Racism.

Racism, perhaps the most dominate theme in the book, is excersized in several ways. The Klu Klux Klan shows up several times, and they even attempt to scare Idgie and Ruth out of serving black customers. One of Idgie's best friends, Grady Kilgore, working for the train companies as some kind of local sheriff, is also a member of the local KKK, which he tries to deny when Idgie confronts him about it. These are just some of the few examples of racism in the novel.