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When explaining Mrs. Dubose's cause of death to Jeremy, Atticus says, "'You know, she was a great lady... According to her views, she died beholden to nothing and nobody. She was the bravest person I ever knew'" (Lee 128).

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Mrs. Dubose was a morphine addict, and she spent the last few months of her life struggling to free herself from her dependency on drugs. Even though she was close to death, she persevered and made it past her addiction. She died under no influence but her own, a lesson that is equally relevant in the modern world of violence and drug addictions.

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When Jem leaps to Atticus's defense after he is surrounded by aggresive racists, Atticus begs Jem to leave. Jem stands firm in his denial: "'I ain't going,' was his steady reply to Atticus's threats, requests, and finaly, 'Please, Jem, take them home'" (Lee 173).

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Even though he or his sister could be hurt, Jem stands firm in his defense of both Atticus and Tom Robinson. He is most likely terrified of the older, stronger men, but he pushes past his fear to stand with those he loves, a message that means a lot even the modern world run rampant with crime and betrayal.

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After Tom Robinson is found guilty on false charges, Scout and Jem are furious. Aunt Alexandra consoles them by saying, "'and as I waited, I thought, Atticus Finch won't win, he can't win, but he's the only man in these parts who can keep a jury out so long on a case like that. And I thought to myself, well, we're making a step- it's just a baby step, but it's a step'" (Lee 246).

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Atticus knew that he couldn't win the case. He knew that in the racist south, nothing he could do would spare Tom Robinson of unjust punishment. And still, he fought. Even in the face of unsurmountable odds, Atticus persevered, and though he did not succeed, he made small steps in the right direction. In today's world, we need a fictional character's advice more than ever as we face a critical turning point in our nation's history.

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Atticus Finch in court

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On May 25, 2020, George Floyd was killed, sparking international protests against discrimination and police brutality. In the past, similar protests have taken place, with the same result every single time: absolutely nothing. However, this year, something needs to change. This year, amidst a global pandemic, millions of people are raising their voices in defense of civil rights. And though in the past, many protests were shut down in weeks, this continues to rage on because of the people's courage. The protesters are not afraid of the seemingly insurmountable odds, and as one, raise their voices in a song of unity and equal rights for all.