Is Atticus Finch A Leader Or A Nigger Lover?

The Citizens of Maycomb

Was Atticus Finch a leader or a " nigger lover"? In the book To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus showed in multiple places how he was a leader and also how he could have been a "nigger lover". For a small town like Maycomb, there wasn't a lot of neighborly friendship going on; between Boo Radley, and the mysterious minds of Scout and Jem, the town was in circles. The mad dog in the story was a symbol of many different things, it was a symbol of the town and how at times the town could be against each other at all odds. From the incident with the mad dog, Scout and Jem Finch learn that their father can be a man of action and not just a old man as they think he is, that he is a balanced and fair man, and that they should appreciate their father because they learn of his hidden talents and principles.
They learn this from the mad dog incident when Atticus shoots and kills a rabid dog that became a nuisance in the neighborhood. In the book Atticus believes that firearms give men too much power, hence the reason he doesn't want to teach Scout and Jem about them. Atticus explains, "I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand." Atticus tells Jem what real courage is, as he wants the best for his kids. Atticus strongly demonstrates for Jem that true power does not come from a rifle in hand. Jem and Scout notice that Atticus is very fair when it comes to anything protecting what is