I have always loved the movie. Gregory Peck is one of my favorites and his portrayal of small town lawyer Atticus Finch is one one of his best. Atticus was a hero in Mockingbird but he turned out to be a racist in Watchman. I must say I was really disappointed. I don't know what the critics are saying but I think Watchman was not quite as well written as Mockingbird but it was pretty close. I know that Mockingbird took place in the 1930s but it made me feel like I was at home as a child.
I grew up I a small town in central Texas. I swear that the people in the books must have lived in my town or at least clones of them. This was also a time of segregation. We had “colored” schools, drinking fountains, separate places to sit at the movie house, etc. I sometimes equate my Father with the Atticus Finch in Mockingbird. He was one of the few people in town that was not a racist. He treated all people with respect. He was a small town newspaper editor. The black people, who had been deprived of a good education by Jim Crow laws, often came to him to help them with complicated forms and advice.. They knew they could count on him to treat them properly. He was also the local Justice of the Peace and treated them fairly in court. We lived near the black part of town and most of my best friends were black kids. We played all the sports and listed to rhythm and blues music together. I still love those rhythm and blues! I and my family were often called names like Atticus in Mockingbird.
Even though it was hard at times, I wouldn't trade what my Father taught me for anything. Think I will go watch Mockingbird again and see who I hope is the real Atticus Finch.
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