The Help: Post #5, Letter

The Help is a story that explains what life was like for black and white women and men in Jackson, Mississippi. I am writing a letter from one of the main characters, Skeeter, to one of the African American maids in the book, Constantine.

                                                                                                                                                
Dear Constantine,

Where are you? My mother won't tell me why you're gone, and my father won't either. No one has given me an address to write you letters, and find where you are. I miss you Constantine. Why did you have to leave? Why didn't you tell me where you were going? If you were here, you would be so proud of me. I got a job at the Jackson Journal, and I write Miss Myrna's cleaning articles! The issue with this job is that I don't know anything about cleaning. Right before my articles are due, I got o Miss Elizabeth's house and ask her maid Aibilene the answers to the letters that are sent to Miss Myrna. If you were here, I would have asked you to help me. I don't know our maid very well, and it is uncomfortable to talk to her like I used to talk to you. Mother is getting on my nerves. She is not supportive of my decisions, and she is constantly yelling at me about something. I miss the way things were when you were still here. I hope that you eventually get this letter, and I hope that you come back. I hope that you are doing well.

Sincerely,
Skeeter

The Help: Post #4 Connections

     The Help is a book that is easy to relate to because it explains some of the stories in Jackson, Mississippi in 1967. This book relates to the laws in that time period. This story is based on how the author, Kathryn Stockett, was raised as a child, and her story of becoming a writer. This book relates to many other books that are about African American rights. It is hard to relate this book to today's world because the society in Jackson Mississippi was way different in 1967. Now, everyone is respectful to others in our country no matter what their race is.

Figurative Language

While reading Forge by Laurie Halse Anderson, I found several examples of figurative language. This book is based off of a story about an African American Revolutionary War solider who is serving for the British. For more information about the Revolutionary War you can visit: http://historyamericanrevolution.blogspot.com/

Similes - 

"a hinged wooden box as big as my hand"

Narrative Poetry

During the week, my classmate Carmen, and I, made a narrative poem. Enjoy!

Carmen & Kate's Poem:

At the airport, calling a girl

Asking them for marriage

One simple call can change a life

At work

Locking up, a black figure in the door

On the ground, black and blue

One simple action can change a life

On the street

Turning around, car runs into me

Where am I now?

One simple plan can change a life

At the studio

Writing a piece

Doing what I love

Getting a text

One simple friendship can change a life

Filling up with gas

Going in to pay

Seeing a dead body

This is the end

One simple moment can change a life

At the Rivercourt

Shooting hoops

The swoosh of the net

Little boy cheering

One simple recovery can change a life

One simple second

One simple minute

One simple hour

Can change a day 

The Help: Post #3

     In The Help,  I think that it is interesting that after a couple of chapters, the narrator changes. On the chapter that I am currently on, Skeeter is the narrator. She is going through an important part of her life in this chapter.
     After Skeeter graduated college, she wanted to become a writer. She notified an editor in New York that she would like to write a book. Skeeter got a letter back from the editor, and she said that she would like Skeeter to gain some experience by getting a job at a place where she can write in her town. Less than an hour after she read the letter, she scheduled an appointment at the Jackson Journal. She said that she will apply for any job that is available. The next day, Skeeter went to the Jackson Journal and went through her resume with Mister Golden. Through the interview, he thought that Skeeter was applying for a cleaning job, but Skeeter told him that she instead wanted a job to write. Mister Golden considered it, and Skeeter took another employee's place. Skeeter got a job.

My Opinion on How Culture Affects Our Actions

Based on The Bet, My answer to this question has changed. Before I read this I thought that culture influences a person's actions and behaviors because you are born and raised with a certain culture. You are used to doing things a certain way, and having certain, beliefs, traditions, and values. People can also influence you to change your beliefs, traditions, and values. This statement is true about how culture influences a person’s actions and behaviors, but The Bet has changed my views on how culture influences a person’s actions. In The Bet, after being locked up for many years, the man suddenly did not want money in return for staying in prison for fifteen years. After living part of his life alone in silence, he suddenly didn’t want the money because while in confinement, he developed knowledge and realized that he didn’t need the money. Your actions and behaviors can change your culture because after experiencing something, your opinion on things is subject to change.  

The Help: Post #2

Currently, I am still reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett.
     Different parts of The Help symbolize what actually happened during this time period. This book represents a lot of the history in the late 1960's. By reading The Help, you can learn what happened during the 1960's, and be entertained at the same time.
     Mae Mobley, a young girl who was raised during the late 1960's, in Jackson Mississippi, symbolizes all of the children who grew up during that time period who weren't loved by their mothers, but instead, taken care of and loved by black maids. Children in the 1960's grew up hardly knowing their mothers, but having a close bond with their black maids. Abilene, Miss Elizabeth's maid (Mae Mobley's mother), raises  Mae Mobley. Mae Mobley loves Abilene, and Abilene loves her. Miss Elizabeth does not understand how to raise a child. Miss Elizabeth relies on Abilene to feed her child, change her diaper, give her naps, clean up after her, and so much more. For doing all of this work, Abilene doesn't even get paid minimum wage.
     The way children were raised many years ago is much different than the way they are raised now. Most children nowadays grow up having a tight bond with their mothers. The way people raise their children now is much more sensible than the way things used to be. As I read this book, it is so dad to think that white children grew up in these conditions, and black men and women had to deal with the wrath of white people.

This I believe

Some students say they will grow up to be professional athletes. Others say that they’ll be mathematicians. There is a conflict in school today as to what is more important. But in the end, should a student be more focused on, sports or academics?

There are a number of positives by engaging in sports. Some obvious advantages are exercise and teamwork. Long-term positive impacts on a student’s life include social interaction, leadership, and relationship building. Sports are fun and an easy way to meet new people. The social skills you develop through sports can really help you throughout your life.
Although sports are great for your health and sociability, can sports really take you far? In every sport, you have a chance of getting an injury, which will not take you anywhere. It is harder for athletes to build a career based on sports. Few to none of the high school athletes become successful with a certain sport. The odds are often against you becoming a professional athlete. Sports can be very tiring and stressful to your body. Sports are great for students to get involved, but is focusing on a goal with long-term opportunity more important? 

Ironically, there are many similarities to the positives of academics and sports. However, there are more benefits to academics than there are with sports. Like sports, academics teach you leadership and teamwork skills. But if you focus more on academics, you will have a better chance in making it into a good college, and building a career. If you focus on academics, you will learn that there is more variety. There are more careers based on what you learn in school than in sports. Learning more will give you a better future.

Academics are very important to a student, but focusing on academics can still cause issues. Like sports, learning can be stressful and hard on your body physically and mentally. However, unlike sports, you are not getting any exercise. Once you get so caught up into academics, you can start losing touch of your friends, and not be quite as social. Sports are a better way of meeting new people, and interacting with others.

But in the end, should a student be more focused on, sports or academics? I believe that students should focus more on learning new things, and thinking about a realistic future than athletics. I am concerned that students are beginning to believe that their education is not important. If students choose to be athletes, they should balance their sports with school. 

The Help: Post #1

Could you imagine not being able to use the toilet in a white home? Not getting payed minimum wage? Raising some one else's child when your child is being raised by some one else? In 1962, in Jackson Mississippi, black women and men didn't have the same rights of white women and men. The black society was treated poorly. The Help by Kathryn Stocket tells what the life of a black woman in Jackson Mississippi was truly like.
This books tells the funnny stories of the black maids in 1962. It represents all of the good and bad times the "help" experienced. Even though the black miads had rough lives serving for other white families and not beign treated equally, they made the best of their situations and were thankful for what they had. This story describes how brutal most white women were. However, some white women (like Skeeter) were kind to the black maids and interested in hearing about their lives. The setting of this realistic book is far more different than what are lives are like today.
Although I am not far in this book, I have figured out how inspiring this book is. The Help teaches tou to be grateful for what you have, and to treat others fairly. Our lives today are very different than the lives of black and white women and men.

The cover of the book.

Thank you for reading my first post about my free reading book, The Help.