Poor White Trash

Blog 3: Chapters 13-18:

→ What is meant by the term “poor white trash”? How do the Ewells exemplify this stereotype? Does this stereotype exist today? How has it changed?

The term “poor white trash” refers to the white people with atrocious manners, low education, measly respect, poor integrity, and overall are just despicable people. In the intercourse of the 1930s, “poor white trash” was often aimed at mostly white people that lived down south who expressed great racism towards African Americans. Another term used along with “poor white trash” is “rednecks”. They normally are also ranked lower in social class.

The Ewells exemplify this stereotype due to their lack of humanity by possessing all of these characteristics.  In To Kill A Mockingbird, during the Tom Robinson trial, the Ewells refer to Tom Robinson as a “nigger”, which is a rude term used primarily by “poor white trash” people to offend and disrespect African Americans. Additionally, the town’s people stated that they live in poor living conditions behind Maycomb County’s dump, which automatically categorize them in the lower social class. In Chapter 3, Burris Ewell came to school with lice or bugs in his hair, highlighting his poor living conditions. The entire town also seemed to know that the Ewells only came to school on the first day, since they had to work the rest of the year due to their father spending all their money on alcohol. Furthermore, Burris’s use of language towards Miss Caroline such as calling her a “slut” display his measly respect for her.

These stereotypes still exist today except the standards have changed slightly and there are only a few of them. Because society ,today, has improved, the characteristics of being considered “poor white trash” has been altered and to not such great extents as the Ewells. They are less cruel and harsh with their discrimination, but are still racist towards African Americans. Their education and manners have also gotten better because children are now required to go to school, with no exceptions. Though there are still disrespectful “poor white trash” that are not only lower in social class, but in humanity standards. For example, there are still angry mobs and riots against African Americans due to “poor white trash”. There are still African Americans who get discriminated against, abused, getting shot, and killed just because “poor white trash” dislike their skin color.