Aibileen Clark: A Character Analysis

Jackson, Mississippi during the mid twentieth century was highly segregated. Most black women were maids for white families. They were paid to polish silver, wash clothes, and practically raise white children. The Help shows the life of Aibileen Clark and other African American maids who did exactly that in 1962. Aibileen’s life was drastically different than the lives of the people she worked for simply due to the color of her skin. As the story develops, a clearer picture is painted of just how poorly, for the most part, black maids were treated. The society’s views on race made their strong Christian morals questionable and the upper white classes’ discrimination against blacks reflected a low moral standard.
At one point in the story Aibileen is told …show more content…
Leefolt’s silver. The fact that there was no proof or evidence yet Mrs. Leefolt went along with it shows the moral injustice towards black people at that time. Aibileen raised Mae Mobley from the time she was born and now there was a one year old boy in the family as well, but Hilly made sure that she wouldn't return to the Leefolt house. This was all because Aibileen took part in a book written by black maids in the community and Ms. Skeeter, explaining the truths of working for white women. Hilly tells Aibileen, “And maybe I can't send you to jail for what you wrote about Elizabeth, but I can send you to jail for being a thief” after firing her from the Leefolt house (518).
Another example of the white women in particular discriminating against their black maids was when Skeeter’s mother fired Constantine because her albino daughter came to their house. The daughter was “trying to act white” according to Skeeter’s mother (428). Constantine was Skeeter Phelan’s maid her entire life and she was heartbroken when she discovered that her mother kicked Constantine out due to the color of her