Welcome to my eight-part blog series about the main themes in Atlantic Split. Each Thursday, I will be discussing one of the themes in my weekly blog, and this week I’m discussing the theme of prejudice. Warning: This blog contains some mild spoilers.

Prejudice as a theme is central to The Luke Bright Series and it is easy to see how widespread it is in the UK and the USA in Atlantic Split. James and Steve experience a vast amount of prejudice in the UK when they are falsely accused of committing a crime. Despite clear reasons and indications that they were not the ones at fault, because of their nationality, the British police and public are willing to condemn them. Luke Bright sees through it all, not allowing prejudice to blind him, and he gives James and Steve a chance – believing they are innocent.

As you have probably guessed, one of my favourite books is ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ – a book which is filled with examples of prejudice, and this is where most of my inspiration has come from regarding this theme. Even though we live in a reasonably just and free society, prejudice still survives in this modern day world through our stereotypes, through ignorance and through bitterness. This needs to stop, and I hope that my book can help people understand why prejudice is wrong at all levels. Though Atlantic Split focusses mainly around the prejudices between Brits and Americans, the next few books in the series also look at prejudice in different forms. There are many characters whose deep set prejudices and preformed ideas make them into the people they are in the present day.

Especially now in the modern day world where Britain is divided due to Brexit and America too with President Trump, being able to accept others and remain united is vital. I for one don’t want to see this modern day world regress back into darker times whereby there are racial divides, gender inequality and divisions between different groups. I used the war between Britain and America as examples to show that prejudice can happen between anyone, even if it is nonsensical. Even the countries we believe are the most powerful and privileged can too become riddled with hatred and inequality. Luke Bright too faces a lot of prejudice after he stands up against the Atlantic Split, and I wanted people to realise that even a young, white male character who has never experienced prejudice before in his life (other than being bullied at school) can be affected by prejudice. It can happen to anyone and it can happen anywhere. Prejudice doesn’t need a reason, it just needs a means to spread and vectors to be carried in. That’s why I, as an author and a person, feel so passionately about showing readers why it is so important to remain as unprejudiced as possible and fight for a better world.

I end this blog with a quote from Atlantic Split about prejudice where Luke Bright realises that he has to bring an end to the prejudice surrounding the Atlantic Split. He speaks about how ridiculous it sounds and why prejudice itself is wrong.

“Why should something be the way it is just because that’s what people thought it should be like? It’s just a vicious circle that didn’t make any sense, and that’s exactly the environment prejudice thrives in. Correct me if I’m wrong, but people shouldn’t be allowed to live like this. It’s wrong to live like this.” Luke Bright – Atlantic Split

Thank you for reading this blog, and next Thursday I’ll be back with the second theme of Atlantic Split: Growing up.

Atlantic Split is the first book in The Luke Bright Series and is available to purchase NOW! Please follow me on my blog and my social media links below and use the links on my website to purchase a copy if you have not done so. Don’t forget to leave a review! Thank you once again for taking the time to read this blog post.

N.A.K.