I just finished reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett. I must express how deeply moving this novel was. I know from reading the acknowledgements that this book, the characters and the stories it holds are wholly fictitious. However, the lives that are depicted in this novel was at one time reality. There were many women whose lives were very similar to those portrayed in this novel and I cannot stop myself from marvelling at their tolerance, strength and patience.
When reading the novel, I couldn't help but feel ashamed of the colour of my skin. Knowing that people can associate me to this shallow, unintelligent group left me grieving. Knowing that people could take one look at me and assume that I would treat them harshly. I realized at that moment that I would only ever understand a fraction of what it was like to be a coloured woman in the 1960s. I would only understand a smaller fraction of what it is like to be a coloured woman today. I know that there are still people out there who truly believe that white people are above all others. This is not the case. We are all created equal.
I know that this all seems extremely insincere coming from someone who has never been sneered at or had a slur thrown in my direction... But I will never be the one to smirk or give the disapproving look.
While we cannot change what people think of us, we can change what people see in us. We can be better, kinder, compassionate and loving. One of my favourite parts of the book, Aibileen is trying to teach the little white girl she looks after a lesson on being a good person. She wraps two candies. One in a white wrapper, one in a brown wrapper. She explains to the little girl that regardless of what is on the outside, the inside can still be good.
How simple life is when seen through the eyes of a child.
While I cannot change the past, there is so much I want to change about our future. Please read this book and when you go to speak ill or judge another person, stop it. Just stop.
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