"Demetrie came to wait on my grandmother in 1955 and stayed for 32 years. It was common, in Mississippi, to have a black domestic cleaning the kitchen, cooking the meals, looking after the white children"
- Kathryn Stockett
About this Quote
This quote by Kathryn Stockett paints a dazzling image of the racial characteristics in Mississippi in the 1950s. It talks to the frequency of racial partition and the exploitation of African Americans in the South. The quote reveals that it prevailed for African Americans to be utilized as domestic servants in white families. Demetrie was one such servant, used by Stockett's granny in 1955 as well as remaining for 32 years. This recommends that African Americans were typically utilized in long-term placements, giving a sense of security and also security for the white families they offered. The quote likewise indicates that African Americans were expected to take on the role of caretaker for white kids, a role that was commonly considered approved. This quote acts as a reminder of the racial oppression that African Americans dealt with in the South throughout this time.
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