Firstly Id like to say this is not a book I might usually choose, so thank you Nikki because I cant put it down, restraining myself so as I dont finish it is really hard. Like Mary Jo Ive never participated in this kind of discussion, but the more that I think about it I do feel like I have a lot to say about the book. Which I suppose helps.
Did anyone else have the same reaction to this scene in The Help? Have you ever been in a situation where you felt alienated against because of a physical trait like skin color, gender, etc.? How did you cope and what did you learn from the situation?
Again like you Nikki I dont think Im that ignorant to the issues of racial segregation, I too find myself angry and shocked by the comments.
Have you ever been in a situation where you felt alienated against because of a physical trait like skin color, gender, etc.?
I do know how it feels to feel excluded and made to feel inferior, I came out at school at a really early age and only had a small group of friends. I was stared at and alienated, with comments made about me all the time.
(Page 8) Real quiet, I open the napkin drawer, more concerned about Miss Leefolt seeing me than what they saying. This talk aint new to me. Everwhere in town they got a colored bathroom, and most the houses do too.
I think this shows that Aibileen has just taken things for how they are, thinking that she cant change it so theres no point in trying. This was the coping mechanism I adopted, finding it easier to just accept things the way they are.
I do find it interesting the way that the author includes things for each of the white characters so they could empathise and understand the coloureds position. Although these things arent as deep or serious they should still make them know what it feels like to be different.
In Miss Leefolts case (Page 1) Even her hair is thin, brown, see-through. She try to tease it up, but it only make it look thinner. (Page 76) Elizabeth generally has rollers in all day, can never get her thin hair fill enough. Skeeter struggles with her looks, and Miss Celia doesnt seem to be able to integrate into the bridge club circle perhaps because of her lower class background, but it seems that she may have some other problem.
I feel my favorite character up to now has to be Minny I like the way that she will stand up for herself (sometimes with not the greatest of consequences.) The struggles that these women go through everyday must have been really difficult to have to look after your own children and house. Then to have to look after somebody elses children and house, and to be so important in their life but made to feel like youre not even human (because I really feel that in some cases it is that bad) must be really hard to deal with, everyday without saying anything.
Of course there are glimmers of hope with Skeeter, Miss Celia and possibly Mr Leefolt treating the coloureds as equals.
(Page 62) Skeeters mother says to her Be nice to the little colored girls when youre down there,
I remember looking at her funny, saying, Why wouldnt I be? But Mother never explained. This shows I feel that racism is obviously something that is learned not in built. As through Skeeters eyes as a child they are just other girls.
In the case of Miss Celia she shows by wanting to shake Minnys hand, touch her arm and hug her that she views her as an equal. I do find it very interesting that she cant find it in herself to trust the situation and be an equal.
With Mr Leefolt Im not sure where his views are, I do find the way he speaks on page 15 interesting Youre not going to college so your mamas friends dont have to use the same bathroom as the maid he doesnt use words like nigra or coloured could this be showing his acceptance? What does everyone else think?
I cant wait to start getting further into the book; Im desperate to find out whats going to happen to Minny and Miss Celia.
Roy