When Harper Lee wrote "To Kill A Mockingbird," she could not have predicted its future success as a classic or the impact it would have on her hometown of Monroeville, Alabama. The novel has brought attention to the town, attracting tourists and sparking discussions about the history of racial segregation in the south. "To Kill A Mockingbird" follows the lives of two children in a fictional southern town, similar to Monroeville, whose father, an attorney, defends a black man accused of raping a white woman. Even though the man is not guilty, he is found guilty by a jury made up entirely of white people. Some of the most impactful scenes in the book occur when the children come to understand that their father was fighting a losing battle. The book was released in 1960 and quickly became popular, winning the Pulitzer Prize and selling over 30 million copies. The film adaptation, featuring Gregory Peck, is considered a classic. However, sales figures do not fully capture the impact of the story. Many American readers consider it their top novel, ranking just below the Bible in a survey of impactful books. Library Journal named it the best novel of the 20th century. Each year, numerous tourists visit Monroeville to see places connected to Harper Lee's life, the book, and the courthouse featured in the movie. They also attend a stage version of the novel. Act One occurs outdoors at the court grounds, while Act Two moves inside to the original oval-shaped courthouse where the story is based. This setting allows for the drama to unfold realistically, with the audience, judge, lawyers, and defendant in their proper positions as they would be in a real trial. Even black cast members are placed in the gallery as they would have been during segregation. The audience is captivated by witnessing injustice, while the volunteer actors have the opportunity to reflect on the message of the book through the annual productions. Robert Champion, a detective with the Monroeville police department who portrays Boo Radley in the novel, emphasized that the experience has taught him the importance of not judging people. He believes that the lesson to be learned is to be tolerant of others while being intolerant of injustice. Champion prepared for his role by speaking to individuals who were familiar with the real-life person that the character is based on. According to Jane Ellen Clark of the Monroeville County Heritage Museum, Harper Lee may have drawn inspiration from an actual rape trial that occurred in Monroeville's old courtroom. In 1934, Walter Lett, a black man, was falsely accused of raping a white woman and was sentenced to death. Recently discovered records show that white citizens wrote to Alabama's governor anonymously to reveal that Lett had been wrongfully accused. Lett's sentence was changed to life in prison and he passed away due to tuberculosis in 1937 in a state prison, as stated by Clark. George Thomas Jones, a former businessman who now writes local history, attended school with Lee and recalls her as a tomboy similar to the character of Scout, the novel's narrator. Jones, who is 81 years old, mentioned that he could comprehend why the all-white juries during that time would have given a guilty verdict in such situations. "People were labeled as 'nigger lovers.' Regardless of the circumstances, they would have been stigmatized and would have faced social and economic isolation," he stated. Jones stated that despite the injustices against blacks, the relationship between blacks and whites was, in some ways, better during the '20s and '30s. He believed that there was mutual respect and a lack of racial problems during that time. Jones mentioned that people who were good-hearted on both sides had no issues getting along. While Alabama experienced major struggles during the civil rights movement, Monroeville quietly desegregated its public facilities. Residents noted that the most significant change was in school desegregation. Mary Tucker, who arrived in the town in 1954 and taught at both black and integrated schools, explained that the absence of protest did not indicate that blacks were not resentful of segregation. She noted that despite the separate and unequal nature of black and white schools, there were always individuals who attempted to be fair, much like Atticus in Harper Lee's portrayal. Tucker highlighted that, despite a history of segregation and oppression, there were always a few good people who strived to do the right thing. Lee, now 81, still spends part of her time in Monroeville but is rarely seen in public. "Nelle is extremely modest and humble. You might bump into her at the supermarket wearing jeans... She is quite reserved," Tucker explained.