Racism is defined as mistreatment or violence against people because of their race or the belief that certain races of people are superior to others. This belief has been instilled in people for centuries. These beliefs deteriorated slightly due to the civil rights movement. However, racist beliefs have managed to be passed down from generation to generation, which is why racism is still very prevalent today. Harper Lee details how immoral society was in the 1930s in "To Kill a Mockingbird." Jem and Scout's father, Atticus, took on the challenge of defending a black man, named Tom Robinson, who was accused of raping a white woman (Lee). Atticus provided sufficient evidence that Tom had not raped her. In fact, she was the one chasing him. Atticus suggested that her father beat her when he found out she loved Tom. The all-white jury found Tom guilty of the charges, which came as no surprise to Atticus. Tom was sentenced to life in prison for a crime in which he clearly had no involvement. People looked down on Atticus for defending a black man and even called him a "nigger lover." His children even received criticism from their classmates for defending Tom. Even though Atticus was not racist, his children had been surrounded by enough racist ideas in the city to rally around the mob. “Once you get a drop of black blood, it makes you all black,” Jem said scouting outside the courthouse. The city's older generations, parents and grandparents, instilled in children this sense of white superiority. This is a great example of how racist beliefs have survived from generation to generation. Children learn by example. Since they were surrounded by racism, they had no ch...... middle of paper ... citizen of the United States, and even voted for an African American in the White House. However, racism itself has not been eradicated and probably never will be. It's much more subtle than in previous generations, but it's even more than obvious in today's generation. Many people seem to turn a blind eye to the problem of racism or declare it solved. Americans cannot avoid these racial tensions forever. The number of minorities will continue to increase, and true equality must be a common goal that all Americans share. Works CitedBernstein, Aaron. “Racism in the Workplace.” Bloomberg Business Week. Bloomberg, July 29, 2001. Internet. May 1, 2014. Lee, Harper. To kill a mockingbird. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1960. Print.Library, CNN. “Trayvon Martin shoots highlights.” CNN. Cable News Network, February 22, 2014. Internet. April 29. 2014.