And Miss Maudie's equal-opportunity respect extends to African-Americans, too. When Aunt Alexandra is depressed and bitter over the townspeople's leaving Atticus to do the right thing all by his lonesome, Miss Maudie speaks up for the small group of like-minded people in Maycomb.

Maudie Atkinson

The handful of people in this town who say that fair play is not marked White Only; the handful of people who say a fair trial is for everybody, not just us; the handful of people with enough humility to think, when they look at a Negro, there but for the Lord's kindness am I." (24.81)