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leynes's Reviews > Gute Geister
Gute Geister
by
by
Back in the day, when I was 14 years old, I really loved this book, I found it witty and charming. However, I didn't read critically then, and I know that, nowadays, I would have lots of criticism in regards to the portrayal of the Black maids and the white characters in this novel.
Many people around the world are turning to literature and film to help educate themselves on race and cultural issues, with sales of books on race and racism skyrocketing. But the problem is that The Help isn't an authentic look into the perspective and experiences of the racial injustices Black people face.
The Help centers around a young, privileged white woman named Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan, who writes a book about the experiences of two Black maids, Aibileen Clark and Minny Jackson, during the Civil Rights Movement in Jackson, Mississippi during the 1960s.
The book is rightfully accused of playing into the white savior narrative, a trope where white characters come to the rescue of minorities in a feel-good tale that dilutes people of color in their own stories by minimizing and simplifying racial issues. What makes The Help worse than your typical white savior film is the implication that the main character is being brave by merely socializing with Black people.
The Black female maids are almost idealized in The Help (similar to the "Magical Negro" trope), while African American men are far too often called "no-account". The mates of the primary maids are portrayed as absentee fathers, while Minny’s husband Leroy is a wife beater and abuser of his children and also a drunk. The way her abuse is handled in the novel is shocking and very ignorant. Meanwhile, the white men who practiced segregation are elevated.
The Help is just one of many, many novels that fall into this misguided idea that a white character has to be the protagonist — or at least have a key role in "healing" of race-relations — in order for it to have mass appeal.
Literature shapes the way we think. Stories told through books are inherently designed to invoke empathy from the reader, and draw you into a story and the experience of a character. If white people keep reading bestsellers like The Help, they will keep absorbing the wrong message: that Black people have no agency and need rescuing, while white people, by being oh-so gracious, will be the ones saving them.
Many people around the world are turning to literature and film to help educate themselves on race and cultural issues, with sales of books on race and racism skyrocketing. But the problem is that The Help isn't an authentic look into the perspective and experiences of the racial injustices Black people face.
The Help centers around a young, privileged white woman named Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan, who writes a book about the experiences of two Black maids, Aibileen Clark and Minny Jackson, during the Civil Rights Movement in Jackson, Mississippi during the 1960s.
The book is rightfully accused of playing into the white savior narrative, a trope where white characters come to the rescue of minorities in a feel-good tale that dilutes people of color in their own stories by minimizing and simplifying racial issues. What makes The Help worse than your typical white savior film is the implication that the main character is being brave by merely socializing with Black people.
The Black female maids are almost idealized in The Help (similar to the "Magical Negro" trope), while African American men are far too often called "no-account". The mates of the primary maids are portrayed as absentee fathers, while Minny’s husband Leroy is a wife beater and abuser of his children and also a drunk. The way her abuse is handled in the novel is shocking and very ignorant. Meanwhile, the white men who practiced segregation are elevated.
The Help is just one of many, many novels that fall into this misguided idea that a white character has to be the protagonist — or at least have a key role in "healing" of race-relations — in order for it to have mass appeal.
Literature shapes the way we think. Stories told through books are inherently designed to invoke empathy from the reader, and draw you into a story and the experience of a character. If white people keep reading bestsellers like The Help, they will keep absorbing the wrong message: that Black people have no agency and need rescuing, while white people, by being oh-so gracious, will be the ones saving them.
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Reading Progress
2013
–
Started Reading
2013
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Finished Reading
May 16, 2017
– Shelved
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Annie wrote: "I know it’s 4 years old but I’m intrigued by your review. I respect your opinion fully, I’m just curious about a few points that you made?Firstly, I think it’s interesting you see Skeeter as the c..."
Thank you so much for reaching out and sharing your take on the book. It's been too long since I've read it to give you any clear answers. I read the book in 2013, btw. ;) But this review sums up a lot of the criticism this book has received over the years, you might find it more interesting than what I have to offer: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Firstly, I think it’s interesting you see Skeeter as the center character of the book. My perspective was completely that Aibileen is the main character, with Skeeter and Minny as nearly equal supporting roles. The only portion where I felt we really switched focus to Skeeter, was during Stewart, which I felt was unnecessary and pretty boring.
While I do agree Skeeter lends to the “white savior” trope, I disagree that it’s a “feel-good tale”. I think the book is pretty dark at times, and definitely makes the (white) reader feel some guilt and discomfort.
I do agree with the “magical negro” portrayal somewhat, and that the husbands of the maids both being absent/abusive is shallow. But I don’t see much problem with how Minny’s abuse is handled. We are supposed to see it from her perspective, and she chooses to minimize it, as many abuse victims do. An omnipotent narrator might describe it more horrifically but Minny might not.