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Racism In Kathryn Stockett's The Help

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The Help, by Kathryn Stockett, exhibits both acts and opposition towards racism that lead to mistreatment, lost and found opportunities, as well as unlikely friendships White housewives, such as Hilly and Elizabeth, take their maids for granted and verbally abuse them. Aibileen and Minny, two black maids working in Jackson, Mississippi, either missed chances for success or lost them because of racism in their society. Also, Skeeter’s book not only accomplishes her goal of creating a published piece of literature, but also results in new, dangerous friendships with the maids. Moreover, black maids working in white homes are brutalized and treated unfairly for obscure reasons. The housewives disregard their black maids because of societal influences, which leads to maltreatment. White housewives think their maids are inferior to them and treat them like they are worth nothing. Women, such as Hilly Holbrook and Elizabeth Leefolt, are unappreciative, disrespectful, and offensive. Separate maids’ …show more content…

This happens in the real world through Rosa Parks, who chose not to follow segregation laws to pronounce her beliefs of her society. Similar to the manner in which Elizabeth and Hilly mistreat their black maids, the city bus driver showed a lack of respect for Rosa Parks by making her give up her seat and having her arrest for no good, moral reason. Aibileen and Minny, as well as Rosa Parks, found opportunities, in spite of their undesirable circumstances, to succeed in their own ways. Just as Aibileen and Minny formed a bond with Skeeter, Rosa Parks connected with her community, and especially Martin Luther King Jr., with whom she worked to start a bus boycott. Indicated by examples from The Help and Rosa Parks, racism is an issue that can tear people down, but can also construct

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