Grumpa Joe's Place

Some days things go right. Last week I toured the shelves of the library to find a new read. Usually, I find a shiny new cover which speaks to me. On this day a dull old cover jumped off the shelf and said “take me.” I was almost embarrassed to check it out. My guess is that when I finally tell you what the book is you will think, “how the heck have you gone so long without ever reading this most recommended story.” I’ve seen it on every recommended book list that my seven grandchildren have brought home from school. The only excuse I have is that To Kill A Mockingbird was published four years after I graduated from high school.

After reading the story non-stop I wholly agree with every high school teacher in the country that this book is a must read for kids. First, because it is about kids, second, it is about prejudice, and third, it is historical because the story takes place in 1930’s Alabama. I am pleased to report that America has changed dramatically since that time period, thank God. I am sure that the black American population will argue that America is still highly prejudiced, but I would hope they would also agree that we are nowhere near the level of prejudice we were eighty-seven years ago.

I would argue that prejudice in America is at a tipping point. What I mean is that there is a prevalent prejudice of whites. The government has passed so many laws and acts to curb prejudice and to equalize rights that it is now in favor of blacks. How on earth could the term white privilege have been invented? Whites in America are so racked with guilt over our historical past that they are self-immolating amongst themselves. On the other side, blacks are so inspired by their new-found rights they are over indulging. The Black Lives Matter Movement is certainly a hint that the direction of black superiority has inculcated to the extent that they believe it is okay to kill white police officers without any plausibility or due process.  How is it different when a black sneaks up on a police car to shoot the officer within than a bunch of white sheeted coward terrorists hang a black man from a tree.

It might be a good idea if all men white, red, black, and yellow read To Kill A Mockingbird and decide for themselves if our society has progressed toward the better.

“Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ’em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”

Filed under: Book Review, Education, family, Society | Tagged: Alabama, Atticus Finch, prejudice, Tolerance | Leave a comment »