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Racism In Sue Monk Kidd's The Secret Life Of Bees

1283 Words6 Pages

It’s What’s Inside That Counts Racism holds human beings back from their finest abilities and changes the lives of some as well. In Sue Monk Kidd’s The Secret Life of Bees, the author reveals it does not matter if people are black or white, everyone is the same. This book is told through the perspective of the protagonist, Lily Owens. Racism and restrictions are huge aspects of the novel. Ever since Lily’s mother died, Lily has lived with her caretaker who is coloured. They embark on a journey to Tiburon, South Carolina. In Tiburon, Lily finds the love of her life named Zach who is black. Lily writes about all the struggles and obstacles these two have to face as a couple because of the colour of their skin.The novel demonstrates that the characters are restricted by racism, as evident in the limitations placed on Rosaleen, Lily, and Zach due to their race. …show more content…

One way Rosaleen is held back was the day she was finally able to vote. In the Inciting Incident, Rosaleen’s dying wish is to vote. She wrote all over the sheet practicing to write in perfect cursive. If she did not, she would not have been able to vote. The fact that a specific race was not allowed to vote because the colour of their skin, is despicable. This demonstrates what black people are held back from and treated, not so long ago. Rosaleen is one of the several people who wanted a change in the legislation so everyone could vote without being in fear. Not only was voting a problem, freedom was as

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When they looked up, I watched their faces go from surprise to anger, then outright fury.” (Kidd 32)It was very rude for the men to make fun of her size and race but it was the 1960s and most people were racist. Rosaleen pushed the boundaries when she poured her black spit across their shoe and to make it worse, she just had to do it on one of the most racist people in the town. Another example in

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(Monk Kidd 299) Lily believes her life with the Boatwrights has offered her more freedom and will, and she wants to continue with her life with them, as she is more successful with the freedom she has with the Boatwrights. With the passing of the Civil Rights Act in 1964 and Rosaleen of legal age, she decides she will register to vote for the second time. The first time, she was beaten by racists, but this time, “‘I’m gonna finish what I started,’ Rosaleen said, lifting her chin. ‘I’m gonna register to vote.’”

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Sue Monk Kidd portrays Lily Owens as a sweet, and neglected teen, but I promise you she is not as sweet as the honey the boatwrights sell. Lily, is quite different from the boatwrights, she’s white. She is the outcast, she’s the only white person around Black folk. The book is set in the 1960’s, so, there was the beautiful thing called “white privilege”. It’s an amazing thing it doesn’t exist anymore.

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In The Secret Life of Bees, the author, Sue Monk Kidd, alludes to the Freedom Summer Murders to create a conflict to start the rising action of the plot. In Mississippi in 1964, civil rights workers attempted to prepare and register African American to vote. In the novel, the radio broadcasters were discussing current events including the following: “...how police were looking for the bodies of those three civil rights workers in Mississippi…” (166). In the beginning of the story, Rosaleen heads to register herself to vote, but on her way, a few white men harass her about her skin color and her size. She then spits on one of the men, who in turn, start to beat her.

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The best works of literature are indubitably those that entice our intellectual capacities, enrich our understanding of the human condition, and broaden our comprehension of the ideas which underpin society. Indeed, The Secret Life of Bees, is a prime example of one of these distinguished works of literature as the messages presented to us in the text only serve to broaden our perceptions on key societal ideas and issues. Furthermore, the messages and ideas presented in the text are very much applicable to today’s society. One of these ideas, which was discussed explicitly, is the irrationality of racism. With the progression of time, (as aforementioned in my previous entries) racism has been substantially reduced through increased awareness of this key social issue.

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