There is a glimmer of hope amidst the racial prejudice against Tom when Link Deas interrupts court proceedings. He announces “I ain't had a speck of trouble out of him” which is surprising as not many men at that time would have done something like that and been brave enough and felt so strongly to make a stand. This is heartening; if more people follow his lead and stand up for what is right then things will begin to change for the better.
The most encouraging part of the novel is when we learn how long the jury was held out for. It makes the reader think that perhaps racial prejudices are lessening because they obviously thought twice about the case rather than rushing to convict the black man. This along with the knowledge that a Cunningham “a little disturbed in his mind” wanted to acquit Tom persuades the reader to believe that things will eventually change. It Atticus has managed to make a racist white man stop and think deeply then Maycomb must be on the road to acceptance.
After the verdict we begin to observe the change in Alexandra and her prejudices lessen. She says “I’m sorry, brother” after the trial to Atticus, offering him sympathy. Her tender act indicates that she is proud, she forgets the idea that he is bringing shame on the family as she is no longer embarrassed of the fact that he is standing up for black people’s rights.
In the beginning Alexandra was a domineering figure who insisted voicing her racist views and unapologetically making her “preoccupation with hereditary” quite clear, as well making no effort to hide her disapproval of Calpurnia’s relationship with the children. She attempted, in vain, to have Cal sacked, because in her eyes they “don’t need her anymore.” However, later her attitude towards Cal softens, which we see when she allows Cal to make refreshments for the Missionary Society. This means Alexandra has grown to accept Cal and understand that even if she is black, it doesn’t mean that she isn’t a good role model and mother figure for the children.
The Missionary Society shows that maybe racial prejudice isn’t in decline. They talk about the “squalid lives of the Mrunas” and express their pity for them by doing their upmost to help. This is ironic because they are so blinded by prejudice that they can’t see that their Negro neighbours are just as much in need of their help. They show hypocrisy in that they claim to be Christian but don’t actually put their morals into practise in their own town.
Racial prejudice isn’t lessening in Mrs Merriweather. She calls Atticus “good but misguided” because she believes he wasted his time defending an innocent black man and goes on to declare that he didn’t achieve anything, “all he did was stir ‘em up” and make things worse as “there’s nothing worse than a sulky darky.” She can’t understand the black community’s reaction to the trial and doesn’t think they have anything to complain about or the right to feel sorry for themselves, which is all down to her racist superior attitude.
Miss Maudie gives the impression that racial prejudice is lessening. She explains to Jem that Judge Taylor appointed Atticus to defend Tom because he knew he would do an honest job. She also says they’ve got “men like Atticus to go for us” and that in representing the non-discriminatory people of Maycomb, he has made a “baby-step” towards achieving equality for all. We appreciate that not all people in Maycomb are racist and things are changing.
Atticus is under no illusions that Maycomb’s racial prejudices have gone but believes they are becoming weaker. He was realistic so wasn’t taken aback by the verdict but considers it the “shadow of a beginning,” which will lead advancement in racial relations. He knows he has accomplished more than “jar the jury” because his examination of the evidence was able to persuade the jury to carefully consider things.
It’s interesting to see how Mr Underwood shows less racism. We learn from the lynch mob incident outside the jail that he “despises Negroes”, yet later when he is told of Tom’s death he is infuriated. This shows that despite his racism, he hates injustice even more and does show his support for Negroes. This is an unusual mixture of characteristics which give hope that other racist people in Maycomb can look past their prejudices and recognise the unfair way black people are treated.
Dolphus Raymond is representative of how Maycomb’s racist attitude remains fully intact. He’s shunned by the white community because he has gone against the norm and married a black woman. He tells to Scout and Dill why he pretends to be a drunkard, explaining “it helps folk if they can latch onto a reason” because people are so illogical that they can’t understand the real reason: that he chose to live the way he does because he wants to. His “perpetrated fraud” makes it easier for Maycomb to cope with the fact that he has broken an old taboo. Harperlee hints that people believe that if a white person loves a black person they have to have an excuse for it.
I think racial prejudice is, slowly but surely, beginning to lessen in Maycomb. Atticus did such a good job at the trial that he caused many people to reflect on the situation. Aunt Alexandra represents this, she shows how a racist person can change and empathise and evidence suggests that Maycomb can change for the better in the same way.
