I grew up in the 1970s, but I don't think a whole lot had changed from the '60s. Oh, it had changed in the law books - but not in the kitchens of white homes. Kathryn Stockett 1970s60sbook Change image and share on social
What a dichotomy. What conflicting ideas that we love and embrace these women, and entrust them to raise our children and to feed us and to bathe us, but we keep something as silly as a bathroom separate. Kathryn Stockett bathebathroomchild share on social
When I grew older and awkward, when my parents divorced and life had gone all to hell, Demetrie stood me at the wardrobe mirror and told me over and over, 'You are beautiful. You are smart. You are important.' It was an incredible gift to give a child who thinks nothing of herself. Kathryn Stockett awkwardbeautifulchild share on social
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 blackchildclean share on social
Having a separate bathroom for the black domestic was just the way things were done. It had faded out in new homes by the time the '70s and '80s rolled up. Kathryn Stockett 70s80sbathroom Change image and share on social
When Demetrie got sick, we knew it was our responsibility to take care of her and pay her medical bills. And we embraced that. But the tricky part is, like so many families in the South, we also expected her to use a separate bathroom, to use separate utensils. Kathryn Stockett bathroombillcare share on social
I think if you're president, color goes away completely: you're president and it doesn't matter if you're white, green or purple. Kathryn Stockett colorcompletelygreen Change image and share on social
It can be really powerful to write something when you're sad. Kathryn Stockett powerfulsadwrite Change image and share on social
I have never been more proud of the United States than I am this year. We have elected an African-American president. We have the stellar Michelle Obama setting the standard for American women. I simply cannot say it enough: look how far we've come. Kathryn Stockett africanamericanelect share on social
I do wish that people talked about the subject of race, especially in the South. Kathryn Stockett peopleracesouth Change image and share on social
