"The Help" and the Struggle for African American Society

In the 2011 movie "The Help", directed by Tate Taylor, a group of African American maids that work for families decide to share their stories with a writer who is white. At this time, this is very controverscial due to the fact that blacks and whites were segregated. In the time of the movie, the 1960's, blacks were opressed badly by whites. The main goal of sharing these stories was to expose how the black maids were being treated.

There are several scenes in this film that not only offend the maids, but also himuliates them. In one particular part of the movie, Hilly, a white woman who has a maid work for her by the name of Aibileen, pushes the issue on having seperatre bathrooms. She believes that this will be seperate but equal which is really wrong. Also, when a maid by the name of Minny hears about this, she is not to flattered. Minny, being the outspoken person she is, decides to use the same bathroom as the whites.

A main theme within the film that stands out is the level of uncertainty that is going on. The fear of getting to know others is not only a thing for whites, but for the black maids also. When Aibileen agrees to share her personal stories with Skeeter, she keeps this to herself. She also gets Minny along with her. Minny at first is not all in with the idea but she gives in. Overtime, Minny came past the fact that Skeeter was white and began helping with the book also. In the end, the maids realize that what Minny and Aibileen are doing is setting for change. This triggers the other maids to began sharing stories as well. That is how the maids turned a negative into a positive.

In the end, the maids overcame something. They overcame the fear to open up to people of a "different kind". The were given a chance to share their stories and put an end to the rumors about the lives of "The Help". The reactions from the community were just about positive. This book changed peoples views on African-American women in Mississippi during the 1960's.