The Help is set in the early 1960s in Jackson, Mississippi, during the Civil Rights Movement. Aibileen works for the Leefolt family, who have a young daughter named Mae Mobley. Despite Mae Mobley's constant need for affection and attention, her mother, Elizabeth, neglects her. Aibileen becomes Mae Mobley's surrogate mother and seeks to instill a sense of self-love and confidence in her.
Minny works for the abusive Hilly Holbrook, who is a leader in Jackson's white society. Hilly is the driving force behind the segregationist laws that keep black people from being able to vote or work in certain professions. Minny is fired by Hilly but finds work with the outcast Celia Foote, who is ostracized by other white women due to her poor upbringing and questionable reputation.
Skeeter, who has a close relationship with Aibileen and Minny, is frustrated by the unequal treatment of black people in her hometown. She proposes a book that will tell the stories of black maids in Jackson, but struggles to find anyone who is willing to speak out. Eventually, Aibileen agrees to tell her story, which opens the floodgates for other maids to come forward.
The publication of the book, entitled "The Help", causes controversy in Jackson, especially when it is revealed that Skeeter was the author. Hilly, feeling threatened by the book's message, seeks revenge against the maids who spoke out. Despite their hardships, Aibileen, Minny, and Skeeter continue to fight for equality and justice in a society that refuses to let go of its racist beliefs.
The Help is a powerful and gripping story that sheds light on the struggles and triumphs of black maids during a time of intense racial tension in America. It also highlights the importance of courage, friendship, and standing up for what is right, even in the face of oppression.