Why does tom Robinson act the way he does in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Tom Robinson acts the way he does To Kill a Mockingbird because of his racial ethnicity, in the 1920's 'negroes' were seen as the lowest of the lowest society group even under the Ewells. Furthermore, Tom Robinson also acts the way he does because he is scared he will go to prison for the next of life if you mean about him attempting to escape from prison.