The Help

Aibileen is a wise and well-respected woman in the Black community and church she attends. She is middle aged, with graying eyebrows, a gold tooth, and a plump figure. When she isn’t wearing her white uniform, she wears clothing white ladies have given her, since, according to Minny, “White ladies love giving her their old stuff” (126). Aibileen is known by her friends for her powerful prayers, and everyone wants to be on her prayer list. Uniquely, Aibileen writes her prayers, something she’s been doing since she had to drop out of school in seventh grade to help her mom. She loves to read and write, and after writing her prayers all these years, has become a talented writer.

Working as a maid, Aibileen sees the most important role of her job as taking care of white babies, thinking about the cooking and cleaning as an add-on. Mae Mobley has a special place in her heart, and Aibileen does all she can to give Mae Mobley the love and value that Miss Leefolt withholds. Aibileen has taken care of many white children, but lost her own son, Treelore. This tragedy changed her; it made her less accepting of the racism in Jackson and planted a desire in her to do something about it.