Interview

Below is the transcript interview with my mother on her views on prejudice and discrimination.

Me: What do you think of discrimination in the society?

Mother: I think that discrimination is applicable to almost every level in the society. Discrimination is caused by fears toward another party, and the insecurity they feel against someone else. It is all in the mind; if they need to get away from someone, they do not do it personally as they are afraid of being ostracised themselves. Instead, they gather in a group and they try to make their victim look bad on others.

Me: And what about prejudice?

Mother: Prejudice is the mindset where people discriminate against others, with no reason to why they do it. For example, not allowing someone to go out to play with others because of their different races and religion. Because of the person's dislike towards a certain subject, he or she should not convince others that the subject they have distaste for is bad too.

Me: You seem to have a rather holistic view on prejudice. What is your take on these two topics?

Mother: I think discrimination is definitely the harsher of the two. Prejudice is merely a mindset, whereby a person has opinions toward others, most probably bad, and deep in their heart reminding themselves that the people or objects are lower in quality or just simply having opinions against them because of the public views. Discrimination is the more concrete procedure, where actions, be it harmful physically or mentally to others, are carried out due to the apparent hatred or dislike towards a certain party, causing physical and emotional stress to the victim.

Me: Do you have anything more to say regarding these topics?

Mother: No, none at all. But I would end with my sympathies for those who are wrongly criticised and ousted from society due to prejudice and discrimination, even till today.

Me: Oh that's food for thought. Thank you for you time.

Diary Entry - To Kill A Mockingbird

Below is a diary entry by Atticus, for the Intrapersonal task, To Kill A Mockingbird.

Diary,

I went to the Court in the County to defend a Negro, Tom Robinson. The trial ended with Robinson convicted of rape, as what I was afraid and dreaded as the outcome. Is the severity of this case so great, it has to be brought to court? Is the social division so immense, I would have fought for Robinson in vain? Was I fighting a losing battle? Had Robinson been convicted even before the trial, because of he is a Negro?

Though Tom Robinson was forced to accept the guilt, my pities are with Mayella Ewell, but I do not condone the fact that her 'innocence' should be at the expense of a human being's life and future. Mayella felt the guilt caused by breaking a rigid code of our society - tempting a black man. I had shown the jury, Judge Taylor, and the citizens that Mayella had been hit by a person's left hand, and that Tom Robinson's left hand was so badly withered, I don't think he could even lift a pencil. The entire case was fueled by the viewpoints of everyone, but is there any concrete medical evidence that Tom Robinson had raped Mayella Ewell? Is there any justifiable proof?

Tom Robinson is a Negro, but does it mean that all Negroes are all suspicious and untrustworthy beings? It is just the discrimination in this sad racist society. When will the equilibrium between the Blacks and Whites exist?

Signing out,
Atticus Finch