To Kill a MockingBird Essay Example for Free

To Kill a MockingBird Essay The portrayal of the black community at that time was reader’s first glimpse of the black community in Maycomb, which is portrayed in an overwhelmingly positive light. At first the reader may think that the black community is poor and hospitable, however at closer interpretation, one will see that the adversity seems to bring the people closer together and creates a stronger sense of community than is found in the Whites’ own church. â€Å"It was an ancient paint- peeled frame building, the only church in Maycomb with a steeple and bell, called First Purchase because it was paid for from the first earnings of freed slaves. One can tell from this quote that the church was very old and dilapidated. The church was called First Purchase because it was bought with the first earnings of freed slaves. This shows that the slaves were very poor, but at the same time, religious. They were willing to sacrifice their earnings for the building of a church for themselves. This gives an impression to the reader that the blacks were also very pious. It shows the respect they have for their religion and how they do the extent to achieve what they want. Thus it tells us that they could take hardship and the name of the church will serve as a constant reminder to all the blacks that the church was built out of their own pockets. â€Å"Negroes worshipped in it on Sundays and white men gambled in it on weekdays. †The white people who gambled in this church knew that they were gambling in a church, which was also the only black owned building in the town. Gambling is a sin and they thought that it was acceptable to be sinful in the only black possession in Maycomb. This routine of weekly gambling was an extreme disrespect to the black race and it exhibited the authority and control the white race had over the black population. There were few people who felt blacks deserved equality and those who expressed their feelings were lynched. This gives the impression that the blacks were prejudiced against and even the church – the only sole property they can consider theirs will be controlled by the whites. The blacks were felt as inferior to the whites. â€Å"Hearts of love hairdressing mingled with safoetida snuff, Hoyt’s Cologne, Brown’s Mule, peppermint, and lilac talcum. The blacks were also seen as very well- groomed, and made the effort to dress themselves up before going out, especially when going to church or other special events. This shows that the blacks had a sense of style, and unlike our ideal â€Å"imagination† of the blacks of low class, it gives the impression that they are able to style up, which is very special and unique. â€Å"The men stepped back and took off their hats; the women crossed their arms at their waists, weekday gestures of respectful attention. They parted and made a small pathway to the church door for us. † It gives the impression that the blacks are very respecting and allowing. Unlike the whites who do not allow them to go to their â€Å"white† church, the blacks do not mind a white going to their church and even take it as something honourable. The only one hostile exception in the whole passage is when Lula confronts them. However it only gives the impression that only one or two of the whole community is unfriendly. The change of tone in Calpurnia when speaking in the kids’ house and at the church also demonstrates the gulf between blacks and whites in Maycomb: not only do class distinctions and bigotry divide the two races, but language does as well. The last paragraph shows us that even though one or two might be too sensitive towards the whites, the rest of the community is very open-minded. From â€Å"She’s a trouble-maker from way back, got fancy ideas an’ haughty ways – we’re mighty glad to have you all†, it shows that the black are not all perfect in a sense that some might be less open-minded. In conclusion, I feel that the impressions of the black shown in this extract from the book shows us some positive sides to the blacks. And although our own first â€Å"idea† of a black is poor, dirty, unfriendly etcetera, through this part it’s the opposite. The change of tone in Calpurnia when speaking in the kids’ house and at the church also demonstrates the gulf between blacks and whites in Maycomb: not only do class distinctions and bigotry divide the two races, but language does as well.