Nigger - Cultural Differences
In To Kill A Mockingbird the word 'nigger' is used several times to describe Tom Robinson and other black Americans. During the 1930s when the novel is set, nigger was not considered particuarly rascist or patronising word by many white Americans. However, some more considerate white people didn't agree with the use of the word because they believed it put down black people. On the other hand, some people did use it in an intentionally offensive way. This is how the term came to be considered rascist these days. Some people, such as Mr Ewell, hated the black people and believed they were below white people. Mr Ewell did not think that black people had a right to live, and if they did, it was under the govern of white men.