When Tom Robinson, one of the town's Black residents, is falsely accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white woman, Atticus agrees to defend him despite threats from the community. At one point he faces a mob intent on lynching his client but refuses to abandon him. Scout unwittingly diffuses the situation.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Tom Robinson works for Mr. Link Deas picking cotton and pecans as well as doing yard work. Tom Robinson is an African American accused of raping Mayella Ewell.