When Harper Lee wrote "To Kill A Mockingbird," she likely did not anticipate its future status as a classic or its impact 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 story of two children in a fictional southern town, similar to Monroeville, whose father, an attorney, defends a black man accused of assaulting a white woman. Despite the man's innocence, he is found guilty by a jury composed entirely of white individuals. Some of the most impactful moments in the book occur when the children understand that their father's fight was ultimately futile. Released in 1960, the book quickly became popular, winning the Pulitzer Prize and selling over 30 million copies. The film adaptation starring Gregory Peck is widely regarded as a classic. However, the sales figures only reveal a portion of the book's overall impact. In the United States, many readers consider it their top novel. In a survey, it was ranked just below the Bible in terms of books that had a significant impact on readers. The Library Journal named it the best novel of the 20th century. Each spring, numerous tourists visit Monroeville to see sites related to Harper Lee's life, the book, and the courthouse featured in the movie. They also attend a stage production of the novel. Act One occurs outside in the court grounds, while Act Two moves indoors to the original oval-shaped courthouse where the story is set, giving the audience and actors a more immersive experience. This setting allows for the drama to play out realistically, with the audience, judge, lawyers, and defendant all in their appropriate positions as they would be in a real trial. Even the black cast members are segregated to the gallery, mirroring the segregation of the time period. The audience is captivated by witnessing the injustice unfold, while the volunteer actors are able to contemplate the message of the book through their annual productions. Detective Robert Champion, who portrays Boo Radley in the novel, emphasized the importance of not judging people and being tolerant of others but intolerant of injustice. He spoke with individuals who knew the real-life inspiration for the character. According to Jane Ellen Clark of the Monroeville County Heritage Museum, Harper Lee may have drawn inspiration from a real-life rape trial in Monroeville's old courtroom involving a black man, Walter Lett, who was falsely accused by white citizens. Lett's sentence was changed to life in prison and he passed away from tuberculosis in 1937 while in a state prison, according to Clark. George Thomas Jones, a former businessman who writes about local history, attended school with Lee and recalls her being a tomboy similar to the character of Scout, the narrator of the novel. Jones, who is now 81 years old, mentioned that he could comprehend why all-white juries at that time would have delivered a guilty verdict in such cases. He stated that people were often labeled as 'nigger lovers' and would face societal and economic consequences regardless of the circumstances. Jones observed that despite injustices against blacks, relations between blacks and whites were actually better in the 1920s and 1930s. He believed that there was mutual respect and no racial problems during that time. Although Alabama experienced major struggles during the civil rights movement, Monroeville quietly desegregated its public facilities. The most significant change was seen in school desegregation, according to residents. Mary Tucker, who arrived in the town in 1954 and worked in black and integrated schools, mentioned that the absence of protest did not mean that blacks were not unhappy about segregation. She pointed out that despite the separation between black and white schools, there were always individuals who attempted to be fair, similar to the character Atticus in Harper Lee's work. Tucker acknowledged that despite the history of segregation and oppression, there were always a few people who strived to do what was right. Lee, who is currently 81 years old and resides part-time in Monroeville, is seldom seen in public. Tucker described Nelle as modest and humble, mentioning that you might see her wearing jeans while shopping at the grocery store. He also noted that she is quite reserved.