Original artwork, not a still
You is kind, you is smart, you is important.
— The Help · 2011
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
It is the whole film in a nursery rhyme: the one adult who sees this child tells her, daily, the things the house never will. Spoken in Aibileen's dialect and with total conviction, it landed as a mantra for parents and teachers, and its three-beat rhythm made it a favourite of parents and teachers.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for The HelpShow the scene
In The Help (2011), Aibileen Clark is a Black maid in a white household in early-1960s Jackson, Mississippi, raising Mae Mobley, the toddler daughter of her employer Elizabeth Leefolt, who barely notices the child. Aibileen answers that neglect with a private ritual: she sits with Mae Mobley and has her repeat these three affirmations. The film, directed by Tate Taylor from Kathryn Stockett's novel, ends with Elizabeth firing Aibileen over a false theft accusation, and Aibileen saying goodbye to the little girl she has raised.
Sources (2)
- Wikiquote: The Help (film)Section: Aibileen ClarkReference checked
- Wikipedia: The Help (film)Plot summary, final sceneReference checked
Context reviewed