The color of someone's skin is not a problem for Maniac. He loves the colors of the people in the East End. He "[can't] see it, this color business." Nor does he see the dislike and hatred that is directed at him because he is white. He is called "whitey" by the old ragpicker, "fishbelly" by Mars Bar, and a racial epithet is scrawled on the Beale's house attacking Maniac because he is not black.
Spinelli portrays the ignorance people have about races different from their own. Maniac is harassed by Mars Bar and does the unthink-able — he takes a bite of Mars Bar's candy, biting over the exact spot where Mars Bar had bitten. It is as though "black germs" or "white germs" are deadly to the opposite race. Maniac educates Grayson about blacks, explaining to him that they are "regular people, like us." Similarly, the McNabs do not understand blacks. The McNabs believe blacks are "today's Indians" who are going to revolt and attack whites.
When Maniac races Mars Bar, and shows him up, Mars Bar's hatred towards whites becomes a hatred for one person: Maniac. Mars Bar is able to rise above race and see Maniac as a human being. This change in Mars Bar allows Maniac and Mars Bar to develop respect for each other and later, a trusting friendship.
Maniac tries to perform a "miracle" by taking Mars Bar to the McNab house. He realizes that the unification, or desegregation, of Two Mills will have to be accomplished by educating people about the opposite race. Even though Maniac's plan is not totally successful, it paves the way for better relations along Hector Street.
Literacy is the third significant theme that Spinelli addresses in Maniac Magee. Reading and learning is exhibited throughout the novel as something positive and good. Amanda Beale carries all of her books — her prized possessions — with her at all times in a suitcase so they will not be ruined by her younger siblings or dog. Maniac carries a book with him wherever he goes when he first arrives in Two Mills. When he is living with the Beales, he reads to Hester and Lester. Spinelli includes the destruction of Amanda's Volume A of the encyclopedia and portrays it as a tragedy. Later, living with Grayson, Maniac begins his own library, buying books about a variety of topics from the library. He tells Grayson that he wants all the books he can get because he's "learning everything!" Maniac even teaches Grayson to read and when Grayson reads his first book cover to cover, the accomplishment is worthy of a celebration.
Exposing his readers to the issues of homelessness, racial prejudice and discrimination, and the importance of literacy, Spinelli attempts to instill hope and enthusiasm for a society of more tolerant and understanding human beings.
