Mayella knew that to testify the truth would bring shame to her and her family. Ironically, it was racism that motivated her false accusation of rape against Tom; and it is racism she fears when she cannot acknowledge that she in fact tried to seduce him. She fears her behavior will be seen negatively by the community: both her sexual aggression and her desire to have relations with a Negro. She is angry and humiliated that her advances were rejected, since this negates her femininity and attractiveness; but also, since she thinks Tom is "beneath" her because of her race, it is also "beneath" her to admit she was sexually attracted to him.