AN ANALYSIS OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN SUE
MONK KIDD’S NOVEL “THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES”
A PROPOSAL
BY
NAME
: SYAIFUL NAZAR
REG. NO
: 070721013
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH SUMATERAFACULTY OF
LETTERS
ENGLISH LITERATURE DEPARTMENT
MEDAN
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First of all, I would like to thank and praise ALLAH S.W.T, the most gracious and most merciful, who has blessed me with health and capability to finish this thesis as my last assignment to finish my study at English Department, Faculty of Letters, University of Sumatera Utara.
In this opportunity, I would like to thanks the Dean of Faculty of Letters, Drs.Syaifuddin, M.A.Ph.D, and the Head of English Department Dra.Swesana Mardia Lubis, M.Hum, the Secretary of English Literature Department Drs.Yulianus Harefa, M.Ed TESOL, for their advice and support during the period of my study in this faculty. I also would like to thank to my supervisor Dra.Swesana Mardia Lubis, M.Hum and Drs.Parlindungan Purba, M.Hum as my co-supervisor who has spent much of time in correcting this thesis and giving a valuable guidance to complete it. I am also grateful to all lectures who lectured me wisely during the academic years.
Furthermore, I would like to thank my parents, Bachtiar and Missaini, for their loves, advice, prayer, and support, I love both. To my older sister Evi and my older brothers for their loves, attention, and support.
In addition, I would like to thank to all my friends in English Department (2007 Extension Program)
Thank you to every one who helps me during my academic period and my time in finishing this thesis.
Medan, June 2009
SYAIFUL NAZAR
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University of Sumatera Utara (USU), Medan as thesis for
the Sarjana Sastra Examination.
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Title Thesis : AN ANALYSIS OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN SUE MONK KIDD’S NOVEL “THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES”
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Date : June ,2009
AN ANALYSIS OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN SUE MONK KIDD’S NOVEL “THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES”
A THESIS BY
SYAIFUL NAZAR
REG. NO
: 070721013
SUPERVISOR CO. SUPERVISOR
Dra. Swesana Mardia Lubis, M.Hum Drs. Yulianus Harefa, M.Ed.TESOL NIP: 131570487 NIP: 131570483
Submitted to Faculty of Letters, University of Sumatera Utara in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Sarjana Sastra in the English Literature/Linguistics.
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH SUMATERA
FACULTY OF LETTERS
ENGLISH LITERATURE DEPARTMENT
MEDAN
Accepted by the board Examiners in partial fulfillment of
requirements for the degree of SARJANA SASTRA from the English
Department of Faculty of Letters, University of Sumatera Utara,
Medan.
The examination is held on the Faculty of Letters, University of
Sumatera Utara on June 23
th, 2009.
The Dean of Faculty of Letters
University of Sumatera Utara
Drs. Syaifuddin, M.A.,Ph.D
NIP: 132098531
Board of Examiners:
Dra. Swesana Mardia Lubis, M.Hum ………
Drs. Yulianus Harefa, M.Ed.TESOL ………
Drs. Parlindungan Purba, M.Hum ………
Drs. Syahri Saja, M.A ………
ABSTRAK
Dalam skripsi ini penulis menelaah unsur-unsur diskriminasi ras yang terdapat didalam novel The Secret Life of Bees, karya Sue Monk Kidd, seorang penulis novel amerika yang terkenal. Fokus analisa saya terutama pada sifat-sifat mulia yang terdapat pada orang kulit hitam amerika yang dianggap sebagai budak dan biadab. Sang pencerita (narrator) berkali-kali mengunggkapkan keheranannya terhadap sifat-sifat mulia orang kulit hitam yang ditemuinya dalam perjalanannya di tubiron south california. Dia kemudian membandingkan sifat-sifat mulia orang ini dengan orang-orang kulit putih amerika yang menganggap diri mereka beradab dan berpendidikan.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
ABSTRACT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Analysis 1.2 Problem of the Analysis 1.3 Objective of the Analysis 1.4 Scope of the Analysis 1.5 Significance of the Analysis 1.6 Method of the Analysis 1.7 Review of Related Literature
CHAPTER II
THE CONCEPT OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
2.1 The Description of Racial Discrimination 2.2 Racial Prejudice
CHAPTER III
RACIAL DISCRIMINATION OF SUE MONK KIDD’S NOVEL,THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES
3.1 Prejudice 3.2 Segregation
3.3 Culture Differences 3.4 Skin Color
CHAPTER IV
CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION
4.1 Conclusion 4.2 Suggestion
BIOGRAPHY
APPENDICES
APPENDIX I : THE BIOGRAPHY OF WRITER
ABSTRAK
Dalam skripsi ini penulis menelaah unsur-unsur diskriminasi ras yang terdapat didalam novel The Secret Life of Bees, karya Sue Monk Kidd, seorang penulis novel amerika yang terkenal. Fokus analisa saya terutama pada sifat-sifat mulia yang terdapat pada orang kulit hitam amerika yang dianggap sebagai budak dan biadab. Sang pencerita (narrator) berkali-kali mengunggkapkan keheranannya terhadap sifat-sifat mulia orang kulit hitam yang ditemuinya dalam perjalanannya di tubiron south california. Dia kemudian membandingkan sifat-sifat mulia orang ini dengan orang-orang kulit putih amerika yang menganggap diri mereka beradab dan berpendidikan.
BIBILIOGRAPHY
Abraham, M.H. 1981. A Glossary of literary Terms, New York: Holt Rinehart and Winston.
Brand, Richard. 1959, Ethical Theory, New York, Prentice Hall, Inc.
Filler, Louis. 1960. The Crusade against Slavery, New York: Harper & Row, Publishers.
Foster, E.M. 1970. Aspects of the Novel, London: Penguin Books, Ltd.
Kenny, William. 1966. How to Analyze Fiction, New York: Monarch Press.
Kidd, Monk. 1975. The Secret Life of Bees, New York: Unesco Press.
Kuper, Leo. 1956. Race, Science and Society, London: Unwin, Ltd.
Richter, Maurice N.1980. Exploring Sociology, New York: F.E. Peacock Publishers.
Sholes, Robert. 1970. Some Modern Writers, London: Oxford University Press.
Sherry, Norman. 1980. The Life of Graham Greene, 1904-1939, London: Jonathan Caps, Ltd.
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
1.1 The Background of the Analysis
Literature is an imaginative kind of writing with reflects life. This kind of life is reflected through true experience of life. Such as Sadness, happiness, war, and even racial discrimination. The novel “The Secret life of bees” as the main idea about the differences of black and white. That is why this thesis analysis discussing about racial discrimination.
According to Leo Kuper in his book, Race, Science and Society. States that:
Racial Discrimination is the conviction that the members of one race are inherently
superior to the members of other races. This conviction is often manifested by
discriminatory or abusive behavior and practices towards the members of the supposed
inferior races. Often the expectations and characterizations of one race concerning
another are based on these prejudicial beliefs. Hence, racist individuals believe that
members of certain races are prone to criminal or dishonest behavior; other races are
prone to greed and aggression; still other races are prone to immoral activities and
promiscuous conduct. Racial Discrimination may also be characterized by other broad
generalities such as the expectation that members of certain races are better athletes, more
intelligent, have better voices or are more artistic. While these characterizations are not
necessarily negative, they still hold to a narrow view of certain populations. Racism is a
knowledge and personal interaction. Instead, one is judged solely by the racial or ethnic
group to which they belong. In actuality, racist individuals are virtually incapable of any
fair or correct evaluation of another person; racial prejudice builds a wall. It is impossible
to see past the preconceived ideas. Racism has birthed many of society’s ills.
Discrimination, separation, and segregation are products of a racist mentality. Forced
slavery and genocide are capital crimes directly resulting from racism. When one race
acts out its superior beliefs in a society, there is no room for harmony or community. In
order to remain superior in their own eyes, members of one race have enslaved and/or
destroyed their “neighbors.”
In the Encyclopedia Americans (1991: 454), we can find another of
discrimination:
Race is a concept that “Significant and Symbolizes conflict and interest by referring to different types of human bodies.”It is a “Sociohistorical process by which racial categories are created, inhabited, transformed, and destroy.”
From the statement above it can be said that race discrimination basically is caused by
different types of human bodies. White people feel that they are better than black people
physically since the growth of Darwinism concept which finally cause the social conflict
between them.
While people may interchange or confused the concept of race, the different are
important. Race has always existed as cultures of people living in demarcated areas,
developing lifestyle and language feature that distinguish them from other. It means that
From explanation above it is found out that racial discrimination is related to power the
more dominance will have the more power over the weak which created the gap as social
discrimination. This is the reason as well as the background why main is chosen.
1.2 The Problem of the Analysis
The problem of this thesis analysis can be cited as follows:
-What makes prejudice as the main concern of racial discrimination in the novel “the secret life of bees”?
-What are cultural differences that result racial discrimination?
-Is skin-colour as characteristic of racial discrimination as expressed in the novel?
-Why segregation happening for the weak only because of the power of the strong?
1.3 The Objective of the Analysis
The objective of analysis are:
-To explain prejudice as the main concerns of racial discrimination in the novel “The Secret Life of Bees”.
-To describe segregation that happened for the weak only because of the power of the strong.
-To describe whether skin-color as characteristic of racial discrimination as it is expressed in the novel.
1.4 The Scope of Analysis
This thesis analysis only the four aspects dealt with the racial discrimination. They are segregation, culture differences, skin-color, and prejudice. The four aspects are very dominant throughout the of novel. Actually the story of the novel is about the racial discrimination, but it closely related to the four aspects above.
1.5 The significances of the Analysis
The significances the analysis is to add literary study especially novel. in this point, the focus of analysis is to add the vocabulary in study literary in term of racial discrimination to the novel the secret life of bees. Thus, this literary study may become references for further study about literature in term of novel. Another of significance analysis is to in courage student of literature analyses literature work in order to get knowledge about life to literature.
1.6 The Method of the Analysis
Besides that, the data is also obtained from some books which have the relationship to the subject matter of the analysis. it can be said that these are two kinds of sources of the data- the primary data and the secondary one (intrinsic and extrinsic).All the data are arranged so systematically in the references that the reader can see well which data has been collected and studied.
In this study library research is applied; this kind of research makes writer visit the library in order to find the related data for this thesis writing and data is also gotten from the related site in the internet for download all supported data for the thesis. The method used in this analysis is the sociological the people.
In collecting the data, first of all, the contents of the novel is read and studied until it is fully understood. Then the topic which deals with the novel is chosen. After that the proposal is proposed to the head of the English Department. Of cause, the method of the analysis should be chosen.
1.7 Review of Related Literature
In order support the subject matter of the thesis, I have some references.
Louis Filler in his book, The Crusade against Slavery (1960), help the writer understand the fighting of some good people who have decide to abolish the slavery. In this case, the writer can get some information about racial discrimination, especially in African at the beginning of the twentieth century.
R.H Abrams in his A Glossary of literary Term (1981), explain laboratory some literary terms which are needed to be depicted. The writer get some information about the literary worked which tell about racial discrimination.
Norman Sherry in his The life of Graham Greene (1989),help the writer understand Greene’s ideas life. From this book I can find out that he opposes bitterly the racial discrimination. Furthermore, he takes side black people although he himself is a European.
CHAPTER II
THE CONCEPT OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
2.1 The Description of Racial Discrimination
Before describing any futher the concepts of Racial Discrimination,it is necessary to quote some defination about it so that we have a clear idea of what racial discrimination is. In the Dictionary of american politics (1986: 121), racial discrimination is defined as:
“…an unfair or unequal treatment accorded by custom, or law to some of a community’s members because of their color or other alleged racial characteristics”
From the quation above, we can understand that racial discrimination usually deals with the differences in the skin color and prejudice, The word “alleged” here means ‘asserted without prood’. In a broader sense, a certain group of the people think that they are superior in education,wealth, or class rank than the other groups.
The term,racial discrimination is usually used to describe the action of a dominan majority in relation to a weak minority, of course, by implying an immoral and undemocratic behavior or way. In a broader sense, racial discrimination is the active and over aspects of negative prejudice toward a person or a group of people. However, the recognation of relationship between prejudice and discrimination is strogly related (will be discussed later).
consequence, it will serve to confirm the stereotype of them as stupid and uneducated. In the Encyclopedia americans (1991: 545), we can find another definition of
discrimination: “Dicrimination id negative behavior directed toward some group of people.Discrimination, as the term is used here, is behavior that is unfair to a target group”.
We can see that an individual or an institution can practive discrimination. Institutional discrimination takes place or occurs when some large organization, or instance, the government, bussiness, or school engages in practices that are unfair to members of some group and put them at a disadvantage. Another example, a white who through a rock at a school bus which is taking black children from attending their school, thhis is called an institution discrimination. Means people who are singled out for unequal treatment in the society in which they live and who consider themselves the victims of collective discrimination. In the Encyclopedia Americans, volume 19 (1994: 207), we can get the defination of the word ‘minorities’ :
Minorities are generally groups within a society that are charecterized as having lower social status, prossessing less power and pretige, and exercising fewer rigth than the dominant groups of the society.
A dicstinction should be made between race and ethnicity. Race refers to differences based on biological inherited such as skin color ethnic group refers to defference in social characteristics, such as language, religion, birthplaces, and culture. Race is important because it is socially evaluated. Physical appearances and the genetics of the race are less important than how they are valued. People can be “color blind” but they can also see racial differences where none exists.
The absece of visible racial differences does not prevent one group from defining another as a differences race. For example, until recent years, french Canadians and Anglo Canadians were called races. In traditional Asia, outcase groups are throught to have different racial origins from those of the dominant population. Throughout the history of the United Stated, European immigrants from one country after another were called race and were considered inferior to early settlers.
At different rates they learned the language and adopted the culture of their new country- they became more or less assimilated. As the children or grandchildren of those immigrant were fully assimilated into American society, they were redefined as white-which is what they were begin with.
Ritcher, in his Exploring Sociology (1980: 96) broadly explains the term ethnic group as of follows :
From what Ritcher says above, we can see that the members of ethnic group share a sense togetherness and the conviction that form a special group, a ‘people’ that sets them apart from other groups. This feeling is nurtured by living in ethnic neighborhoods surrounded by members of one’s own group.
2.2 Racial Prejudice
The Latin root of the word prejudice means “judging before.”Prejudice is judgment of people, objects, or situations in terms of stereotypes or generalizations. A prejudice can be positive, such as the belief that college graduates make the best business executives, or negative, such as the belief that people on welfare are lazy.
A certain amount of prejudice is inevitable and even useful is some situations. For example, if you were alone on the street, about to be attacked by someone with a knife, and you saw two men nearby who might help you, one muscular and tall, the other skinny and short, which one would you ask for help? The tall, muscular man, of course. But that man might be afraid of knives, nauseated by the sight of blood, or not interested in getting in volved in someone else’s troubles. The short, skinny man might be very brave and might have a black belt in karate. The circumstances call for a prejudgment, however, that cannot be based on anything more about the man than their relative sizes.
Prejudice becomes a problem when the preformed judgment remains unchanged even after facts show it to be untrue, or more broadly, when one makes unjustified assumptions. To return to our example, suppose you recognized the skinny man as someone who, the night before on television, had won the world championship in karate. In that case, your decision about which man to choose would be influenced by that knowledge. You would think: “Big, muscular men are often better fighters that short, skinny men, but this man has proved to be a good fighter, so I’ll be safer if I choose him.” In other word, you would discard your prejudice because it did not fit the situation. Some people, however, are unable to do this. They have believed for so many years that a skinny man cannot be a good fighter, and are so thoroughly convinced of it, that they simply cannot accept any evidence to the contrary, or even be open to consider such evidence.
The social problem of prejudice, then, is not so much the prejudgment, which in many cases is necessary for social interaction. Rather, it is the failure to discard that prejudgment in the light of additional evidence. In common usage, the word prejudice usually refers to this kind of biased, inflexible thinking, rather than to all forms of prejudgment.
Prejudice against ethnic or racial minorities is always learned. No one is born with prejudice. We lean it from our parents, at School or church, from our friends, from the books we read, or from other social experience. A whole system of prejudice may be built into a culture, as is true in racist societies. White children growing up in South Africa, for instance, learn prejudice blacks from nearly all their social experience.
with blacks for jobs, they are usually more prejudiced against blacks than whites of higher social standing. For the same reason, prejudice against Jews is common among the upper classes of non-Jews (Williams, 1964).some sociologists have noted that low-status groups in general tend to be more prejudiced than high-status groups (Simpson & Yinger, 1972). This tendency may be due in part to the boost in status that prejudices indirectly gives those who rank lower on the social ladder. If another group is forced still lower than themselves, their status is raised. The tendency may also be due to a scapegoat mechanism: The low status group has someone else to blame for their disadvantaged situation.
Certain personality types also seem to be associated with the formation of prejudice. T. W. Adorno (adorno et al., 1950) suggested that many prejudiced people have an “authoritarian” personality. Another study found that the prejudiced or intolerant person is characterized by an unwillingness to accept authority, and an emotional rather than a rational approach to problem solving (Hartley, 1946). And some psychologists have found a correlation between feelings of insecurity, anxiety, and prejudice attitude (Martin & Franklin, 1973).
In the encyclopedia americana (1991:545),we can the definition of prejudice as follows : “Prejudice is a negative attitude of a group of a person who has some characteristics.it is common that is not shared by all people”.
negative weight. The Jew is shared,the yankee provident, the jew is stingy, but the Calvinist frugal of individuals and groups are are pretuated by prejudice, it is really a negative attitude toward an entire category of people,often an ethnic or racial minority. It also means a categorical predisposition to like or dislike people for their or imagined social characteristics.
Prejudice can lead us to make very different evaluations of the same behavior, depending on whether it is seen in members of our own group (‘in-group’) or of another group against which are prejudiced (‘out-group’) prejudice can result from ethnocentrims-the tendency to assume that one’s culture by the standards of their own group, which leads quite easily to prejudice against cultures viewed as inferior, Schejbal and Laurakas in Brand’s Ethnical Theory(1959: 217) find out that:
A random sample of 439 undergradutes was questioned about relations between racial and ethnic groups on campus. While individual student different on various responses. Both white and African American students tended to charaterize relatioins with the other group as “too distant”. The same was true for African American and Asian Americans. In general, African American were the most likely to describe interactions with the other groups as ‘separate and distant’ Hispanics were found to be least distant in their relationship with the other groups.
The attitude of the prejudice person often lead to discriminatory behavior, Discrimination is the process of denying opportunities and equal right to individual and groups because of prejudice and other arbitrary reasons. Discrimination also means as an exclusion or exploitation on the basis of group membership. While sometimes intentional,discrimination may also be instutional; that is,caused by a product of the regular operationof social instutions which effects groups unequally. Prejudiced attitude should not be equated with discriminatory behavior. Although they both are not related, they are not identical, and either condition can be present without the other.
CHAPTER III
RACIAL DISCRIMINATION OF SUE MONK KIDD’S NOVEL, THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES
Before discussing the topic of the subject matter of the thesis, it is necessary to talk a little bit about behavior. For racial discrimination is closely related with behavior. The revelation of the point is intended to illuminate the path of behavior as a body of reflection answering certain problems about action in the novel.
When discussing the racial discrimination in the novel, the writer do not mean that the writer propose a behavior judgment. The writer only look on the novel from point of view coincided with the views who are experts in the field. It is the impression of the feelings to find the very basic of the very particular behavior of the people.
It becomes increasingly clear that the novel is not only a story of right and wrong, but it is also a study of infinite subject of didactic purpose-it is a tale that teaches how to behave well toward other people. To quote a definition of behavior term is very
important, at least to fundamentalism of analysis in order not to deviate from the familiar path. The New Encyclopedia Britannia point out that behavior is:
…a standard of human behavior determined either subjectively or objectively and based on what is considered ethnically ‘right or wrong’. (vol. 8:11)
The writer going to discuss some important aspects which deal with the subject matter of thesis-racial discrimination. They are, prejudice, segregation, and skin color. There are some other aspects which can be discussed, such as kindness, oppression, slavery, etc. but the writer believe that it will be significant if only discuss these three aspects.
3.1 Prejudice
Prejudice is seen as having different sources, chief among them being
different forms of fear. Stephan and Stephan's Integrated Threat Theory of
Prejudice is inclusive of several different types of threat: the expectation that the
other will do one harm; the perception that the different worldview of the other
will create challenges to one's own; the presumption that interaction will lead to
embarrassment, rejection, or ridicule; and the generation of fear of negative
consequences as a result of negative stereotypes. They posit that several factors
are likely to influence the degree to which an individual feels these sources of
threat:
strong identification with one's own group (see the article on identity issues);
the degree to which a policy has negative ramifications for that individual;
the quantity and, especially, quality of the individual's previous contact with the group;
the individual's knowledge of the group;
The degree of status differential between the individual's group and the other group.
The higher these factors are, the more likely the individual will feel threatened, and, therefore, the more likely s/he will be prejudiced toward members of that group.
Unfortunately, prejudice is not simply an attitude that remains internal to
its owner; it impacts behavior. When negative attitudes on the basis of differences
translate into behavior, we have as a result, discrimination and the social inequity
it produces. Therefore, efforts to reduce prejudice are well advised to take the
social context into consideration when focusing on the individuals' attitudes.
One should consider the target of the prejudice reduction. It makes a
difference whether the individual is already motivated to avoid acting in a
non-prejudicial fashion or whether s/he feels her/his prejudice is justified. In the
former case, the primary prejudice reduction strategy may involve practice. I have
learned my prejudicial ways, and they have become habits; I need to develop new
habits. In the latter case, it is likely to involve much more. In fact, there is some
evidence to suggest that attempts to prevent the expression of prejudice by
rendering illegal certain type of discriminatory behavior has actually hardened the
prejudicial attitudes of many.
“Your mother?” His face was bright red. “You think that goddamn women gave a shit about you?”
From the quotation above, it is stated that the nigger is rude. This makes the white people believe what’s on their mind for a long time. Because the white person recognizes that the colored man is rude. And the prejudice is the beginning of what the white people think what they had thought for a long time. And it makes the white people unrespectful to the nigger always speaks rudely and hurt other’s feeling. And it is reflected on the quotation below.
“Y’all stop eating up all Rosaleen’s fritters,” June said. “They’re for our lunch.” “Oh , let ‘em eat,” said Rosaleen, which floored me, since she’d been known to smack my hand sideways for pinching a single crumb off her fritters before dinner. (Monk. 2002. p. 265)
The statement reflects the way of nigger talks about something it shows that their behavior is hard. The character is supposed to be the man lived in the traditional market. The white person believes that the nigger cannot change the way of their language which is rude. It makes the white people difficult to accept them.
“Shitbucket, hellfire, damnation, and son of mother bitch,” said Rosaleen, laying into each word like it was sweet potatoes on her tongue.
From the quotation above, it reflects that the colored women (Rosaleen) who acts rudely and makes the white people sure that the prejudice they think before is true. Moreover, Rosaleen acts rudely because of the impolite pointed toward her, therefore she does it. It is true that the black people are identical with their violent and free life and it makes the white people recognize them as the slave, just like the quotation on below states.
“Well, you sure had one back at the hospital, coming in there saying we’re going to do this and we’re going to do that, and I’m supposed to follow you like a pet dog. You act like you’re my keeper. Like I’m some dumb nigger you going to save.” (Monk. 2002. p. 53)
In the quotation above, it’s clearly seen that the nigger is just used as a slave by the white, they even recognize the nigger as the animal that can serve them whenever they want. The white don’t give them any chance to free themselves from the domination of the white. This becomes the beginning of the white’s prejudice to nigger. And in the next quotation below stated about the rude of nigger in communicated.
“How come y’ll have names from a calendar?” Rosaleen asked her.
(Monk. 2002. p. 73)
since they do not have their rights in their life and always treated badly from the white. Therefore, this doen’t means that they act something without any reason and this is reflected from the quotation below.
I turned my pillow over and over for the coolness, thinking about May and her wall and what the world had come to that a person needed something like that. It gave me the willies to think what might be stuffed in among those rocks. The wall brought to my mind the bleeding slabs of meat Rosaleen used to cook, the gashes she made up and down them, stuffing them with pieces of wild, bitter garlic.
(Monk. 2002. p. 98)
Here, in this statement, Lily makes a prejudice that Rosaleen is really a slave because of physically of Rosaleen. Rosaleen has a strong, massive black body. It makes the performance of Rosaleen recognized as a slave, it’s not like any other ordinary girl’s body. Because of that, there is an image that the nigger is just for the slave of the white. And it can be seen through the quotation.
“One day,” August said,” a slave named Obadiah was loading bricks onto a boat that would sail down the Ashley River, when he saw something washed up on the bank. Coming closer, he saw it was the wooden figure of a woman. Her body was growing out of a block of wood, a black woman with her arm lifted out and her fist balled up.”
In this statement, it is clearly seen that the nigger is always recognized as the slave and that the real fact is. From the statement also, a nigger women becomes a rude and hard worker of slave that is actually the job is done by the men. However, the fact, Obadiah a nigger women works as a hard worker slave which is impossible to do by the white women. And because of that the nigger identical with crime likes statement below.
I started thinking maybe I should find out what I could about my mother, before T. ray or the police came for us. But where to start? I couldn’t just pull out the black Mary picture and show it to August without the truth wrecking everything, and she would decide-might decide, would decide, I couldn’t say-that she was obliged to call T. Ray to come get me. And if she knew that Rosaleen was a true fugitive, wouldn’t she have to call the police?
(Monk. 2002. p. 101)
In this statement, it is stated that the nigger always do the bad thing or violences, because on the text it is quoted that Rosaleen is supposition as a police wanted for what she do. Meanwhile, what she has done is not like what T. Ray thinks. But it always makes T. Ray feels that Rosaleen is such a harmful nigger who likes to make violences. Because that’s only thing he thinks on his mind and finally, it makes T. Ray feels that the nigger deserves to be the slave. Therefore, the nigger difficult to develop in the white’s society. And it can be seen through quotation below.
“That’s fine with me,” I said, a little annoyed. “I’ve just never heard of a Negro lawyer, that’s all. You’ve got to hear of these things before you can imagine them.”
The statement above states that the nigger is very hard to develop in the white’s society because of the prejudice that state the nigger is dumpy. Here, Lily says to her nigger friend (Zach) that it’s very difficult for nigger to be a lawyer even though she tells in the rhythm of a bit sorry. Therefore, this proves that the white people is very difficult to accept the existence of the nigger in the society. In spite of being friend, there is no guaranteed for the nigger to get along with the white people and it is reflected on the quotation below.
I closed my eyes. “All right then, I’m imagining a Negro lawyer. You are a Negro Perry Mason. People are coming to you from all over the state, wrong-accused people, and get at the truth at the very last minute by tricking the real criminal on the witness stand.”
(Monk. 2002. p. 121)
From the statement, it is stated that a nigger is impossible to be a lawyer though she tries to understand the nigger because the start of all these are the prejudice it makes the dreams of the nigger is difficult to get. No matter how hard they have tried, it means nothing for them. Because their move is limited by the white people. So that they cannot develop themselves. There is also prejudice that the nigger always is rude again which the statement below.
I still tell myself that when he drove away that day he wasn’t saying good riddance; he was saying, Oh, Lily, you’re better off there in that house of colored women. You never would’ve flowered with me like you will with them.
From the quotation above, it is stated that the nigger cannot make the white people happy, because of the life style of the nigger it self. They seem to be free on her life which is identical with the violence. That’s why, the white people (T. Ray) make a judge that the nigger not savage. They think how come the nigger can make other people happy but they do not have morality. But, that doesn’t prove what they feel is right. Because of the quotation below stated that the prejudice is not right.
“It wasn’t like that,” I said.” See, she was singing her favorite hymn,’ Were you there when they crucified my Lord?’ I don’t believe those men are Christians, Brother Gerald, because they yelled at her to shut up with that blankety-blank Jesus tune. Rosaleen said,’ You can curse me, but don’t blaspheme the Lord Jesus.’ But they kept right on. So she poured the juice from her snuff cup on their shoes. Maybe she was wrong, but in her mind she was standing up for Jesus.” I was sweating through my top and all along the backs of my thighs.
(Monk. 2002. p. 44)
When August and I reached the honey house, we had to huddle in the door and wait on her. Rosaleen glided along, gathering rain in the pan and flinging it out like a child would do. She walked on puddles like they were Persian carpets, and when a clap of thunder boomed around us, she looked up at the drowned sky, opened her mouth, and let the rain fall in. Ever since those men had beaten her, her face had been so pinched and tired, her eyes dull like they’d had the light knocked out of them. Now I could see she was returning to herself, looking like an
all-weather queen out there, like nothing could touch her. If only she could get some manners.
(Monk. 2002. 75)
Here it tells about the freedom in life without limitation for Rosaleen ( the nigger). But , in fact, they don’t have their rights for that. The white people limitate their action to the nigger. They don’t want the nigger get some knowledges in every case because, if only they got it, their behavior perhaps weren’t rude just like what the white people say. They even perhaps could be smarter than the white people. Because of that, the white people don’t let them to get their rights. So that they can always become slaves and treat bad. And the following quotation prove that the nigger is very polite and well speaking.
“I’m may Boatwright,” she said. “I’m August’s sister, too.” She smiled at us, one of those odd grins that let you know she was not an altogether normal person.
(Monk. 2002. 69)
They serve their guests purely, though their guest is the white. But sometimes the white doesn’t appreciate them at all. The prejudice they have made for so long is finally not right. And the quotation below strengthen oppose that prejudice.
“Well, you can stay here till you figure out what to do. We can’t have you living on the side of the road,” said August.
(Monk. 2002. p. 72)
In the statement above, it is stated that the love owned by the nigger (August) is very high. They don’t want to let the white stays alone on the street. She gives her a place to stay. She helps somebody without choosing who she wants to help. Even though when it happens to the white, it most impossible for them to help nigger. It doesn’t stop the nigger to help the white. It is clear that the prejudice thought by the white isn’t proven. And actually they can unite to the nigger if only they can accept the negative inside their hearts and it is reflected through the quotation below.
I thought, we’re going to be friends. (Monk. 2002. p. 117)
behave to the nigger. If they could appreciate the nigger, they would be friends. On the contrary, when they don’t want to appreciate it, they can’t be united.
3.2 Skin color
Colored (also colored in Canadian spelling) is a North American
euphemism once widely regarded as a description of black people (i.e., persons of
sub-Saharan African ancestry; members of the "Black race"), and also Native
Americans. It should not be confused with the more recent term people of color,
which attempts to describe all "non-white peoples", not just blacks.
The term "colored" appeared in North America during the colonial era. A
"colored" man halted a runaway carriage that was carrying President John Tyler
on March 4, 1844. In 1863, the War Department established the "Bureau of
Colored Troops." The first twelve Census counts in the U.S. enumerated "colored"
people, who totaled nine million in 1900. The Census counts of 1910–1960
enumerated "negroes."
own businesses. But were more often considered lesser than people of separate
ancestry.
All people ever talked about after churches were the Negro and whether they’d get their civil rights. Who was winning-the white people’s team? Like it was a do-or-die contest.
(Monk. 2002. p. 21)
From the statement above, it explains that nigger is very difficult to get their rights. This is because the difference of skin color between them. The white people never treat the nigger in the same level as they do. They do not want nigger exist more than them as well. That is the reason why the nigger is almost impossible to have their rights among the white people, and this has been one of race discrimination factor through the skin color.
“Well, look what we got coming here, “he call out.” Where you going, nigger?”
(Monk. 2002. p. 31)
From the statement above it is clearly seen that the white people does not appreciate the nigger as well. Even to call their name they do not want either, they prefer to call the nigger’s name “nigger” that makes them feel hurt because of that. This
“Did you ever see one that black?” said the dealer. And the man with his combed-back hair said,” no, and I ain’t seen one that big either.
(Monk. 2002. p. 32)
From the statement above can to understand that the white people clearly cannot appreciate the nigger. They always mock the nigger because of the skin color. Because they are stupid or idiot, but because of the black of skin color. They even mock the nigger wherever they are. Even in the public places it can be seen from the quotation below.
“Your colored woman ain’t here, “he said, looking at me.” I took her to the hospital for stitches. She took a fall and hit her head.” (Monk. 2002. p. 44)
From the quotation, it is clearly seen that the white people cannot say the nigger with their name, but calling them “nigger”. It proves that the white people can mock the nigger in the public places. They should not behave like that, because that is an immoral behavior, and can hurt other people’s heart as well. It reflects in quotation below that white people judge nigger stupid.
From the quotation above, it is clear that T. Ray (white man) believe that August ( the nigger) cannot be used at all. He does not believe that August is good in thinking and behaving because of they are black. And it made white people difficult to unite with nigger. Statement below reflects it.
.
“I know,” August told her. “But they’re in some kind of trouble and need a place to stay. Who’s gonna take them in if we don’t-a white girl and a Negro woman? Nobody around here.”
(Monk. 2002. p. 86)
From the statement, it reflects that it is very difficult to nigger to unite with the white people. In other word, Lily and Rosaleen is impossible to have a family relation. In restful situation, they keep thinking that the difference of skin color will be the source of the problem. Because August is not sure if Lily and Rosaleen have a family relation, even though finally August allows both of them to stay for a while in his house. However, it still becomes the problem for the other; it can be seen from the quotation below.
This was a great revelation-not that I was white but that it seemed like June might not want me here because of my skin color. I hadn’t known this was possible-to reject people for being white.
(Monk. 2002. p. 87)
that the white person likes to mock the colored by saying that they lack of culture. It makes June hates Lily’s being in his house. And it can be seen through the quotation below.
“Oh! Susanna.” She was upset over a Negro man named Mr. Raines, who was killed by a shotgun from a passing car in Georgia.
(Monk. 2002. p. 89)
From the quotation above, it is clearly seen that the white people recognizes the nigger is lack of culture and moral. They like to make violence in every way. One of the violences is murdering and the people who murders are identical by the nigger. It makes June hard to accept Lily stays in his house and the quotation below strengthen that the nigger is difficult to unite with the white people.
It was rare, though, for Negroes to ask white people where they’re from, because there was nothing much to be gained from it, as their stories weren’t that likely to link up.
(Monk. 2002. p. 105)
The statement above is clearly said that the nigger is very difficult together with the white people. Even though the white people say that their background as the top race and has good attitude, it is useless for the nigger because all of the reasons are
At my school they made fun of colored people’s lips and noses. I myself had laughed at these jokes, hoping to fit in. Now I wished I could pen a letter to my school to be read at opening assembly that would tell them how wrong we’d all been. You should see Zachary Taylor, I’d say.
(Monk. 2002. p. 116)
The quotation above states that the nigger is just material for joking and it reflects that the existence of the nigger is recognized as the lowest level of society. They are not watched as the ordinary people because of their skin color and physically looking which is different from the white people. Actually they know what they done is not right, but it happens due to the different of their skin color. It reflects through the quotation below.
It was foolish to think some things were beyond happening, even being attracted to Negroes. I’d honestly thought such a thing couldn’t happen, the way water could not run uphill or salt could not taste sweet.
(Monk. 2002. p. 125)
“I never would have done it, except T. Ray said the man who beat Rosaleen was the meanest hater of colored people anywhere, and it would be just like him to come back and kill her. I couldn’t leave her in there.”
(Monk. 2002. p. 240)
From the quotation above, it’s clearly seen that the white people hate the nigger so much, even though T. Ray treats Rosaleen rudely who has been the baby sitter of his daughter, Lily. Rosaleen has given her love and taken care of his daughter for so long. She has given love and tender to Lily. She never trreats Lily bad when she takes care of her. But, it doesn’t make T. Ray becomes kind to Rosaleen. And this proves how the skin color effects the life of the nigger to the white people. But on the quotation below stated that oppose what the white thinks.
Since I want to tell the whole truth, which means the worst parts, I thought they could be smart as me, me being white. Lying on the cot in the honey house, though, all I could think was August is so intelligent, so cultured, and I was surprised by this. That’s what let me know I had some prejudice buried inside me. (Monk. 2002. p. 78)
3.3 Segregation
Segregation is the separation of different racial groups in daily life, such as
eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a rest room, attending
school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home. Segregation
may be mandated by law or exist through social norms. Segregation may be
maintained by means ranging from discrimination in hiring and in the rental and
sale of housing to certain races to vigilante violence (such as lynching, e.g.)
Generally, a situation that arises when members of different races mutually prefer
to associate and do business with members of their own race would usually be
described as separation or de facto separation of the races rather than
segregation. In the United States, legal segregation was required in some states
and came with "anti-miscegenation laws" (prohibitions against interracial
marriage). There were laws passed against segregation in the USA in the 1960s.
Segregation, however, often allowed close contact in hierarchical
situations, such as allowing a person of one race to work as a servant for a
member of another race. Segregation can involve spatial separation of the races,
and/or mandatory use of different institutions, such as schools and hospitals by
people of different races.
believed that to be Black is both a culture and a race. We define ourselves by our race rather then our culture. While those who are classified as racially Black do share some culture due to common origin, when one examines Black cultures throughout the world one cannot help but notice cultural differences unique to each group. We are such a group and we are as unique as any other group of people on the earth if not more so.
We often find ourselves trying to define what Black is, rather than do this it would be better to define what African American is, not as a racial designation, but as a culture. There is a great deal of confusion also, involving our brothers and sisters who come to the United States and their designation. A common scenario that is often brought forth regarding the term African American. The question is asked that if a White man who is born in Africa and is the citizen of an African country, is he not and African American. I have always found this to be an odd question. It is very rare that we refer to someone of European ancestry as an European American, rather we usually refer to them by their country of origin. We say Italian American or Irish American. A failure to do this for those residents of the continent of Africa, and often Asia as well, is a failure to recognize the fact that the continent is a collection of many cultures and countries. It is also an attempt to steal from African Americans a sense of self and culture.
All to often we allow this to happen by refusing to define ourselves by who we are rather than what we are. As an African American you are more than just the color of your skin, you are a way of looking at the world and a set of beliefs. You are a culture. Keep this in mind and your sense of self will be stronger.
for us do while we’re here, maybe we could earn a little before heading on.
(Monk. 2002. p. 74)
CHAPTER IV
CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION
4. 1 Conclusion
Here, Sue Monk Kidd, as the writer of the best seller novels The Secret Life of Bees. This novels is published in 2002 in United Stated of America. This the first novel
which is writen by Sue Monk Kidd. It’s tells about of a little girl, Lily Owens, whose life is shaped by her blurred memory of the afternoon of her mother’s accidental death. When Lily’s black “stand-in mother”, Rosallen, insults three racists in town, they escape to Tiburon, South California. Lily is lonely at home and feels that she unloved by her father, T. Ray. However, with the help of August Boatwright, she is able to find that she has many people that love and care for her. Lily is faced with trying to find out who she is because at her home she is not allowed to ask questions about her past. Lily does this in many ways, such as writing down her thoughts in a notebook, and finding her first love, Zachary Taylor.she finds out who she really is when she learns about her mother’s past.
Race is a concept that significant and symbolizes conflict and interest by refering to different types of human bodies. White people feel that they are better than black physically since the growth of Darwinism conceptwhich finally cause the social conflict between them.
famous person came from the blackexisting in U. S. A nowdays. For example; Obama can be the president of USA and the most famous entertainer in USA, Oprah Winfrey who is successful in hosting every kind of shows she does.
4.2 Suggestion
This novel is worth reading. It contains an important lesson for those who have a dicerning eyes and obsevation to see a lot of good lesson about human nature and their existence. That is why this novel is suibtable for those who are in the advance level of English, especially for those who are engaged in literature.
The writer would like to give suggestion that the reader realize the importance of reading the novels as the source of information, knowledge, and messages. The writer comfirm this because find some readers who who has red the novel merely in order to kill time. It would be much better if the readers get something valuable more than just an entertaiment.
This novel gives reader a guidance about moral, ethnics, love, and other good behavior. The white believes that black who act rudely and brutality is not right. Becauce the writer finds the good morality, hospitality and responsibility. The writer hope the reader get a moral lesson about this, do not judge other people from race, religion, and skin color.
