The fight for racial equality began in the 1950’s. However, 1960’s America changed the country as a whole. The Civil Rights Movement, a social movement in the United States whose goals comprised of ceasing racial segregation and discrimination. A few famous and inspirational leaders include Martin Luther King Jr. or Rosa Parks. Aibileen of Mississippi and Calpurnia of Alabama work as black maids during the 1960s. Although they aren’t slaves there’s still the evident segregation present in their lives. As they struggle through their lives, they continue to share their own personal experiences and knowledge with those surrounding them while having homogeneous backgrounds.
Aibileen Clark has taken care of seventeen white babies in her lifetime, at this point, she’s knowledgeable in attending children. She can quickly dress a crying baby before their parents even wake up. Not only that, Aibileen can also clean and cook. As a maid she serves for a white family, Elizabeth Leefolt’s at the moment in particular, when the novel begins. Currently, the child she’s caring for Mae Mobley Leefolt…show more content… Showcasing her own double life when bringing Jem and Scout to the First Purchase Church. A church particularly for the African American community in the county. When there, Calpurnia reveals her distinctive way of acting and speaking when she’s around other people of her color, “Rest of the colored folks. Cal, but you talked like they did in church....” (Lee 167). Aibileen doesn’t have the privilege of taking Mae Mobley outside her home. Educated, Aibileen and Calpurnia can read and write. Calpurnia even teaches Scout on reading when she can. Unlike Atticus who treats everyone equally, Calpurnia provides new perspectives and knowledge from her side as she comprehends the caste system first hand and guides the children towards the right
