To Maycomb, Tom’s death was typical. Typical of a n***** to cut and run. Typical of a n*****’s mentality to have no plan, no thought for the future, just run blind first chance he saw. Funny thing, Atticus Finch might’ve got him off scot free, but wait – ? Hell no. You know how they are. Easy come, easy go. Just shows you, that Robinson boy was legally married, they say he kept himself clean, went to church and all that, but when it comes down to the line the veneer’s mighty thin. N***** always comes out in ’em.
– Harper Lee
To Kill a Mockingbird, Chapter 25. This quote underlines the hypocrisy of people in Maycomb, who paint a stereotypical picture of Tom Robinson as the black man who typically ran first chance he got. They are merely trying to relieve their consciences for responsibility for his wrongful conviction and death.