Skeeter's voice about untold stories

Skeeter's voice about untold stories

In the 2011 movie “The help”, directed by Tale Taylor, it tells the story of black maids working for white families, the unfair treatment they face, and how a journalist takes out this problem to the world. Emma stone plays the main character, “Skeeter”. Skeeter is a young woman with big dreams of becoming a journalist, even though everyone around her expects her settle down, get married and focus on family life. But skeeter is focused on her career.

Aibileen
Skeeter applied for a job at “The Jackson journal”. At the interview she was assigned to the task of writing responses to letters for the journalist “Miss Myrna”. The letters are about housework matters. But skeeter didn’t know much about housework. One day she joined for a party with her friends and their families, skeeter talks about her new job. She explains that to write responses for the letters, she needs advice from someone who knows about housework. So she asks her friend if she can get help from her housemaid Aibileen, because the maids were ones with real experience in housework. Her friend allowed to get help from her housemaid with a condition they can discuss after her maid finish the works. While skeeter was talking to the maid for advice she knows about the maid’s life struggles. This sparks an idea in her mind. She decides to write a book about house maid’s life struggles in their point of view. She discussed this idea with their journalist and got permission. Then she came to Aibileen and asked for help to write the book. But Aibileen got fear and rejected her request.

A few days later Aibileen went to a church. Everything changes after Aibileen attends church. In the church the pastor delivers a powerful speech about standing up for what is right, even when it is dangerous. Inspired by his words she called skeeter and said she was ready to give an interview.  Skeeter went to Aibileen’s house, she was very excited to hear her stories. Aibileen began by sharing her own life as maid, describing how she cares for her owner’s babies while they didn’t. Another day she shared a heart-breaking story about her son. One day he met an accident by a white man. But he didn’t help him. Someone finally took him to the hospital, but it was too late, he passed away. She knew who made this accident but as a black woman she can’t do anything against white people.


While Aibileen and Skeeter were talking Aibileen’s friend Minny entered her house unexpectedly. She saw Skeeter was there, she got angry, scolded Aibileen and went out. A few moments later, Minny came back into the house. She told them that she also wanted to give an interview. Minny sat down and she decided to tell a story that was both funny and unforgettable, the “chocolate pie” incident. Minny’s ex-owner, Hilly, treated black maids poorly and giving them unfair tasks and strict rules. For example, the maids had to use sperate toilets. One rainy day, Minny was working, she urgently needed to use the toilet, but the maid’s toilet was outside of the house. She asked her owner to use their toilet, but she refused. Unable to control herself, Minny went inside to use their toilet. Unfortunately, Hilly found her and fired her from the maid job. The next day Minny went to her owner’s house with a chocolate pie made with “special ingredient”. Minny knows Hilly was a fan of chocolate pie, so she had the perfect plan to get back at her. She pressed the calling bell when hilly opened the door, Minny said sorry with an innocent smile.  She called Minny inside and after taking a bite of the pie. Minny was satisfied that her revenge was completed. But continuously hilly scolded Minny.  Finally, Minny revealed her secret, the chocolate pie had been made with her own human waste. After told this shocking information Minny ran away.


Skeeter sends the progress of the book to her journalist. She liked it but she wants at least a dozen maid’s interviews. But except Aibileen and Minny, no one was ready to give interview until one incident. A maid was arrested for taking a ring from the house where she worked, while cleaning. She did that for her children’s education. After this incident many maids came to Aibileen house to give interview.









Skeeter successfully wrote the book “The Help” and published it. After its release, the book quickly got attention and had a lot of discussions. People were shocked by the stories shared by the maids. For example, Hilly was shocked when she realized the chocolate pie story was about her. The church people knew the book was published with Aibileen’s help so they arranged a special prayer meeting to thank her. And gifted "The help" book with all church people’s signature.

In conclusion, Skeeter’s voice about untold stories changed the community, put the light on the struggles and injustices faced by black maids. Through “The help” book, readers knew about Aibileen’s heart breaking story, Minny’s revenge chocolate pie story and many other experiences. The book sparked a lot of discussions about the behavior of white owners. White owners like hilly were shocked and embarrassed as their actions were exposed. Aibileen was appreciated by the church people for her brave. The help became a powerful symbol of justice and proving the strength of unity. 

"Standing up for what is right, even when it is dangerous"

---------- THE END ----------


Reviewed by: U.SEENUJAN IM-2022-061

Reference : 
Taylor, T. (Director). (2011). The Help [Film]. Lookmovie. https://www.lookmovie2.to/movies/play/1691210794-the-help-2011#

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