Title: The Help
Author: Kathryn Stockett
Pages Read: 451 (all)
Rating: 10
The year is 1962 and regardless of the color of your skin if you live in Jackson, Mississippi this book is about you. The Help is a novel, which explores the lives of multiple women living during this revolutionary era. Skeeter, is 21 years old who aspires to be an author so she writes to a New York publisher and is given the advice to find a subject she is passionate about. Always having lived in the shadow of her controlling friends, Skeeter begins to see things as they truly are and realizes there is a problem. She seeks out Aibileen, a black maid working for her best friend. Together the two completely different women set out on the dangerous and often unpredictable mission of secretly interviewing twelve black maids regarding segregation and the families they serve. The interviews were then compiled to form a tell-all book and sent to be published in New York. The maids were putting their jobs, families and lives on the line for their stories to be told. Skeeter was defying her friends and everyone she loved to raise awareness concerning the inequality in the South. They were all at risk and they knew it. So when a prominent TV show host discussed their book and suggested the stories may be about Jackson the entire town is in an uproar. Soon, Skeeter and Aibileen can see their worlds spinning wildly out of control.
The central issue in this book revolves around racism. Racism is a disgusting trait in any person. It merely creates fear in the hearts of those that are discriminated against and denial in the minds of those who are too blind to see that despite our outward appearances we are all the same. Reading this book reminded me of the lesson of acceptance my parents taught me so many years ago. Every human being wants the same thing out of life and in this book I found that to mean the black maids just want their children safe and their voices heard, a right given to any white family. The Help aided me in seeing, for the first time, both sides of the issue. My family portrays both pieces in this picture. As a parent you want your children to be happy, right? Well, what if their happiness came at the expense of your beliefs? This is the struggle my Grandfather faced as his eldest daughter, my Aunt Ann, was engaged to be married to a black man. She loved him, but due to the prejudice my Grandfather held he would not put his racism aside to support their bonding in holy matrimony. Refusing to attend the wedding, it appeared there would be many tough years ahead for my Grandfather and his daughter. At the last moment my Uncle Johnny convinced his father of the very lesson of acceptance I am speaking of. Our country proved they head learned this lesson when we overcame our stained past and elected the first African American president. As in this story, these individuals did not let racism get in the way of obtaining something they believed in.
Great review, Chelsea. I loved this book so much and missed the characters when I finished it! It is great to be able to learn about history and how people felt during times of struggle and change. We are so lucky to have these people come before us and leave the world a better place. It inspires me to try to do the same!
ReplyDeleteAwesome Job Chesea. I loved the part about your family and the issues that still airse todya. I find it very motivating that your grandfather was able to put aside his differences for the love of your aunt and uncle. Loved it! :)
ReplyDeleteChelsea, first I would like to say everything was worded perfectly. I completley agree with everything you have said expecically the racsim factor. This book sounds like it would really keep my interest and make me have so much appreciation for my life of not being looked down apoun.I can also relate to what it is like to live with someone who is ignorant enough to not look past the color of skin and into the true value of the heart of that person.My father is also very racsist and it is extrmeley hard to listen to the rude comments that come out of his mouth.I think it is great how your family knows and teaches the importance to acceptance. Great job chels!
ReplyDeleteOur world is surrounded by bigotry, and the 60's were a hard time for African Americans living in the South. You did a superb job relating the book to your own experiences. It shows that you can apply the novel's message, thus showing me and many other people that you have much insight and understanding.
ReplyDeleteThank you all for posting! It's really up to us to change the acceptance of ignorant attitudes toward different races, ethnicities and religions. We, in this global society that reaches out so much, have the ability to conquer those fears which create this ignorance. These blogs are a good example of spreading a more intelligent perspective on the world. This book contributed to opening my eyes wider to these issues.
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