Final answer:
To Kill a Mockingbird is considered one of the most influential American novels that helped to encourage empathy for those suffering from racism. Literature such as Uncle Tom's Cabin and the works of Harlem Renaissance authors like Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston have had significant impacts on society's views on racial prejudice.
Step-by-step explanation:
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is considered one of the most influential American novels ever written. It addresses a serious social problem and conveys an uplifting message. It may have encouraged people to empathize with those who suffer due to racism.
Literature often reflects and influences social issues and historical events. Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, for example, was a significant piece of antislavery propaganda that affected views on slavery and the abolitionist movement in the United States.
Similarly, works by writers like Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and Claude McKay, who were part of the Harlem Renaissance, emphasized African-American themes and experiences, directly tackling the subject of racial prejudice. Reflecting social and cultural identities, these literary pieces have had enduring impacts on society, showcasing the power of literature to influence history and cultural understanding.