The Help Inquiry Reading Response

Seg·re·ga·tion noun \ˌse-gri-ˈgā-shən\: the practice or policy of keeping people of different races, religions, etc., separates from each other. This term, segregation has been spoken and put into action in our country for over a century from 1849 to 1964. The book The Help by Kathryn Stockett, tells the perspectives of African-American maids and the white people they worked for during the Civil Rights Movement in Jackson, Mississippi. Based on the events taking place, Aibileen, one of the maids, changed her views on racial inequality.

               
              Firstly, because of the racial injustices that happened in Jackson, Mississippi, Aibileen became more determined to protest her rights. Born in segregation, she learned at a young age she was powerless to those with a lighter shade of skin. In the text it states, “Lost my own boy, Treelore…tractor trailer didn’t see him and crushed his lungs before he could move. By the time I found out, he was dead.” When other innocent African-Americans were killed in her community, she felt like another Treelore was lost. For example, in the text Aibileen said, “I don’t want to think about a colored man dying. It’ll make me remember Treelore.” Also, since the shooting of Medgar Evers by the KKK, Aibileen became even more determined to write the novel with Skeeter. For instance, “If I say I don’t want a do it anymore, then everthing I been writing and still have to write ain’t gone get to be said. No, I think. I don’t want to stop.” Lastly, Aibileen said, “For the second time in two months, Jackson, Mississippi’s in the Life magazine. This time though, we make the cover.” I think segregation has forced Aibileen to identify herself more by her race than as an individual.

                 In conclusion, because of the events that have taken place, Aibileen has changed her views on racial inequality. The way you are raised can form your view on a topic, while different events can change them. Without even realizing it, calling someone “fat” as a joke can have a huge impact on how that person sees his or her body throughout life. As much as we don’t want to be the victim of a traumatic experience, we have to stop ourselves from being the cause of someone else’s.