Kathryn Stockett on The Help - John Adams Institute

The Help sat atop the New York Times bestseller list for a full year. Its popularity is due to its richly rendered story and setting, but also because it is daring. Kathryn Stockett, a white southern writer from Jackson, Mississippi, chose to tell the story of black maids in the old South, and to write in old-fashioned dialect. Her decision defied political correctness, but it has paid off. Some bloggers have called the book racist; others call it brave. The Huffington Post explained the success this way: “The Help is about something. That is, something real. Something that matters.”
Moderator: Tracy Metz, NRC Handelsblad
In cooperation with: FMB publishers
This video was recorded on June 3, 2010.

[@tl4340]

I love Kathryn's accent, and could listen to it all day long.

[@alabamajenny8751]

I enjoyed The Help book so much, Kathryn Stockett inspired me to write. I have eagerly anticipated a second book by Stockett. I am patiently waiting. Bravo for “The Help”.

[@janekocorek3313]

OMG, just watched the movie and crying my eyes out. I also grew up also in the 60's. Dallas, Texas. A beautiful lady came over to our house, who, I later found out, worked for my Mother. Her name was Hazel and she was absolutely gorgeous looking back now. She rode the city bus all the way to North Dallas from Oak Cliff and every time she brought us Southern Maid Doughnut holes. We used to walk up to the bus stop to meet her in the mornings. My sister and I are only 10 months apart, so it was like Mother toddler twins. No easy task. I thank GOD that my own Mother treated Hazel (yes, that was really her name) more as a friend which is exactly what we thought! She came over to visit and was probably just cleaning the house up some because she preferred to be in a nice organized space and didn't care to see a mess while there. My Mother's behavior was like that of the character Celia Foote, in the movie. I remember once when my Mother was especially ill, my sister and I got to go home with Hazel and spend the night. We had so much fun as she had like 3 or 4 kids from my what I remember, and we played until dark. It was my first and biggest adventure in my entire 3 years of being on this earth. When my older sister was in the 1st grade, my parents built a large home in another town called Grand Prairie. Far away from the Dallas house. Funny because Hazel lived in Oak Cliff, which is actually closer to Grand Prairie than North Dallas. One morning, the door bell rang at the new house and to our great joy and surprise, there stood Hazel, holding the familiar green box of Southern Maid Doughnuts. It was like Jesus Christ was standing there. That is how it seemed to us. Mother kept it a secret that Hazel was going to continue to come over even after we moved to the new house. Hazel was our friend who helped Mother straighten up the house on those days when she was not feeling well. One memory that stands out to me is we started being confused, then very concerned about the fact that Hazel only had ONE dress because she wore it every time she came over! Mother and us girls had more than just one dress so we didn't quite understand this whole situation. It was the exact same uniform dress as ladies wear in the movie. Please know, not a thing that my Mother would have ever dared ask of her, it was totally just what she did. In retrospect, it was her being classy, top notch and professional at what she did. What is not to be respected about that? After much pondering this "ONLY ONE 1 dress issue", we went to Mother and asked her if she would buy Hazel a new dress. And do you know what? She did, many in fact. Thank you Hazel for being such a dear woman & friend to come over all of those many many days when Mother was sick.

[@janekocorek3313]

Wow, I wrote the above before I listened to this entire video. Guilt, as she speaks of when referring too little too late. Yikes.

[@alabamajenny8751]

The book was so wonderful, the movie was a great portrayal. These folks just thought things were bad then. Its 2020 and more volatile than ever. A book, a memoir of life that really happened. It wasn’t making fun, or using someone’s life that wasn’t her’s to tell. This view is so skewed today, it is pathetic. How can anyone insult a writer who gave so much and did so much to shed light on a time when things were the way they were, and she did her best to help them. Think about “The Help” in no more regard than what they called black maids who worked for white folks. When in fact, a character, Skeeter Phelan risked her life and jail time herself to join the maids to “Help” these women rise up. This book broke my heart, over and over again. I am 49, I live in the south and know all too well how things were and still are today. Thank you Kathryn Stockett, for telling a story about women who might have never been thought of again. Thank you, Kathryn Stockett for inspiring me to write, to find my own voice and tell a story. *Edited for typos

[@janekocorek3313]

Left many comments on this video about the movie because it just hit home. But what I didn't say, is the strongest and most important memory of this experience and that is this: "To us, they were ANGELS". Forever grateful.

[@Pendragon-zw6jl]

After watching the movie, which I absolutely love, I can’t help but feel like Kathryn Stockett’s voice is so similar to Miss Hilly and I can’t get it out of my mind.

[@Molly-qv6wr]

In this video, she reminds me very much of the actress that played Miss Leefolt!

[@silksong7277]

This book is yikes. White people do better.... The fact that you guys can read this book and feel this sweet nostalgia is sick. As if poc would work these jobs if they had other options. It is the privilege for me...........

[@silksong7277]

1:09:26

[@tigerslayer2230]

I loved the book and think it is something that was well past overdue to have been written. This interviewer and audience is horrible.

[@waggawaggaful]

What is she talking about? I grew up in Montgomery, AL and Birmingham, AL and never knew anyone who employed African American maids, or any maid at all. These days African Americans are in positions of power, employed in government, working as professionals. Most of the ones I know are lawyers or bankers. WTF is she talking about?!

[@guardianoftheduat]

Michelle what year were u born?

[@90210freak]

Um, she's talking about the truth? I live in the south and my grandmother was literally THE HELP until the day she died in 2005. I don't even understand this kind of logic or why you think in saying it that it must make it true. You personally didn't know anyone who employed maids or made them use outhouses or didn't let them eat with them in the same kitchens or made the help breastfeed their own children because they couldn't be bothered to do it themselves, and that means it just didn't happen? Was slavery a myth as well? It might be in your best interest to read a history book or maybe talk to an actual African-American person and ask about the history of their family and not just assume that because the ones you know and see today are bankers that that was just how it's always been, and in states where people still wave Confederate flags around as proudly as they can while screaming 'white power' on top of everything else. JFC, pls get educated.

[@tjg47gaffney22]

Honestly, most of the African Americans you know are lawyers and bankers and you question her understanding of African Americans in the South?

[@alabamajenny8751]

90210freak And so because it happened, we aren’t supposed to talk about it? She has a right to speak, write and express her story. This book was influenced by her own experiences. None of us has control over how we got here; what color we are, what blood flows through our veins. You have a right to your own feelings, but don’t go shooting the messenger on traditions created by dead people near a century ago and NOT ONE of us are the cause of any of it.

[@narvelancoleman3813]

@90210freak... I agree wholeheartedly with your comment....EXCEPT....the JFC part. I know what that means....and it is blasphemous to use the precious name of Jesus Christ with that expletive. I know this is a year later; and I understand if you don't believe in Jesus Christ....but for those of us who do.....please have some respect....Thank you.