In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, does the Tom Robinson trial change people's views? Are people of Maycomb less prejudiced after the trial?

No. The people of Maycomb continue to hold their prejudiced views against African Americans even after Tom Robinson's trial. After Tom Robinson is convicted and sent to prison, Tom attempts to escape and is shot dead by the prison guards. In Chapter 25, Scout mentions that the citizens of Maycomb were interested in the news of Tom's death for two days. Instead of showing sympathy for Tom and questioning his motives for escape, their prejudiced views are only strengthened. Scout mentions that they found Tom's death "typical." The racists citizens talk about Tom's death and say that it is, "Typical of a nigger to cut and run. Typical of a nigger's mentality to have no plan, no thought for the future, just run blind first chance he saw" (Lee 322). They also comment that even though Tom was a married, clean, and respected individual, his upright character was only a thin veneer because eventually the "Nigger always comes out in em'" (Lee 322). These comments indicate that the citizens of Maycomb were essentially more prejudiced towards African Americans than they were before Tom's trial. Tom's escape only confirmed their beliefs and views regarding African Americans. Scout says that there was nothing written in the Maycomb Tribune and only a brief obituary in the Colored News. Mr. Underwood was the only individual to bring up Tom's death when he likened it to the "senseless slaughter of songbirds" in The Montgomery Advertiser. The citizens do not care about Tom Robinson and view him as just another "nigger."