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Grace Bright
Mrs. Webb
9 Honors Literature and Composition I

The Help Essay Rewrite

Achievement has no color- Abraham Lincoln. If an African American man were
to have invented the lightbulb, people would not have disregarded his invention because the man
was African American. People would have rejoiced over having an electric powered light that is
very beneficial. Though if an African American holds no achievements, than skin color becomes
an issue. The focus of race has been and continues to be a reoccurring issue in society today
which is realistically detailed in the novel, The Help, written by Kathryn Stockett. This theme of
racial prejudice is especially evident when Miss Hill would not allow Minny to use her toilet or
when Stuart became outraged at Skeeter for associating with the colored maids, or when
neither the black nor the white societies would accept Constantines daughter. Therefore, the
main theme in The Help is the racial prejudice is dominant in numerous events within the novel.

There are several examples within the novel, The Help, when racial prejudice
fueled the ignorance of many in the 1960s time period. The issue of race is a large enough
problem in the novel, yet an issue of races sharing the same toilet becomes a reoccurring issue
too. When Miss Leefolt say, not having her use the one in the house. Thats why Ive
designed the Home Help Sanitation Initiative, Miss Hill say. As a disease preventative
measure (Stockett 10). Miss Hill is convincing Miss Leefolt that because of Abilenes African
American race she could hold disease. Disease that could possibly spread to the Leefold family.
Though this is just Miss Hill being raciest and in reality all those characters are mankind so any

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of them could have a disease. Stockett is developing this theme bigger as the story continues.
When Stuart says, I just dont understand why you would do this. Why do you even care about
this Skeeter?(449). Stockett has turned the white people against each other on their
perspectives of racism. Because Skeeter cares about race and how all people feel. However, just
like Miss Hill, Stuart just desires to segregate whites from blacks and be disrespectful to all
blacks. Having this opinion, in which he believes all whites, especially his girlfriend, would
have the same. In addition, Stockett displays racial prejudice against both races when neither
community would accept Constantines daughter as one of their own. Abilene says, White
folks would stop her, ask her all suspicious what she doing totin round a white childEven
colored folks they treat her different, distrustful, (422). Revealing that there was a segregation
of race not only from whites to blacks, but blacks to whites. That just because Constantines
daughter was white but Constantine was black, they should not be together. These are just a
few examples in the novel The Help, where racial prejudice is a dominant problem.

All in all, the main theme in The Help is that racial prejudice is dominant issue in
several situations, this theme is the most dominant theme that reoccurred constantly throughout
the book. As well, the theme of racial prejudice was developed throughout the book to show the
different perspectives upon the topic. Our true nationality is mankind-H.G. Wells, thus racial
prejudice should never be as significant of an issue as it was in the novel, The Help, written by
Kathryn Stockett.

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