Atticus, "by showing his children racism in action and fighting the prejudice the 'mockingbirds' of this stereotypical Southern town, plants the seeds of a future in which black and whites can live in peace" (Race 3). He teaches the kids that everyone is equal regardless of their race or social class. He even defends a Black man, Tom Robinson, who was incorrectly accused of rape. In spite of people calling him "a disgrace" who went "against his raising", he kept his head held high, and went with what he felt moral and correct (Lee 92, 105). He believed if he didn't put his best effort into the trial, he "couldn't hold up [his] head in town" (Lee 78). This shows how people misinterpret Atticus's kindness and strong morality for some atrocious crime and label him a derogatory term. Scout and Jem also receive a hard time because "people having a hard time understanding, as the "rules" of the community supercede the rules of fairness and the rule of law" (Growing Pains 2). Instead of fighting back, Atticus urges them to hold their "head high and keep those fists down" and, in Scout's eyes, "commit to a policy of cowardice" (Lee 78, 92). Once the case was done, he and the kids had to understand that, as unfair as it was, Tom Robinson was charged guilty. Nevertheless, the County, both Black and White, got to witness Atticus as the one white man in the county who would thoroughly defend and fight for a Black man's rights and liberty. He risked his and his family's life at the court case and threatened his own image in society by doing so. He portrayed true acts of courage, and despite the White society's criticism, the Black community was grateful and "were getting to their feet" to watch him pass by (Lee 215). Atticus represents a mockingbird, whose acts of justice and kindness were misinterpreted to be a social crime.
