The fact of slavery is mentioned several times by the black maids as their racial lineage, suggesting that the treatment of the maids is just another form of slavery. In addition, most of the maids do not aspire to be treated equally by their employers because they have learned by that inequality is the southern lifestyle. They do not appear to desire equality anymore than the white because of the upheaval it would case in their lives. However, at the end of the novel, they (Minnie and Aibileen) realize that the changes were worth it and a natural progression of living a lifestyle that exemplifies equality.