What ' s wrong with that ? It ' s possible to recognize privilege and reflect on it without being a crazy SJW . Atticus talks about privilege all throughout the book . That spring when we found a crokersack full of turnip greens , Atticus said Mr . Cunningham had more than paid him . Why does he pay you like that ? I asked . Because that ' s the only way he can pay me . He has no money . Are we poor , Atticus ? Atticus nodded . We are indeed . Jem ' s nose wrinkled . Are we as poor as the Cunninghams ? Not exactly . The Cunninghams are country folks , farmers , and the crash hit them hardest . Atticus said professional people were poor because the farmers were poor . As Maycomb County was farm country , nickels and dimes were hard to come by for doctors and dentists and lawyers . Entailment was only a part of Mr . Cunningham ' s vexations . The acres not entailed were mortgaged to the hilt , and the little cash he made went to interest . If he held his mouth right , Mr . Cunningham could get a WPA job , but his land would go to ruin if he left it , and he was willing to go hungry to keep his land and vote as he pleased .