Racism in America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Racism in America - Essay Example The quote from one of the characters named Hilly Holbrook in the book or movie ‘The Help’. His words show racism that is in Mississippi. In America, racism was once prominent but it is going down with time (Cozic and Dudley). After her return, Skeeter became uncomfortable with the way the house bits of help were treated by her friends. Her friend Hilly had a separate bathroom for the blacks her reason being that her family may get infected with the black’s diseases. Because of this, Skeeter decided to publish a book by the name ‘The Help’. At first, the maids were reluctant to share their problems with her, but they later felt that their problems could be solved. One of the maids named Aibileen shared with Skeeter after finding out that her friend had been fired because she used her bosses’ bathroom. Minny, the maid, who was sent away, also shared her story. She later finds a job in Celia’s mansion who is Johnny’s wife where she i s treated well compared to the other boss. One of the themes that are both in the book and the movie is racial injustice. This theme is more evident in the book than the movie because in the movie Skeeter takes a seat to talk to Aibileen about her idea of publishing a book. This could not have occurred in the book as there was an apparent difference between the whites and the blacks. This is manifested in the way that most blacks are the ones who are employed by the whites and they are being mistreated because of their color. Aibileen who was a dedicated house help has spent almost her life taking care of white children. Minny also is a maid and because of her outspokenness, she always gets fired. This shows that blacks are not allowed to give their views because their views are considered to be of no importance. Racism is also seen when Hilly, Minny’s boss fires her after finding out that she used their bathroom during a thunderstorm instead of using hers which is outside th e house. Hilly believes that blacks have diseases and therefore they have to use their own bathrooms. This is evident when he says, â€Å"All these houses they are building without maid’s quarters? It’s just plain dangerous. Everybody knows they carry different diseases than we do† (Stockett 8). Hilly spoils Minny’s reputation, making it difficult for her to find a job. Minny’s daughter, therefore, has to stop schooling and look for an occupation as a maid. Aibileen finds a job for Minny where she is treated better than where she was before. Skeeter later finds out that their maid Constantine was sent away because her mother did not want Constantine to be seen by other guests during a celebration. Her mother was guilty about it but they found out that Constantine died just after leaving Jackson. Aibileen was sent away after Hilly insisted that she had stolen silver from her boss Elizabeth. The second theme both in the movie and the book is class an d gender. However, it is more evident in the book than the movie because, in the book, the difference between the social classes is more intense. The whites do not share the bathroom with the blacks than in the movie where we see the maids sharing bathrooms with their bosses. This theme is prominent when we see that most ladies in the area went to the university to look for husbands.