TKAM is a book about growing up under the circumstances of living in the southern United States. A black man, Tom Robinson, was falsely accused of raping a white woman, Mayella Ewell. Atticus, despite much scrutiny and threats from the general public, decides to defend Tom as his lawyer. Despite Atticus's strong defense, Tom is convicted and later killed while attempting to escape custody. TKAM is a social commentary on the very real and rampant racism that occurred in America against African Americans, it showed that regardless of your innocence people would deem you guilty just off the color of your skin. It is a heartwrenching, but accurate display of how cruel humanity can be towards themselves.