Devin Fussa

English
Period 4
9/02/14

Integrity
Racism and ignorance has long been a global issue. It divides society and breaks people
down. It tears at who we are and tries to change us into something else. But through the pain it
causes, something always triumphs it. That something is integrity. In class, we recently read To
Kill a Mockingbird. It depicts the story of a lawyer who fought for an innocent black man
during a very biased time period. We also learned about the events of the Scottsboro Boys Trials,
a series of racial injustices that occurred in the 1930s. Lastly, I researched the work of civil
rights activist Maya Angelou. All of these stories have one thing in common. In each one,
someone continued to do what was right, even if others disapproved. They each showed integrity.
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus is the perfect example of integrity because
he takes the Tom Robinson case (knowing he would lose because of racism in Alabama). After
Robison was wrongfully accused of raping a white woman, Atticus a white lawyer helped
him. Throughout the book, he encounters issues, but handles each with a calm demeanor. He tells
his children, I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is
a man with a gun in his hand. Its when you know youre licked before you begin but you begin
anyways and see through it no matter what (To Kill a Mockingbird, page 149). Even though he
knew it was a losing case, he took it because it was the right thing to do. He risks everything he
knows for equality and shows that prejudice can be beat. He follows his own beliefs and
becomes a model for integrity.
Integrity is not just shown by how you act. It can also be shown by what you say and
write. That was the case of Maya Angelou, and African-American woman who never stopped

Devin Fussa
English
Period 4
9/02/14

fighting for equality until her death. Angelou inspired others through her writing and ideals, and
played a large part in the civil rights movement. Her work included the poem, I Know Why the
Caged Bird Sings. She personally new Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and witnessed the Jim Crow
laws firsthand. She even earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom and was held high in the
eyes of many. She once said, If you dont like something, change it. If you cant change it,
change your attitude. (Angelou). She was a constant advocate of equality until her recent death
in North Carolina. Her perseverance and restless wish for justice made her a great example of
integrity (Leopold).
Yet another example of integrity came from the Scottsboro Boys Trial. When nine
African-American boys were wrongly accused of rape in Alabama, many people tried to put a
stop to their conviction. One of those people was criminal defense lawyer Samuel Lebowitz. He
modeled integrity by working tirelessly to save the boys from a fate they did not deserve. When
asked to plead guilty by the prosecutor, he said, Now you want me to plead three or four of the
boys guilty for something they never did You want a change to save face. Tom, you ought to
know me better than that (Lebowitz). While most lawyers would have just given up, Lebowitz
wanted nothing less than complete freedom. While it did take a while, he made sure it got done.
He had the integrity to not give up and saved the lived of nine innocents (PBS).
Racism and injustice have been existent throughout our history. However, it can be dealt
with. People see things in a new perspective now. With more time, we could truly make steps
toward eliminating discrimination. We just have to do the right things, and ignore what others
think about it. We just have to follow the examples that have been set for us. Whether it comes
from a book, a set of ideals, or a person, integrity truly can change the world.