Why is Tom Robinson the target of racism in To Kill a Mockingbird? Racism quotes. Why Tom Robinson?

Tom
Robinson is the target of racism because he is a black man living in the segregated society of
Maycomb, Alabama, who is accused of assaulting and raping a white woman. During the 1930s, Jim
Crow laws were enforced, which discriminated against and marginalized the black communities in
the South. Unfortunately, Tom lives in the prejudiced town of Maycomb, where the majority of the
citizens automatically ascribe to the "evil assumption." Atticus describes the evil
assumption as the belief "that all Negroes lie, that
all Negroes are basically immoral beings, that all
Negro men are not to be trusted around our women . . . " (208)

In
addition to the typical prejudice against black citizens that is prevalent throughout Maycomb,
the seriousness of Tom's charges make him an enemy of the racist white community, which aims to
convict Tom of the crime despite the overwhelming evidence that reveals his innocence.
Essentially, Tom becomes the target of racism because he is the scapegoat, who suffers the
consequences of Mayella and Bob's actions.

Before and after the trial,
certain community members express their racist feelings towards Tom Robinson. Cecil Jacobs tells
,

"My folks said your daddy was a disgrace an€˜ that
nigger oughta hang from the water-tank!" (79)

After
the trial, Scout overhears Miss Gates say,

" . . .
its time somebody taught em a lesson, they were gettin€˜ way above themselves, an the next thing
they think they can do is marry us." (250)

Following
Tom's tragic death, Scout reiterates the community's racist feelings towards Tom by
saying,

To Maycomb, Toms death was typical. Typical of a
nigger to cut and run. Typical of a niggers mentality to have no plan, no thought for the
future, just run blind first chance he saw. Funny thing,mightve got him off scot free, but wait?
Hell no. You know how they are. Easy come, easy go. Just shows you, that Robinson boy was
legally married, they say he kept himself clean, went to church and all that, but when it comes
down to the line the veneers mighty thin. Nigger always comes out in €˜em (244)