“No friendship is an accident.” – O. Henry. The southern United States in the early 1960’s was an especially difficult time for the black and white communities. A time of segregation, secrets, and risks. A time that includes the struggles that the colored help go through on a daily basis working under white families. As well as the laws that limit them and allow them to remain submissive in such a prejudicial time. In Kathryn Stockett’s novel, The Help, the relationships between the black and white races in 1960’s Jackson Mississippi is examined through the lives of two black maids and one young white woman, who all form unlikely friendship during segregation.
Skeeter Phelan is a young graduate of Ole Miss, and the daughter of a wealthy cotton …show more content…
Minny is Aibileen’s best friend and a fellow maid. Minny followed in the footsteps of her mother and became a maid; however, she was fired from her first job because of her sarcastic comments. Minny’s mother was always afraid for her daughter, she tried to teach her to keep her head down, and to do as she is told, or she will be fired. Minny worked for Mrs. Walter, Hilly Holbrook’s mother, and was fired from the job, because she was accused of stealing. Although Minny never stole anything, Hilly is believed, because no one will take her side of a colored maid. This shows the accurate level of supremacy of white women in the southern United States. A white woman such as Mrs. Hilly can easily ruin the career of a colored woman such as Minny. However, Minny gets a job with Celia Foote. On their first encounter Celia greets Minny with a hug, gives her a cold drink and asks her to relax. Minny is surprised, through all the white women she has worked for she has never encountered someone like Celia Foote. Celia Foote relates to Mae Mobley in the way of her innocence. Celia was raised in poverty, and is considered an outcast by the women of Jackson. She does not know the difference between black and white, and she sees no difference between her and Minny. She eats with Minny, converses with Minny, even hugs her. Their relationship is truly tested when a white man …show more content…
When it came to the south, the early 1960’s drew a fine line that neither the black nor white communities could cross. This fine line lead to separation between the two groups, and allowed them to disconnect entirely. Kathryn Stockett accurately portrays the struggles that the colored help go through, and their lives under white families. Although the hardships kept the races apart, the author shows the unlikely friendships that occurred because of the differences. The unlikely friendships and the relationships between the races were all analyzed through the lives of two black maids and one young white woman, who all broke freely from their conformity during
Skeeter Phelan is a young graduate of Ole Miss, and the daughter of a wealthy cotton …show more content…
Minny is Aibileen’s best friend and a fellow maid. Minny followed in the footsteps of her mother and became a maid; however, she was fired from her first job because of her sarcastic comments. Minny’s mother was always afraid for her daughter, she tried to teach her to keep her head down, and to do as she is told, or she will be fired. Minny worked for Mrs. Walter, Hilly Holbrook’s mother, and was fired from the job, because she was accused of stealing. Although Minny never stole anything, Hilly is believed, because no one will take her side of a colored maid. This shows the accurate level of supremacy of white women in the southern United States. A white woman such as Mrs. Hilly can easily ruin the career of a colored woman such as Minny. However, Minny gets a job with Celia Foote. On their first encounter Celia greets Minny with a hug, gives her a cold drink and asks her to relax. Minny is surprised, through all the white women she has worked for she has never encountered someone like Celia Foote. Celia Foote relates to Mae Mobley in the way of her innocence. Celia was raised in poverty, and is considered an outcast by the women of Jackson. She does not know the difference between black and white, and she sees no difference between her and Minny. She eats with Minny, converses with Minny, even hugs her. Their relationship is truly tested when a white man …show more content…
When it came to the south, the early 1960’s drew a fine line that neither the black nor white communities could cross. This fine line lead to separation between the two groups, and allowed them to disconnect entirely. Kathryn Stockett accurately portrays the struggles that the colored help go through, and their lives under white families. Although the hardships kept the races apart, the author shows the unlikely friendships that occurred because of the differences. The unlikely friendships and the relationships between the races were all analyzed through the lives of two black maids and one young white woman, who all broke freely from their conformity during