The Secret Life of Bees
Wow. How else to you respond to a work such as this. Sue Monk Kidd has created a novel that is unforgettable. In the fine tradition of Harper Lee, Kidd has shed light on the darkest depths of humanity and taken us on a journey where we discover that the wonderful things in life can rise to the surface. Having been raised in the South, at about the same time as Lily, the issues raised by Kidd concerning racial injustice hit close to home for me. Kidd has surpassed most in her ability to illuminate the ugliness of prejudice and what it is to suffer that degradation as a human being. For those not raised in the racially charged 60's in that demographic, I would imagine it is difficult to believe that such bigotry did and still does exist. Having seen it first hand, I assure you it is as real and horrible as she makes it. Growing up surrounded by it, you never forget that there is an ugliness based in ignorance that can not be overcome with logic. To believe that one sect of society is better than another based solely on the color of ones skin is not only accepted there, but in some areas, remains the prevailing attitude. Rosaleen is a character of great strength and courage. Uneducated but proud, she is willing to face the devil of bigotry in order to exercise her right as a human being. Her determination to vote is something that so many take for granted, yet for her, it is a step toward freedom and self-rule. That may sound strange considering the civil war ended in 1865, but in South Carolina in 1964, few attitudes reflected that victory, especially in rural areas. Along with Rosaleen, in my opinion, Zach is the definition of heroism. He refuses to accept the restrictions placed on him by being black and faces every obstacle without ever losing sight of the goal. He intends to change the world rather than accept it in the broken state in which it exists. Even though they were faced with the same limitations placed on the black community, in many ways, the "Calendar Girls" and Daughters of Mary were able to rise above racism in creating their own world of "divine female power". Such ignorance could not harm them in any meaningful way. Through personal strength and strong faith, they created a world where love, not hatred, ruled their lives. Lily experienced what it was like to be "other" when she moved into the pink house. While watching the news reports on the violence caused by bigotry, she felt "self-conscious and ashamed". I remember experiencing feeling much like that myself as a child. I wanted to apologize for being white because so much pain was caused in the black community by white people. I do not intend to suggest that being Southern is synonymous with narrow-minded bigotry. There are just as many Southerners who grew up ashamed to be associated with that intolerance and fought against it. At times, I share Lily's opinion that the world be a better place in no one had pigment in their skin. If we were all the same, the pain and suffering caused by racism and the injustice it created would have never been able to flourish. The reality is that, if not skin color, it would be religion or socioeconomic status or gender or eye color etc… Sadly, in a society as diverse as ours, there will always be those who ignorantly judge others with a twisted measuring stick. The best of humanity is found in our ability to recognize the truth and rise above bigotry in any form. Only then can we succeed as a nation, or in Tiburon, South Carolina. As Kidd teaches us we must live with love and acceptance in our hearts, not only of others but ourselves as well. Only then will we find true peace.
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7 comments:
Great insight on your own experiences being raised in the south. I always find it difficult to read such events has being beaten outside of a jail or in jail for that matter because of skin while simply trying to go register to vote. It turns my stomach upside down. Yet, they never gave up and continued to stand up. I think Sue Monk Kidd does a wonderful job portraying the various aspects of life during this time which gives hope to all of us.
I liked your connection with Harper Lee. I think this book is right up there with To Kill a Mockingbird. I also liked reading your perspective on growing up in the same area. You're right, it is hard for me to really understand that kind of prejudice because I was not raised in the South, nor the 1960's. I agreed with your statements about Zach and Rosaleen. They were definitely brave to stand up to that bigotry.
I love reading your blogs. :) They read so smoothly and you use just the right words. I agree that Rosaleen and Zach were powerful but unassuming characters. They were both heroes to me. I don't have any personal experiences from that time period, but I can imagine that all races felt the pain and suffering of that era.
Lisa, you don't have to apologize for being white, it is the ignorant masses who harbor hate who need to apologize. I think the author Sue did a very good job of depicting how life in the south really was. It is very sad, but hopefully the new generation are a little more liberal and will hopefully change things.
May I ask if your experiences in the south made an impact in your life regarding the prejudice. I did agree when you said Zach and Rosaleen were heroes in not backing down from their beliefs for fighting for their given rights. I don't know how I would feel seeing this type of behavior going on and not being able to do anything about it.
I also grew up in the south; in 1964 I was 9. I totally agree with you on your concept of the ignorance of white people during this time. I also think besides ignorance the white folks were insecure. I think they were threatened by the concept of a huge population of people being allowed the same rights that they had monopolized for so long.
This is an excellent post. I was in Alabama in the 60s and can echo all that you said. I loved the moment when Lily is surprised by August's intelligence. She then admonishes herself "That's what let me know I had some prejudice buried inside me" (78). Her ability to see her own flaws, to see that she has been raised to believe false assumptions, leads her to finally forgive others and herself.
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