When Harper Lee wrote "To Kill A Mockingbird," she could not have predicted its future success as a classic or its impact on her hometown of Monroeville, Alabama. The novel has brought attention to the town, attracted tourists, and sparked 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, whose father, a lawyer, defends a black man accused of assaulting a white woman. Even though the man is not guilty, he is found guilty by a jury composed entirely of white people. Some of the most impactful parts of the book occur when the children come to understand that their father was battling a losing battle. Released in 1960, it quickly became popular, winning the Pulitzer Prize and selling over 30 million copies. The film adaptation, featuring Gregory Peck, is considered a classic. However, the success of the book is only one aspect of its significance. American readers frequently mention it as the novel they like the most. In a survey, it was ranked second only to the Bible in terms of books that had a significant impact on readers. Library Journal named it the best novel of the 20th century. Every year, many tourists visit Monroeville to see places related 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 in the court grounds, while Act Two takes place indoors in the original oval-shaped courthouse where the story is set. This unique setting allows for the audience and actors to experience the drama as if they were actually in a real trial, with the judge, lawyers, and defendant in their respective positions. Black cast members are even segregated to the gallery, reflecting the era of 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, shared that the experience has taught him not to judge people. He believes one of the important lessons from the story is to be tolerant of others but intolerant of injustice. In order to prepare for his role, Champion spoke with individuals who were familiar with the real-life person who inspired Boo Radley. According to Jane Ellen Clark of the Monroeville County Heritage Museum, Harper Lee may have drawn inspiration from a true rape trial that occurred in Monroeville's old courtroom. In 1934, Walter Lett, a black man, was wrongly accused of raping a white woman and sentenced to death. Recently discovered records reveal that white citizens wrote anonymously to Alabama's governor to assert his innocence. Clark stated that Lett's sentence was changed to life in prison, and he passed away from tuberculosis in 1937 while serving time in a state prison. George Thomas Jones, a former businessman who is now a local history writer, attended school with Lee and remembered her as a tomboy similar to Scout, the narrator of the novel. Jones, now 81 years old, mentioned that he could comprehend why the all-white juries during that time would have delivered a guilty verdict in such cases. He explained that individuals were often labeled as 'nigger lovers,' and despite the circumstances, they would have faced social and economic exclusion. Jones stated that, despite injustices against blacks, relations between blacks and whites were somewhat better during the '20s and '30s, with mutual respect and a lack of racial problems. While Alabama saw major struggles during the civil rights movement, Monroeville quietly desegregated its public facilities, with school desegregation being the biggest change according to residents. Mary Tucker, who arrived in the town in 1954 and worked in schools for both black and integrated students, stated that the absence of protest did not indicate that black individuals were not resentful of segregation. She described the educational disparities between black and white schools as being separate but unequal. Despite the history of segregation and oppression, Tucker noted that there were always some individuals, like the character Atticus in Harper Lee's novel, who strived to be fair and do what was right. Lee, who is now 81 years old and splits her time between Monroeville, is rarely seen in public. Tucker described Nelle as modest and humble, mentioning that she can often be found in jeans while shopping at the grocery store. He added that she is quite shy.