Maintaining civil neighborly friendships with people who exhibit racism is not solely an example of that character BEING racist. Especially in a time when the prevailing default was racism against black people. I really really think you missed the point Lee was making about Atticus if you think him talking to racist neighbors, despite them being racist, was meant to show him as inherently racist himself.
But I agree that Sorkin's play is a far cry from the book, and I didn't find it a very good play or a very memorable experience in the theater.
