Comparison between Mississippi Burning and To KIll a Mocking Bird

Both TKaM and Mississippi Burning are set in the South during the same period - ie, after the American Civil War. Although specifically, Mississippi Burning is during the Civil Rights movement in Mississippi, and is loosely based of the true murders of three Civil Right Activists. TKaM could also be said to be loosely based off the Scottsboro Boys.

Mississippi Burning focuses more on the KKK and how they segregated and attacked Black People, specifically burning "black" churches as well as intimidating any blacks and preventing them from talking to the FBI about the missing Civil Right activists. The main examples cited in the movie are lynchings, burning of homes and houses, and beating informants. The other main method of intimidation was to place a burning cross near the house of whoever they wanted to intimidate as a warning.

TKaM however was more focused on general segregation of Negroes and also (to some extent) Human nature. This is emphasized when certain characters rejected the segregation of the Jews, but still supported segregating the Blacks. However, the book focused less on violent scenes, and focused more on day to day events in Maycomb.

However, this can be explained through the fact that Movies in general are more fast paced than books, so the movie would not focus on day to day events as the movie would be more boring. Furthermore, as Maycomb was described as an old and sleepy town, the likelihood of a Lynch Mob/Lynching occuring would very slim, despite the fact that a Lynching almost happened when Atticus was approached at the Jail.

However, in General, both Mississippi Burning and TKaM are focused on the same theme.