Race relations in the United States have been a hot topic for a long time. The Help by Kathryn Stockett looks at race relations in the 1960s from a new perspective. This book is wonderful because it talks about an important time in American history. The movie based on The Help is great too because it follows the book closely. The Help should be considered a must read novel for students in middle school, high school, and college. This is because students need to know about civil rights and race relations. Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday was celebrated recently. He was a champion for civil rights. Therefore, it is a good time to discuss why The Help is one of my favorite books. The discussion will begin with a bit of information about the author of The Help, Kathryn Stockett. Then, I will provide five reasons why Skeeter is my favorite fictional character.
Kathryn Stockett
The Help is her first novel. Therefore, there isn’t much biographical information about her. However, she is a true Southern woman. She was born and raised in Mississippi. She went to college in Alabama and she has a degree in English and creative writing. I think that she is like Skeeter because Skeeter is also a writer.
Skeeter Phelan
She is the young woman who writes about race relations in South from the perspective of the help. She is my favorite fictional character for the following reasons:
1. She is a writer. I can relate to Skeeter on a professional level. I am also a writer. She wanted her writing to make a difference. I always want my writing to have an impact on the people who read it.
2. She is an independent woman. She wasn’t going to let her mom force her into a romantic relationship. She was going to get married on her own terms. I am an indepedent woman as well. I am focused on my writing and painting career. I want to get married. However, I will get when I want to get married.
3. She is a risk taker. Skeeter took risks in writing the book because she talked to the Aibileen and Minny. She was the only person that interacted with them on a nice way. She risked public ridicule by writing the book. I have many different friends. I am blind when it comes to race. All people deserve to be treated kindly.
4. Skeeter reminds me of Rosa Parks. Both women stood up for what they believed in. Rosa Parks remained seated on the bus. Skeeter wrote a book that made some people in her community take a deeper look into how they related to African Americans. Rosa Parks is one of my favorite women too. Skeeter and Rosa changed their communities forever.
5. Skeeter is outspoken in a quiet way. She tried to fix an injustice. She is a hero. I can quietly fix things that bother me.
The Help deals with race relations in the 1960s from a different perpective. Race relations and civil rights are important topics today because people need to get along all over the world. The book and the movie are great because they will get people thinking and talking constructively about difficult topics. Civil rights and race relations took center stage recently because of Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday. Therefore, it is the perfect time to discuss why Skeeter is my favorite character in The Help. Source: The Help by Kathryn Stockett