The Help: Not Just Black and White

The Help by Kathryn Stockett is about three women in 1962 who become united through writing. The book is set in Mississippi where black maids and their white bosses have a very interesting relationship that was taken as status-quo until the Civil Rights Movement. The Civil Rights Movement does not play a prominent role in this book but is the back drop where the characters come alive against.

Abileen is a black maid whose specialty is taking care of white people’s children.  The book starts out right after her own son, Treelore, passes away. Abileen is taking care of a new child and through her relationship with Baby Girl, she heals a little bit from the loss of her own son. Until Abileen, I had never thought about how attached nannys/maids would become to their children. I didn’t think about how maids would raise white babies, while other people took care of their own. Then add the complexity of loving those white babies and the social issues around class become even more recognizable.

Skeeter is the white lady of the group. She has returned from college and is living with her parents. Most of her friends in Jackson expect that she is going to marry and are trying to find a match for her. However, Skeeter really wants to become a writer and marriage is not one of her priorities. Then along comes Stewart. Stewart is a nice guy, but not a very deep one and all I have to say is that I never really liked him.

Then there is Winnie. Winnie is a black maid with six kids and an abusive husband, which would make you think Winnie is quiet and shy. Winnie is not. She is known for having a mouth on her and unable to keep it shut; however she’s one of the best cooks around and that has kept her employed. Winnie goes to work for Miss Cecelia who is basically a white-trash version of Marilyn Monroe. Their relationship is what hooked me.  While I was reading, I could pictured a round black woman in a maid’s uniform and an oversexed white woman in the kitchen trying to cook dinner. One being really good at it and the other not so much.

Overall, The Help is not just about writing, but it is about people’s stories. My favorite aspect of The Help is the relationships that these women have and how complex they are. There is one women, Hilly, who is the bad guy in this book and is a classic example of the multiple facets of character. In the beginning of the book, through Skeeter’s eyes, Hilly is a leader among their friends. Through Winnie’s eyes, Hilly is a vapid, vain woman who needs to control everything. I always believed that a talented writer is one that doesn’t just create bad and good guys, they create humans.

Book Source: Purchased from Amazon.com

Referrer: One Person’s Journey Through a World of Books