Aibileen Clark

**Aibileen Clark** was the fun-loving and caring maid for the Leefolt family. She use to love taking care of Mae Mobley Leefolt (who was 3 years old at the time). Aibileen makes sure to tell Mae Mobley that she is special in her own way. She constantly tells "Baby Girl" to remember “You is kind, you is smart, you is important.” In the afternoon, Aibileen is at Elizabeth Leefolt's house, serving the white women.

Aibileen was born in 1911 at Chicksaw County, Piedmont Plantation. When Aibileen was growing up, she knew that she was going to become a maid. Her mother was a maid and her grandmother was a house slave. Aibileen dreamed of being something else but never achieved her dream. Throughout her life, Aibileen took care of seventeen white babies. Later on, she tells Skeeter Phelan that her first white baby to ever look after was Alton Carrington Speers. She dropped out of school to help her mother with the bills. It was 1925 and Aibileen had just turned 14 years old. She takes care of 13-year-old white toddler, Mae Mobley. Aibileen loves and takes care of Mae Mobley while her mother, Elizabeth does not. Aibileen is also best friends with Minny Jackson and Skeeter.

The book she writes with Skeeter and the other maids empowers her to stand up for injustices. She teaches the children she raises that the color of skin does not matter but love and kindness do; but she often feels that the message is countered by the racism in Jackson. Aibileen realizes she has more to offer in life than being a maid and finds the courage to try something new. She is a kind woman and very faithful to God, yet can be very shy when taken out of her comfort zone.

Aibileen triumphs in the face of adversity, but the growth is a slow, painful process. Even though she is still mourning the loss of her son, she finds solace in her maternal role raising white children. Her identity is determined by her place in society as a maid, but she embraces a central role in the writing project with Skeeter and finds a new identity as a writer, too. Aibileen realizes the danger that could result from her decisions, but she embraces the risk and relies on her faith for guidance. In the end, Aibileen discovers her own courage and talents, which leads her to leave her job as a maid and accept an undetermined path that will lead to more independence.

Aibileen manages to be sweet to little Mae Mobley. She gives "Baby Girl" the love and affection that Elizabeth won’t give her because she isn’t pretty enough. Aibileen makes sure to tell Mae Mobley that she is special in her own way. She constantly tells "Baby Girl" to remember “You is kind, you is smart, you is important.” Aibileen also had a 24-year-old son, Treelore Clark, but tragically died by being crushed under a truck.

Towards the end, Aibileen returns to the Leefolts' home with grocery bags. Aibileen stands frozen where she sees Elizabeth and Hilly Holbrook in the living room. Hilly accuses Aibileen of stealing silver. Aibileen denies stealing silver and stands up to Hilly telling her that she is a liar and a godless woman. Hilly, in tears, angrily stomps out of the room. Elizabeth tells Aibileen that she has to leave. Aibileen, tearfully, says her last goodbye to Mae Mobley and walks out of the Leefolts' home, feeling free.

## Personality

Aibileen is a wise and weathered African American maid who has raised seven white children. She works for Elizabeth Leefolt and adores toddler Mae Mobley Leefolt — even though she knows that the loving relationship could hurt them both. Aibileen has changed since her son's death, and she finds that she cannot accept the way things are so easily now. The book she writes with Skeeter and the other maids empowers her to stand up for injustices. She teaches the children she raises that the color of skin does not matter but love and kindness do; but she often feels that the message is countered by the racism in Jackson. Aibileen realizes she has more to offer in life than being a maid and finds the courage to try something new.

Even though she is still mourning the loss of her son, she finds solace in her maternal role raising white children. Her identity is determined by her place in society as a maid, but she embraces a central role in the writing project with Skeeter and finds a new identity as a writer, too. Aibileen realizes the danger that could result from her decisions, but she embraces the risk and relies on her faith for guidance. In the end, Aibileen discovers her own courage and talents, which leads her to leave her job as a maid and accept an undetermined path that will lead to more independence.

## Rest in Peace (Part 1)

Aibileen is home alone with Mae Mobley. Once Mae Mobley leaves the living room, Aibileen has her throat slit. Her lifeless body is lying on the kitchen floor.

Her corpse is discovered moments later.

* Part 1 - Rest in Peace
* Part 2 - Family Tragedy
* Part 3 - The Grim Reaper Calls
* Part 4 - Experiencing Sorrow
* Part 5 - Aftermath
* Part 6 - Time Stands Still
* Part 7 - The Living Proof
* Part 8 - Death Doesn't Like to be Cheated
* Part 9 - Exposed
* Part 10 - I'm Free
* Part 11 - Beware of the Dead
* Part 12 - Hell Week
* Part 13 - Pumpkin Patch
* Part 14 - Ouija Board
* Part 15 - Becoming President
* Part 16 - Thirst For Blood
* Part 17 - HELP ME!
* Part 18 - The Dead Bitch is Back
* Part 19 - Chainsaw
* Part 20 - Seven Minutes In Hell

## Trivia

- Aibileen's **house location:** 203 Taft Avenue.