Racism

Racism is the main theme in the book. In 1962 Mississippi, there were no such things as slaves but the "help" were not far removed. African-Americans were still considered to be low class if they were considered to be a part of society at all. Some treated them as animals and acted as if the people were diseased. This thought permeated the society so strongly that people were installing "colored bathrooms" in their houses so they would not have to share with the help.

In the eyes of many, racism was simply representative of the times and considered to be just the way things were. Even Aibileen makes a comment about the Holbrooks not wanting to eat food from the colored supermarket and that she could not blame them. Aibileen believed that they would object due to the nature of the source and in part because the food...