Wednesday, December 24, 2014

What does Lula and Calpurnia's interaction suggest about racial tensions in Maycomb County?

In Chapter 12, Calpurnia takes Jem and Scout to Sunday service at First Purchase African M.E. Church. When they enter the church, a woman named Lula notices the white children and says to Calpurnia, "I wants to know why you bringin' white chillun to nigger church" (74). Calpurnia tells Lula they are her company, and Lula says, "Yeah, an' I reckon you's comp'ny at the Finch house during' the week" (74). Lula tells Calpurnia she has no business bringing white children into their African American church. When Lula says, "they got their church, we got our'n. It is our church, ain't it, Miss Cal?," Cal says, "It's the same God, ain't it?" (74).


Lula and Cal's controversial interaction suggests the African American community is upset with the white citizens of Maycomb. Lula feels white people do not have the right to enter an African American church because she resents being segregated in the white community.

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