How does Jem describe the social hierarchy in Maycomb in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird?

Jem tells Scout that there are “four kinds of folks” in Maycomb based on class and race. 

The trial’s outcome came as a bit of a shock to Jem.  He was expecting a verdict of “not guilty,” because he believed that Atticus proved Tom Robinson innocent.  When Aunt Alexandra tells Scout that Walter Cunningham is “trash,” Scout is offended.  Jem tells her he understands. 

“… I’ve got it all figured out, now. I’ve thought...

Jem tells Scout that there are “four kinds of folks” in Maycomb based on class and race. 

The trial’s outcome came as a bit of a shock to Jem.  He was expecting a verdict of “not guilty,” because he believed that Atticus proved Tom Robinson innocent.  When Aunt Alexandra tells Scout that Walter Cunningham is “trash,” Scout is offended.  Jem tells her he understands. 

“… I’ve got it all figured out, now. I’ve thought about it a lot lately and I’ve got it figured out. There’s four kinds of folks in the world. There’s the ordinary kind like us and the neighbors, there’s the kind like the Cunninghams out in the woods, the kind like the Ewells down at the dump, and the Negroes.” (Ch. 23)

To Jem, this social hierarchy is based on who can look down on whom.  The Cunninhams may not have much, but they are better than the Ewells. All the Ewells have is being able to look down on people like the Robinsons, who because of the color of their skin are considered inferior in Maycomb.

Scout is puzzled by the concept that the Finches are superior.  It is important to Aunt Alexandra.  It is not important to Atticus, but he tried to explain it to Scout and Jem to appease her.  She asks why the Cunninhams are not “Old Family” then.  Jem tells her they don’t count. 

“Background doesn’t mean Old Family,” said Jem. “I think it’s how long your family’s been readin‘ and writin’. Scout, I’ve studied this real hard and that’s the only reason I can think of. Somewhere along when the Finches were in Egypt one of ‘em must have learned a hieroglyphic or two and he taught his boy.” (Ch. 23)

The fact that the Finches are from an important family is meaningful to them because, as Jem says, it is all they have.   They do not have a fortune to go with the family name.  They may be respected, but all they have is respect.  They no longer have the power and money to go with the name.