In what context and quote does Mom reference Hitler?

'Oh Yeah?' I said. 'How about Hitler? What was his redeeming quality?'

'Hitler loved dogs,' Mom said without hesitation.

pg. 144

Rose Mary tries to teach Jeannette a lesson in compassion. She explains that even the worst of people have good qualities. Jeannette is frustrated with the prejudice of her grandmother towards Blacks but Rose Mary encourages Jeannette to instead find her grandmother's positive traits and understand the upbringing that indoctrinated her with such hateful ideas. She wants Jeannette to understand, not judge.