Explain what Atticus meant when he worred about wheather Jem and Scout would be influenced by "Maycomb's usul desease"

Scout overhears Atticus talking to Uncle Jack. Atticus mentions Maycomb's usual disease which is prejudice and racism. This sickness is very much a part of the American South and Atticus knows it is difficult to cure. Atticus hopes that he can navigate his kids around the racial ugliness that is taken for "normal" in Maycomb, "people go stark raving mad when anything involving a Negro comes up." Indeed, his children do look to Atticus which gives the reader a bit of hope in the end.