This is referring to the racial discrimination that occurred in the 1930’s towards Negros. Harper Lee uses it to create an air of hope, showing that not all white folks are as racist as others. While many white men and women treated Negros as animals who couldn’t think or act for themselves, most Negros treated white people with the respect all humankind deserves. Harper Lee is almost making a point here about how Negros are more human than white folks.