A novel written by Kathryn Stockett, The Help explains the hardships colored women faced while working for white families during the Civil Rights movement. Throughout the novel, many characters prove the importance of identity. People with identities excel in subjects that matter in their life the most, enjoy hobbies, and speak up for others and themselves. In addition, their actions make them stand out, whether good or bad. People without identities are the opposite: they make up a crowd, do not always state their opinion, and may follow a person with an identity. Family, friends, society, and ethnicity, time periods, and one’s race can influence a person’s identity in a positive or negative way. Love can influence one’s identity as well, …show more content…
In the novel, black women especially were considered people without strong identities and were ignored. Aibileen, a black maid, and Miss Skeeter, a priviliged white lady, convey the claim that in order to have a strong identity, one must speak or fight against injustice. Aibileen shows the idea that one’s identity truly shines when they speak up against injustice. At the beginning of the novel, she was a quiet woman who was too shy to state her opinion. For example, when Miss Leefolt exclaims that Aibileen now has her own private bathroom in the garage, Aibileen says she will only use that bathroom and describes her feelings, “I put the iron down real slow, feel that bitter seed grow in my chest… my face goes hot, my tongue twitchy” (35). Though she pretended about being fine with the new bathroom, she did not exclaim her true feelings. …show more content…
In the beginning of the novel, Miss Skeeter is revealed as an awkward white lady, confused about her identity and how to have a successful career. During the bridge club meeting, Hilly brings up the topic that black women should use a seperate bathroom. Later, when alone with Aibileen, Miss Skeeter nervously says, “... that talk in there… Hilly’s talk, I mean… Do you ever wish you could… change things” (12)? Her question toward Aibileen illuminates that she feels awkward and sorry for being part of the discussion because she does not agree with her best friend, Miss Hilly. However, since she does not show or express her feelings, one must assume that she does not care and is following her friend. Speaking up against her may have felt wrong, but doing so would ensure Miss Skeeter freedom to state her opinion, even if it is different, in front of Miss Hilly, However, she changes herself when she proves that she can and will fight for a change in society. After reading the anonomously published book about a racist society, Miss Hilly confronts Miss Skeeter and exclaims that she knows the true identities of the black women who shared their experiences in the story. To keep her secret about the people in her book, Miss Skeeter mentions the following, hinting toward the chocolate pie of feces Miss Hilly ate: “Careful, Hilly, don’t give yourself away now” (497). The tone Miss
Minny is an African American maid in Jackson, Mississippi, who is sassy and doesn't take a lot of attitude from Miss Hilly or other white women. Different than the rest of the people, white or black in The Help, Minny doesn’t think about consequences if someone messes with her. She struggles with her life from time to time, but Aibileen is always there to help her. Minny shows she has a kind heart too, by making a sacrifice to help her friends and family.
The black women’s interaction with her oppressive environment during Revolutionary period or the antebellum America was the only way of her survival. Playing her role, and being part of her community that is not always pleasant takes a lot of courage, and optimism for better tomorrow. The autonomy of a slave women still existed even if most of her natural rights were taken. As opposed to her counterparts
The power of limitations that African American Women faced during the time of slavery hindered their ability to gain freedom, as freedom for slaves was the ultimate American Dream. James McBride exemplifies this in the novel Song Yet Sung as the first characters that we meet is Liz whom happens to be African American Women. When McBride first introduced Liz to the audience, she is running away from her master as she is chasing the American dream know as freedom. Liz is unable to have the privilege of freedom due limitation, that she is one a female and second African American not to mention that she was in fact a slave because of these same limitations. African Americans during the time of slavery would never have the privilege of freedom unless they took dramatic matters such as running away to the north, the unknown in the hope of gaining freedom where the
The Author of this book (On our own terms: race, class, and gender in the lives of African American Women) Leith Mullings seeks to explore the modern and historical lives of African American women on the issues of race, class and gender. Mullings does this in a very analytical way using a collection of essays written and collected over a twenty five year period. The author’s systematic format best explains her point of view. The book explores issues such as family, work and health comparing and contrasting between white and black women as well as between men and women of both races.
As Elie Wiesel once stated, “I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented” (“Elie Wiesel Quote”). Michelle Alexander’s book The New Jim Crow, which discusses criminal justice and its role in mass incarceration, promotes a similar idea regarding silence when America’s racial caste system needs to be ended; however, Alexander promotes times when silence would actually be better for “the tormented.” The role of silence and lack of silence in the criminal justice system both contribute to wrongly accused individuals and growing populations behind bars.
Reading my first book for this class, I was really looking forward to it. The book, The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander, is an interesting book because it touches base on mass incarceration and the caste system. Figuring out that society is on a war on drugs and racism in the justice system is upsetting, and yet interesting. Michelle does a really nice job in organizing the book and presenting the plot. The fact that this book informs and explains arguments, what is happening with the justices system is complete true. Our lives would look complete different; and some of her points are happening. People do not realize getting incarcerated will take some of rights away. This essay will reflect on the book its self, answer questions,
Unlike the earlier era, in which they had received freedom but it was so new to them, and they truly didn’t understand what it meant to be a free group, they began to move into a time period where they were finding their voice, and “finding their freedom”. Instead of writing about becoming free, and wanting freedom, they begin to act free. They begin to prove they were free by giving off confident in their culture and in their work. In her writing she has many different subsections where she rebuttals the ideas pushed onto the African American race. She proves the stereotypes wrong using the truth. The first example is, under the section titled “originality” she wrote, “it has been said so often that the negro is lacking in originality that has almost become a gospel. Outward signs seem to bear this out. But if one looks closely its falsity is immediately evident.” and , “So if we look at it squarely, the Negro is a very original being. While he lives and moves in the midst of a white civilian, everything that he touches is re-interpreted for his own use. He has modified the language, mode of food preparation, practice of medicine, and most certainly the religion of his new country, just as he adapted to suit himself the sheik haircut made famous by Rudolph Valentino.” this passage shows how much she believes in her race. She isn’t asking for anything from anyone. She doesn’t beg for respect, acceptance, or freedom, she is telling them to treat them like they are free. This passage really exemplifies the theme of accepting themselves and their culture during this time period. The African Americans were able to begin to stand up for themselves and up against the falsely acclaimed stereotypes that have been made against them. During this time period they were recreating the culture that had been taken away from them. They were finding their voice through
Throughout her life as a maid she has raised seventeen white children. Aibileen tries to teach the children that she raises that the color of a person’s skin does not matter. Unfortunately, this message is often contradicted by the racism in Jackson. During the movie she works for Elizabeth Leefolt and takes care of her toddler Mae Mobley Leefolt. The death of Aibileen’s son inspires her to help Skeeter write her book about the lives of colored maids in Mississippi. Aibileen experiences many forms of social inequality throughout the movie. For instance, throughout her life, Aibileen is forced to take care other people’s children while her son is at home taking care of himself. Additionally, at the end of the movie due to her involvement in helping Skeeter write her book, Hilly falsely accuses Aibileen of stealing silverware and convinces Elizabeth to fire her. She was fired for trying to show the social inequality between colored people and white
Today, blacks are respected very differently in society than they used to be. In “The Help”, we see a shift in focus between what life is like now for the average African American compared to what it was like for them to live in the 1960’s.“The Help” teaches readers the importance of understanding and learning from our history. The novel is a snapshot of the cultural, racial and economic distinctions between blacks and whites in a particularly tumultuous time in American history. “The Help” encourages readers to examine personal prejudices and to strive to foster global equality.
Not only did “Help” influence the thoughts of society in regards to racial segregation but it also created an opportunity for Skeeter and Aibileen to challenge sex segregation or the norm that said women are homemakers and men work. “My eye’s drift down to HELP WANTED: MALE” (Stockett, 69). During the 1960s women such as Skeeter, who were not yet married with children by the age of 23 were seen as social outcasts. Few women worked because their job in society was to be home, caring for the family. Being a social outcast didn’t bother Skeeter and writing “Help” allowed her to get a job at Harper & Row Publishing in New York which during that time, most ...
...te the book, or if the story allowed for Aibileen to be in charge of her own freedom and tell her story, The Help would be relabeled as African-American fiction marginalized by its topic and not half as accepted as it has. Having the author express her interpretation of Black southern dialect to channel these women is accepted more by society which shows that oppression of black women still exist. Allowing for Miss Skeeter to try and befriend the black maids in favor of the truth is much more shocking to our culture systems. Unfortunately though, this construction is self-serving for those who accept the authors account of the story because while Skeeter gets to leave Jackson, move to New York, and presumably begin a fabulous life, Minny, Aibileen, and all the other maids are stuck to face the wrath of her doing which is the continued oppression of black women.
Even though racial discrimination may not be as prevalent in the present day society, many African American men and women believe that they do not experience the same opportunities as the white race. Media in general plays such an active role in bringing more information about racial discrimination and how it is still occurring today. But media can also bring negative effects to the struggle in living up to social standards to today’s society “norms”. Anna Mae was very brave in lying about her identity to become someone she really wanted to be. But, I feel she should have never had to have done that. He story just goes to show how the power of society can change you as a human being. It can make you believe that you must change your identity in order to “fit in” which I find to be very sad. I think that more people in this world need to stand up to theses stereotypes of being the “perfect American” and say that no one is perfect in this world and everyone is created by the most perfect human God. Overall, racial discrimination is a part of our everyday lives and "By the Way, Meet Vera Stark" can still speak to us today, even with the play set in a time 80 years
One of the major projects of Hilly Holbrook’s is to get a law passed requiring white families to build bathrooms for their black children to use. At one point in the story, Skeeter finally realizes that what is going on is wrong. She grew up with these women but realized she knew them. After she reads the Jim Crow laws in the library, she starts to understand. “But then I realize, like a shell cracking open in my head, there’s no difference between those government laws and Hilly building a bathroom in the garage, except ten mines worth of signatures in the state capital.”
The first part of the book gives an account of Immaculée’s family background. The love she experienced from her parents and her three brothers is illustrated. Her parents cared for everybody, particularly the poor. Because of the love with which she grew up, she never realised that she was living in a country where hatred against the Tutsi, her tribe, was rampant. It was not until she was asked to stand up in class by her teacher during an ethnic roll call that she realised that her neighbours were not what she thought them to be – good and friendly. After struggling to get into high school and university, not because she was not qualified but because of discrimination against her ethnic background, she worked hard to prove that if women are given opportunities to...
Minny Jackson, her best friend is the firecracker in the movie. Skeeter is a 23-year-old white woman with a college degree but from the get-go, you can tell she is different than other women during this time. Hilly Holbrook is the villain in the movie, who treats pretty much everyone she encounters badly. The other character’s bond over how harsh she treats colored people and she ends up being the central character in Skeeter’s book. Skeeter develops a project in which she documents the lives of maids in Mississippi, she recruits Aibileen who then suggests Minny. Minny Jackson has five children and a violent husband because she Is financially unstable you see her daughter leaving school at a young age to work as a maid alongside her. We are also introduced to additional characters, such as Celia Foote, a friendly but mysterious woman Minny later works for. She is rejected from southern society because she is married to Hilly’s ex-boyfriend, Johnny. She was raised poor, and learns a lot from Minny and treats her better than most other white