The movie, “The Help” came out on DVD yesterday, and I can’t wait to buy it. I read the book, and saw the movie a couple of times. I think this novel is destined to be a classic. At first glance, “The Help” seems to be a story about white women in the South and their housemaids during the sixties. A time when women dressed up to go to the grocery store and playing bridge with their friends was the most important item on their agenda. In contrast, my generation believes that we are supposed to do it all, and look great at the same time. I remember growing up in the late seventies and watching commercials that told us that as women we were supposed to “bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan”… The idea of live in “help” is hard to imagine, but for the characters in the novel it was a way of life, and provides a great commentary on racial struggles in the South during the Civil Rights movement.
The thing is; the story is not just a history lesson. It is a life lesson, and to simply read the story or watch the movie, without getting the lesson would be to miss the whole point. You have to ask yourself some important questions: What character traits do I most often exhibit? Am I a follower like Elizabeth, a manipulator like Hilly, or, (hopefully), do I stand up for what is right like Skeeter?
There are several things that make Skeeter who she is, and I think we can learn a lot from her character. And so, I have come up with a list of five ways to develop your inner “Skeeter”
1. Speak Truth- Speaking truth makes us vulnerable. People may not like you. There is a saying, “Being right isn’t always popular, and being popular isn’t always right”. A true “Skeeter” is definitely not concerned with being popular, but is more concerned with speaking truth.
2. Fight for Justice- What does it mean to fight for Justice? You may not be involved in something of the magnitude that Skeeter was, but each of us can fight for what is just, fair and right. What does this look like? Speak up for the underdog. Don’t sit idly by when you see injustice around you, speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves.
3. Learn-Skeeter had grown up privileged, and was one of the only girls in her social circle to attend college. Her quest for knowledge did not end there, however. Skeeter was a life learner, and did not take things simply as they were. She was an active learner, doing research at the library and interviewing the maids to learn more about their lives.
4. Be yourself- To say that Skeeter was a non-conformist would be an understatement. Part of her beauty was that she did not fit into the mold of what was considered beautiful at the time. From her frizzy hair, to her huarache sandals, to her gangly height, she stood out from the crowd. The inner beauty that grew from the outward struggle is what ultimately made her more likeable and more lovely than the group of Hilly wannabees that she compared herself to.
5. Persevere- There is always going to be someone who will tell you that you can’t do something; your goals are too high, you aren’t strong enough, smart enough, or that you just don’t have what it takes. You have to choose whether or not you are going to listen to the voices, or follow your heart. Skeeter had a chorus of naysayers: the editor at Harper and Row, her mother, society, and her friends, but she fought for what she believed in.
There are so many more lessons in this story, and I would love to hear your thoughts too! We can all use a little help!
