Maids In The Help

Imagine, you are a colored woman in the 1960’s. The job of being a maid is the only job available to you, the pay is not good, and, you are treated lesser than the rest of society. This was the life of many colored women in the 1960s of Jacksonville, Mississippi. In the novel The Help, author Kathryn Stockett tells the story of the maids’ aka “the help” during this time. One white socialist and two maids put their stories and talents together to pull off one of the greatest scandals in their Jacksonville community. This book has taught me; that attitude is everything, love is not limited to family, and risks should be taken to let your voice be heard.
The maids were treated poorly by the families they worked for, but they kept their character
Aibileen in her many years has had some hard times. Losing her son was one of the hardest things she’d ever have to go through but her best friend Minny through Aibileen’s depression “came everyday to make sure [she] was breathing” (Stockett 3). Their friendship is unique. Minny didn’t stay with aibileen or give her words of encouragement. Nothing of that nature; instead, she came everyday to make sure she was alive and waited for aibileen to get it together on her own. After getting back on her feet Aibileen begins taking care of Mae Mobley. In all her years she’s never had such love for a child that was not her own. Everyday she has made it to repeat “you is kind, you is smart, you is important” to Mae over and over to teach her early in life her self-worth (Stockett 443). Minny is the opposite she’s an outstanding woman but her attitude about things tends to come off as a little rude but that is the nature of her personality. Minny began working for a woman who was nothing like she had ever seen, she did the opposite of many women. Cecilia Foot talked to Minny politely, ate with her, shared her life with her. During Minny’s time working with Cecilia they shared their lives with each other. Minny learned of Cecilia many miscarriages and her worrying of telling her Cecilia learned of Minny’a
Skeeter had an opportunity to write anything she felt for a writing position in New York. She decided to write about the helps side of their lives. As illegal as this was Skeeter said to her publisher, “ We are telling stores that need to be told” (Stockett 244). During this time, colored people were murdered for writing book, so if anyone caught wind of a white woman writing in the point of view of help, it would cause many problems, but Skeeter did not care. After writing and publishing this book using Minny, Aibileen, and other maids stories, Hilly read it and due to key details of her life being in the book she knew exactly who was involved. Hilly made it her mission to ruin all who were involved. Finally someone stood up to Hilly Holbrook. Who stood up? Abileen.. After having Hilly throw multiple accusations at her, get her fired, and ruin her future of being hired again she finally speaks her mind. Looking Hilly eye to eye Aibileen says , “I know something about you and don’t you forget that” (Stockett 519). All her life she kept quiet and never spoke her mind. Finally, she stands up to a woman who made her life miserable. Shortly before Aibileen’a stance, Minny after years of abuse stands up for herself. Her husband blamed her when things went wrong. After Hilly read the book, he was laid off of work, and came home to beat Minny. She finally said, “ I can’t take