Examples Of Racism In The Help

Words: 809
Pages: 4

In the novel The Help, written by Kathryn Stockett it challenges the readers’ views on racism and inequality. This novel reinforces the society’s white supremacy, set in the 1960s in Southern America, Jackson Mississippi. These ideas in the novel encourage the readers to think about the kind of world to not want to live in.

Throughout the novel racism is a major theme in the novel, which challenges the readers’ ideas of a type of world not to live in. In the novel the black maids such as Aibileen and Minny face this problem as the 1960s was a time were racism towards African Americans was the norm. The African Americans were seen as the lower class and inferior while the White Americans were seen as superior and upper class. This shows that people were divided by race and this therefore conveys a type of world not to live in, as everyone should be treated equal. An example of racism is when Miss Hilly demands her maid Minny to do something in a demanding tone. This shows that African Americans were seen as unworthy and treated
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In the novel there is some variety in economic and social class, but race is the number one factor of a person's place in Jackson, Mississippi. Race also outlines who has access to educational, occupational, and economic opportunity. This is conveyed in the novel as the White American have a higher education then the African Americans this is shown in the novel through dialogue, as the African American speak in their dialect whereas the White American women speak English For example when Aibileen, reassures Mae Mobley, “You is smart, you is kind, you is important.” Shows the African American level of education through dialogue. The type of world not to live in is conveyed to show the difference in society and class between the two races to convey to the reader the type of world not to live