In To Kill a Mockingbird, when Atticus says that the jury couldn't possibly be expected to take Tom's word against the Ewells', he is referring to the fact that Tom is black and the Ewells are white. Although the novel is set seventy or so years after the end of the Civil War there is still no real equality of the races in the southern town of Maycomb. There are no African Americans in positions of power; the black people work as servants in white people's homes or as manual laborers. Lynchings--unlawful executions of blacks by whites--are still common. Many barriers are up to prevent social and economic advancement of the black residents. Although technically anyone can advance to a position of power, the reality is that even attempting to vote can result in physical harm for the black residents of the South.
When Atticus agrees to defend Tom Robinson against the charge of raping Mayella he knows that he will lose. The jury will be all white. The testimony of a white witness will be given far more weight than that of a black witness. Even in the court the black people who are there are relegated to a balcony. Atticus knows that anyone on the jury who would side with Tom would be putting themself and their family at risk. This is shown graphically at the end of the book when Bob Ewell, despite having won in court, attempts to kill Atticus' children.
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