The Star Wars hero who 'only dates Black'

Scout notices a range of injustices throughout To Kill A Mockingbird, including classism and sexism, but racism is by far the most pervasive form of bigotryPrejudice towards a certain group, and an unwillingness to change your mind. in the novel. In Maycomb there is a strict hierarchy, in which Black people and working class White people are decidedly at the bottom. A lot of tension is caused by this: the Ewells, who are described as "White trash", are pitted against Tom Robinson, who is a Black man. What ensues is in many ways a power struggle. The novel is set during a time of racial reform which made the legal distinction between different racial identities less clear-cut. This gave working class White people status anxiety, feeling that they would be even less powerful if people of other races were afforded the same rights. The trial and Tom's conviction are a reassertion of racial inequality at a time when the equal rights of Black people were advancing slowly towards being concretised in law. It reflects the extent to which racial prejudice is social as well as political and legal.

Is he wrong to say so? At 30, John Boyega is one of Britain's most successful young actors. But his stated preference for women of the same colour has stirred a passionate debate.

Is the British monarchy institutionally racist? Some think charity founder Ngozi Fulani's recollection of a racist exchange with a royal aide proves what many have been saying for years: the British royals have a racism problem.

Is television racially biased? Many believe the BBC has done too little, too late, to counter decades of prejudice in the way people of colour have been represented in popular drama.

Scout and Jem begin the novel as youthful innocents who believe in the fundamental good of people and institutions. As young, relatively affluent White people, their experience of the world has thus far confirmed this. By the end of the novel, they have confronted evil, wrongdoing, injustice and violence. This amounts to a moral and social education, whereby they come to understand that racial prejudice, ignorance and hatred have far-reaching and perniciousHarmful. effects.

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Is trivial knowledge important? We learn thousands of tiny things every year. We may think many of them are silly, irrelevant and pointless. But perhaps they really matter a lot. 

The Finch family provides an excellent model for family relationships. Atticus treats Jem and Scout like equals, answering the questions that they want answered and encouraging them to behave like mature adults rather than children. In return, they call him by his first name. Atticus disproves of gossip and encourages Jem and Scout to think kindly of Boo. He also treats Calpurnia, their Black cook, as a member of the family rather than an employee, encouraging his children to recognise their privilege and be kind to those around them, even if they have a lower social status. By contrast, the Ewell family with its abusive patriarch Bob can be seen as a harmful model for a family.

What if all men could give birth? Freddy McConnell is legally male, but was born female and is biologically able to carry children. His mother says it is an experience all men should have.

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Is this a good idea? Corporal punishment of children - including smacking - is outlawed in 54 countries around the world. But some parents say it is a loving way of disciplining their kids.

Will we value human contact more after the lockdown? A 111-year-old story by EM Forster is proving extraordinarily prophetic about social isolation and our relationship with technology.

Atticus is the novel's moral anchor, and he teaches both Jem and Scout lessons of courage that they will never forget. He says that courage means "when you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what". A humanising force, he confronts the difficult circumstances of the trial with empathy towards and a desire to understand everyone involved. He continues this pursuit even when he is afforded no empathy by those around him, who taunt and threaten him for fighting Tom Robinson's corner. Atticus' courage and compassion are also mirrored by Boo Radley, who leaves small gifts for the children and saves them from an attack by Bob Ewell.

We invited readers of The Day to choose between three extraordinary young women who made their mark on the world in 2022.

Is courage a form of madness? In a breathtaking act of bravery on Russian TV, an editor won the admiration of the free world. Now she is paying a high price for her stand.

Should there be a new memorial for ordinary heroes? Tributes to the bravery of Folajimi Olubunmi-Adewole poured in following his tragic death, prompting a debate about how to remember him.

To Kill a Mockingbird is profoundly critical of the justice system, pointing out that its inherent racism prevents fair trials. Though Atticus establishes in front of the jury that Mayella and Bob Ewell are lying, and all of the townspeople acknowledge that they are unreliable, the jury nonetheless convicts Tom Robinson. Furthermore, whilst Atticus hopes that the unjust result of the trial can be reversed with an overturned verdict, Tom is ultimately killed inhumanely when he tries to escape prison.

Could a range of options be more just? The dual-verdict system of "guilty" or "not guilty" is seen as a pillar of many legal systems. But some say we need a new formula for the modern world.

Should there be a legal right to privacy? Facebook is being taken to court over the personal information it collects to help advertisers - and the case could cost it billions.

Should we take extraterrestrials seriously? As space technology improves, some scientists are demanding we form a consensus on alien rights. Others caution against expecting little green men to arrive any time soon.