What passages in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird show that peoples' racist attitudes changed?

For the most part, it can be argued that peoples' racist attitudes in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbirddo not change. Those who are more liberal-minded, like Atticus and his children, remain liberal-minded. Those who have racist beliefs, like the Ewells and some of the ladies of Aunt Alexandra's missionary circle, maintain their racist beliefs. The one exception seems to be Aunt Alexandra. In the beginning of the book, Aunt Alexandraclearly...

For the most part, it can be argued that peoples' racist attitudes in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird do not change. Those who are more liberal-minded, like Atticus and his children, remain liberal-minded. Those who have racist beliefs, like the Ewells and some of the ladies of Aunt Alexandra's missionary circle, maintain their racist beliefs. The one exception seems to be Aunt Alexandra.

In the beginning of the book, Aunt Alexandra clearly has very racist attitudes. She disapproves of Calpurnia helping to raise the Finch children and especially disapproves when Calpurnia takes the children to her church. In Aunt Alexandra's mind, racial tensions boil down to African Americans talking among themselves about how discontented they are and stirring up rebellions. She fails to see Atticus's perspective that racial tensions are caused by the white's unfair treatment of the African Americans.

However, by Chapter 24 Aunt Alexandra begins showing disapproval of anyone speaking out against Atticus's decision to defend Tom Robinson. For example, during the meeting of her missionary circle, when Mrs. Farrow indirectly implies that Atticus's actions, though well-intended, only led to further discontentment, Aunt Alexandra shows gratitude when Miss Maudie speaks up for Atticus, forcing Mrs. Farrow to be silent. While Aunt Alexandra may still believe that blacks and whites have their separate places in society, her actions show that she at least respects her brother's attempt at creating unity.

Furthermore, when Atticus explains what happened to lead to Tom Robinson being shot, Aunt Alexandra's response is to say, "This is the last straw, Atticus," meaning that Robinson's unjustifiable death is the last injustice that there society can possibly bear. Aunt Alexandra's response to Robinson's death shows she is beginning to see the ways in which African Americans are mistreated in her society.