. The younger of two children, Scout lost her mother when she was too young to remember. She lives with her father and older brother, the only feminine influence is their African American maid, Calpurnia. Scout's story explores gender issues still dealt with in today's society.

Although it is a story that touches on gender, racism is the most prevalent theme. Growing up in Maycomb, Alabamaduring the Great Depression, Scout lives in a town burdened by a "usual disease" of racism and ignorance. Maycomb is a town that is fictional in name only. The setting is reminiscent of many Southern towns of the 1930s, plagued by Jim Crow laws and segregation.

Scout's father, Atticus, is determined to teach Scout and her brother Jem about courage and standing up for what is right, even when failure is certain. As a lawyer, Atticus uses the trial of Tom Robinson, a black man accused of a crime he could not have possibly committed to reach this goal. Harper Lee channels the Scottsboro Boys trial of 1931, in which the defendants are found guilty simply because of the color of their skin. Seventy eight years later, our country has fought the bonds of racism to elect the first African American president, but the message of To Kill a Mockingbird to stand up and fight against hatred is still strong.

To Kill a Mockingbird's implications for today's world are endless. Scout learns about understanding through her relationship with a recluse neighbor named Boo Radley. Stepping into someone else's shoes or, as Atticus explains, "climbing in their skin and walking around in it" is a sentiment parents echo to children and bosses use with employees. The simple message of seeing something from someone else's point of view is one that has been reemphasized in self-help books and our daily lives.

Atticus tells the children it is a sin to kill a mockingbird, giving the book its memorable title. Mockingbirds are innocent creatures that do nothing but make music for people to enjoy. The innocence of Tom Robinson and Boo Radley can be seen throughout the pages of this universal novel. It is a story of overcoming odds, sadness, courage, humility, and innocence that will be read for years to come.

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