Comparison between Mississippi Burning and To Kill a Mockingbird

Both film and novel closely revolves around prejudice and discrimination.

The film, Mississipi Burning, is about three civil rights activist, two whites and one black, who were murdered by members of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). The FBI agents were then called in to help with the investigation. Throughout the whole movie, there are many displays of racism (a form of prejudice and discrimination). The black people are terrorised by the KKK, by the burning of churches, beating up and bombing houses. Also, blacks drink the leftover water from the water cooler of the whites, use different toilets and tables. When the FBI agents tried to find out the truth behind the three civil rights activist murder, they were threatened and the KKK sent warning messages to them, such as bombing their room.

In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, there are also many examples of prejudice and discrimination. The most significant example is Tom Robinson's trial. Tom Robinson, a black, was charged for the rape of a white girl, Mayella Ewell. He was eventually sent to prison where he tried to escape and died. Despite all evidence in favour of Tom Robinson, he was still found guilty (the culprit was hinted to be Bob Ewell, Mayella's father). Atticus, Tom Robinson's lawyer, was threatened by Bob Ewell, after the trial, who spat on him. While Atticus was Tom Robinson's lawyer, Scout (Atticus's daugther and the narrator of the novel) heard her father being called a "nigger lover" by the other children, most notably her cousin.

We can see a clear case of prejudice and discrimination in both the film and the novel. The FBI agents can be compared to Atticus (the defenders of the blacks), while Bob Ewell can be compared to the KKK (the ones who terrorize the blacks).