Voice to the Voiceless

In the book The Help, the protagonist is a writer who gives voice to the voiceless—the black maids in Mississippi during the time of segregation. And a pivotal piece to the plot is how the maids protect themselves and their identity—there is a tale about one of their employers that is so embarrassing it becomes insurance for all.

Sometimes my dinner conversation revolves around what I have written for my blog that day. And one night a week or two ago,  I was recounting my tale of Jasper pooping in front of a self-important person.  We all laughed. My daughter inquired Do you ever worry sometimes that the person you are writing about will read your blog and get angry? And I said No—I go to great lengths to blur the identity of the person I am speaking of when I am making a shadowed portrayal (unless they are an employee on the tax roll). And my stories are all true. So if the person I write about recognizes themselves in all their nakedness and finds the reflection disconcerting, I am certain they will not admit it is they who I am writing about. It is too shameful. They will say nothing to no one.

And in the conclusion of The Help, Abilene, the key black maid, realizes that her story, while similar to many others, is indeed distinct. People will learn from her personal experiences and will in turn molt. People will think and act differently.

And that is what my goal is everyday when I sit down to write. In shining a spotlight on a thought, something new will be heard. The net effect will be change.

Sometimes it’s not that you have no voice, it is that you have simply not been prodded to speak. And only in uttering a sound, do you realize that you can sing. And when your song is heard, and your melody is hummed, for a minute or two, you feel like a rock star.