May 14, 2025

Prejudice: Exposing the Hidden Bias in Harper Lee's Courtroom

Send us a text Premier Writing Lab's Word of the Day explores "prejudice" through Harper Lee's powerful courtroom scene in To Kill a Mockingbird, showing how preconceived opinions can override truth and justice. Tom Robinson's tragic trial demonstrates how prejudice functions not just as a concept but as a destructive force that blinds people to evidence and perpetuates injustice. • Definition: Prejudice is a preconceived opinion not based on reason, experience, or evidence • Synonyms includ...

Send us a text

Premier Writing Lab's Word of the Day explores "prejudice" through Harper Lee's powerful courtroom scene in To Kill a Mockingbird, showing how preconceived opinions can override truth and justice. Tom Robinson's tragic trial demonstrates how prejudice functions not just as a concept but as a destructive force that blinds people to evidence and perpetuates injustice.

• Definition: Prejudice is a preconceived opinion not based on reason, experience, or evidence
• Synonyms include bias, discrimination, intolerance, bigotry, and preconception
• Tom Robinson's trial shows how racial prejudice overrides clear evidence of innocence
• Harper Lee demonstrates that prejudice is taught, not innate, suggesting it can be unlearned
• The word can be used in multiple contexts: describing attitudes, social issues, and consequences
• Standing against prejudice requires courage, clarity, and compassion

Word Lab Challenge: Write a paragraph explaining how prejudice influenced Tom Robinson's trial outcome, then rewrite using the adjective form "prejudiced" to describe at least one character in the courtroom.

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00:01 - Welcome to Word of the Day

00:32 - Understanding Prejudice

01:18 - Tom Robinson's Case Study

02:42 - Context Examples & Applications

03:45 - Word Lab Challenge

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Welcome to Premier Writing Lab's Word of the Day, the ultimate resource for mastering advanced vocabulary for exams and everyday use.

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Today we step into the courtroom of Maycomb County, a room filled with murmurs, tension and tightly held beliefs.

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It's the scene of one of literature's most devastating trials the state of Alabama versus Tom Robinson, the State of Alabama vs Tom Robinson.

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Through this lens, we explore the word prejudice, a powerful force that shapes opinions, drives injustice and leaves deep scars.

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Let's get into it.

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Today's word is prejudice.

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It's a noun and it's spelled P-R-E-J-U-D-I-C-E Prejudice.

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Prejudice means a preconceived opinion that is not based on reason, experience or actual evidence.

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It often refers to biased feelings toward a person or group, especially due to race, religion, gender or social class.

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Synonyms for prejudice include bias, discrimination, intolerance, bigotry, preconception.

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Antonyms would be fairness, impartiality, tolerance, open-mindedness, acceptance.

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Now let's return to that courthouse in Maycomb where Tom Robinson, a black man, is put on trial for a crime he didn't commit.

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Despite clear evidence of his innocence, despite Atticus Finch's powerful defense and despite inconsistencies in the testimonies against him, tom is found guilty.

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Why?

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Because of prejudice.

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The verdict isn't based on facts.

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It's driven by racial bias.

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The jury doesn't see a man, they see a stereotype.

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Tom Robinson becomes a victim not just of injustice but of deep-rooted societal prejudice.

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In To Kill a Mockingbird, harper Lee shows us how prejudice blinds people to truth.

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It turns neighbors into enemies and silences justice in favor of tradition.

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But the novel also offers a contrast.

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Characters like Atticus Scout and Miss Maudie begin to question these inherited beliefs.

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Through their eyes we learn that prejudice is not natural, it's taught.

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And what's taught can be unlearned.

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Tom's trial is more than a story.

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It's a lesson.

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It asks us to examine our assumptions, to stand up when it's easier to stay silent, and to understand the cost of allowing prejudice to go unchallenged.

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Now listen to how the word prejudice can be used in a variety of contexts.

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Now listen to how the word prejudice can be used in a variety of contexts.

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Example 1.

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Noun form Describing attitudes.

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The jury's decision was not based on evidence but on racial prejudice.

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This shows how an unfair judgment was made due to deep-seated bias.

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Example 2.

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Noun form Describing a Social Issue.

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Scout begins to realize that prejudice runs deep in her community.

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This highlights how prejudice is woven into the culture of Maycomb.

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Example 3.

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Related Form Prejudiced Adjective.

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Bob Ewell's prejudiced accusations were believed without question.

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Here, prejudice describes a person whose opinions are rooted in unfair assumptions.

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Example 4.

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Describing the Cost, tom Robinson's fate reveals the tragic consequences of unchecked prejudice in the justice system.

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This shows how bias can lead to irreversible harm.

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Why this word matters this shows how bias can lead to irreversible harm.

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Why this word matters Prejudice isn't just a word.

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It's a warning.

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It reminds us that assumptions can be dangerous, that truth can be ignored when bias takes the lead.

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Through Tom Robinson's story, we learned that standing against prejudice requires courage, clarity and compassion.

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Before we wrap up, here's your Word Lab challenge.

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Write a short paragraph explaining how prejudice influenced the outcome of Tom Robinson's trial.

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Then rewrite the paragraph using the adjective prejudice to describe at least one character in the courtroom.

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Thanks for tuning in to Premier Writing Lab's Word of the Day.

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Until next time, keep building the vocabulary.

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You need to succeed, one word at a time.