Minny's chapters reveal her struggle with the ways of the Old South. Her inner nature is at odds with the world in which she is supposed to behave. Minny's recounting of her mother's "rules" reveal the fears black maids have of their employers. They are to do as they are told with their heads down and their mouths closed or they'll find themselves fired. They are to use separate dishes, utensils, and toilets because white women think they have diseases. The "rules" are an important vantage into what black maids endure to earn a living, and Minny's point of view in these chapters reveals how difficult it is to keep it all in and never be allowed to speak your mind or to defend yourself. Minny cannot stand up for herself against Hilly's accusations, so she seeks out the job with Celia who does not know of her damaged reputation.