Courage is not a lack of fear, but rather the ability to act in the face of it.

Evidence 1

Recy Taylor, Oprah Winfrey and the long history of black women saying #MeToo

To Kill A Mockingbird (fiction source)

“‘The main one is, if I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again.’” (Lee 100).

"they have been torchbearers for justice and human dignity by speaking out and standing up." (McGuire 17)

“I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.” (Lee 115)

"Taylor, who died last month, publicly identified her perpetrators and testified against them in the 1940s, long before the #MeToo movement had spawned. The men had threatened to kill her if she spoke about the attack, a credible threat in Jim Crow Alabama." (McGuire 3)

Atticus knows in his heart that despite what the county will think of him, he must stand up for Tom Robinson because no one else will. He is frightened by the potential damage that the loss could mean for his career, however that fear does not stop him from doing what is right in his mind.

Courage is often misconstrued as being able to take physical action and be unafraid in the process, however the truth that Atticus realized and wished to impart to his daughter was that courage comes from one's ability to keep fighting no matter the circumstances. Most people are too afraid to fight for something if they had been defeated from the start. It takes courage to fight regardless.

In the modern world, rape victims are still hiding their trauma however, there have been platforms created so that they may have the courage to speak out against the attrocities committed against them. On the other hand, during Recy Taylor's life, such platforms were nowhere to be found, especially for a black woman. Yet she still had the courage to stand before a court to testify against the very men who threatened her murder if she spoke of the attack.

It only takes one person's ability to show courage in the face of their opposition to inspire others to do the same. Powerful women like Celia, Anita, and Tarana Burk have blazed a trail of inspiration for the future generations to have the same ability to act in the face of their fear.

"You rarely win, but sometimes you do. Mrs Dubose won, all ninety-eight pounds of her. According to her views, she died beholden to nothing and nobody. She was the bravest person I ever knew." (Lee 149)

Mrs. Dubose was a morphine addict who resolved herself to be morphine free while she lay on her death bed. Even while staring down the barrel of the scariest thing known to man kind, death, she had the courage and ability to live the rest of her days the way that she wished.

Works cited

Non fiction evidence 2

Explanation

Thesis

Source 2

Source 1

Evidence 3

Evidence 2

Evidence 1

Explanation

"Formative". App.Formative.Com, 2022, https://app.formative.com/formatives/62717f32535155ea74cd45ea. Accessed 6 June 2022.

The Scottsboro Boys

"Their legal division convinced the boys’ parents to request new trials and launched detailed investigations into the rape accusations. The stir was enough to delay the boys’ execution date until the case could be appealed to the Alabama Supreme Court" (McBirney 6).

Source 3

Non fiction evidence 1

In the setting of the Jim Crow South, a case of a group of African American boys word against a white woman's would never be a fair trial. Although it took some convincing, the boys and their families decided to request new trials and investigations even though it was clear that they would most likely still lose. The result would work out in their favor and it was only because of the courage they displayed in the face of the odds stacked against them that this was possible.

"Judge James Horton knew he had to step in. In an unprecedented move, he reversed the jury’s decision and mandated that the trial restart yet again. His courage cost him his judgeship in the next election" (McBirney 11).

Non fiction evidence 2

Explanation

"Scottsboro Boys". Google Docs, 2022, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kCZOcwPXopmuD91Hu_JuxZ8k1mc_XmVwi3SqUsUAYpk/edit. Accessed 7 June 2022.

This is yet another example of the courage displayed by others inspiring more courage from those aorund them. Horton could have let the decision pass to protect himself and his career, and yet he still did the right thing. He knew the outcome of his actions, however he still was able to help the boys in the face of his fear.

Explanation