Bring the power of public radio to your classroom!

Image licensed under CC BY 2.0

Story Length: 6:06

Injustice in "To Kill a Mockingbird" and the Civil Rights Movement

The novel To Kill a Mockingbird was written more than 50 years ago and yet its themes of racism and civil rights remain relevant today. In this story author James McBride who wrote The Color of Water explains why the book inspired generations of American writers.

Update: This story first aired in 2010. In July 2015, a newly discovered novel written by Harper Lee in the 1950s was published. The novel is called Go Set a Watchman.

Story Length: 6:06

Listen to the Story:

SOURCE:

National Public Radio © 2010 National Public Radio, Inc. Used with the permission of NPR. All rights reserved.

07/10/2010


Listening Comprehension Questions

What, to McBride, was most meaningful about "To Kill a Mockingbird"?

What does McBride say was a criticism of "To Kill a Mockingbird"?

What do you think McBride means when he says Atticus Finch had an ability to “see tomorrow"?

How does McBride’s story about John Coltrane relate to his feelings about Harper Lee’s book?


  • Listening Organizers

  • Fact, Question, Response
  • Language Identification