She retaliates with either physical or mental force, proving that Scout is an accepting person, lacking prejudice against the variation of races. She confronts her father about these predicaments many of times. "Scout," said Atticus, "nigger-lover is just one of those terms that don't mean anything—like snot-nose. It's hard to explain—ignorant, trashy people use it when they think somebody's favoring Negroes over and above themselves. It's slipped into usage with some people like ourselves, when they want a common, ugly term to label somebody." Atticus argues for equality among the town of Maycomb, attempting to cleanse the residents of its prejudice against the colored