The 1960's was a revolutionary time for African Americans in the United States, finally beginning to gain rights and status amoung the American population. Rosaleen, an African American worker on a Peach Farm in South Carolina, is chosen to fill in as Lily's mother. Proud of her freedom Rosaleen heads to town with Lily to excercise her rights and vote. While in town three men trouble her looking for a rise, because she is Black. Rosaleen standing up for herself takes ahold of her spit bottle and pours it across the top of the three mens' shoes. In a primitive white society this action is highly unexcepted. The police are called and Rosaleen and Lily are taken to jail.
What actual changes were taking place for African-Americans during this time period that may help us understand Rosaleen's actions even more fully? Was Rosaleen justified in her actions? Is it justifiable to hurt/harm another peroson?
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Chapter 1 Summary
Lily is the fourteen year-old narrator of the book, and she lives on a peach farm in South Carolina with her father T. Ray. One night, a swarm of bees appears in Lily's bedroom, but when she brings T. Ray back to see them, they are gone. T. Ray makes gestures like she's crazy, and he threatens to make her kneel on grits if she wakes him up again.In this chapter, Lily also talks about her memory of her mother's death.
Lily was there when her mother and T. Ray were having a violent argument, and she has a vague memory of watching her mom grab a gun from the closet, drop it on the floor, and then go off as Lily picked it up. It's the only memory of her mother that she has. All Lily has to remember her mother by is an old photograph, a pair of white cotton gloves, and a small wooden picture of Mary, the mother of Jesus. On the back was written "Tiburon, SC".
One day, T. Ray comes to tell her what happened to her mother. He says that she was cleaning out a closet, and Lily says that she remembers the gun. T. Ray gets very upset and demands to know everything Lily knows, and she says that all she remembers is picking up the gun off the floor. T. Ray then confirms that Lily accidently killed her own mother.At one point, Lily falls asleep in the orchard with the artifacts from her mother. T. Ray finds her, thinks that she has been fooling around with a boy, and makes her kneel on grits for an hour as punishment.
Rosaleen is another main character. She is a black worker in the orchard that T. Ray chooses to become Lily's caretaker. She watches President Johnson sign the Civil Rights Act and decides to go into town to register to vote. Lily goes along, and they eventually meet three racist men from town who give Rosaleen a hard time. In an act of defiance or stupidity, Rosaleen pours tobacco juice over their shoes. She gets arrested and she and Lily get taken to jail. -
Lily was there when her mother and T. Ray were having a violent argument, and she has a vague memory of watching her mom grab a gun from the closet, drop it on the floor, and then go off as Lily picked it up. It's the only memory of her mother that she has. All Lily has to remember her mother by is an old photograph, a pair of white cotton gloves, and a small wooden picture of Mary, the mother of Jesus. On the back was written "Tiburon, SC".
One day, T. Ray comes to tell her what happened to her mother. He says that she was cleaning out a closet, and Lily says that she remembers the gun. T. Ray gets very upset and demands to know everything Lily knows, and she says that all she remembers is picking up the gun off the floor. T. Ray then confirms that Lily accidently killed her own mother.At one point, Lily falls asleep in the orchard with the artifacts from her mother. T. Ray finds her, thinks that she has been fooling around with a boy, and makes her kneel on grits for an hour as punishment.
Rosaleen is another main character. She is a black worker in the orchard that T. Ray chooses to become Lily's caretaker. She watches President Johnson sign the Civil Rights Act and decides to go into town to register to vote. Lily goes along, and they eventually meet three racist men from town who give Rosaleen a hard time. In an act of defiance or stupidity, Rosaleen pours tobacco juice over their shoes. She gets arrested and she and Lily get taken to jail. -
Let's Start Our Journey!
Welcome to our weblog/reader's guide for The Secret Life of Bees. Over the next few weeks, we will be adding our reactions, responses, research and more to this site. We're also hoping to have the author join us in the process. (Sue Monk Kidd, if you're reading this, we'd love to have you along!)
If you are a member of our class and you need help with posting or other uses of this site, please meet with Mr. Barrington or Ms. Jackson immediately. If you're not a member, why not come back and watch the evolution of our work?
Let's start building! -
If you are a member of our class and you need help with posting or other uses of this site, please meet with Mr. Barrington or Ms. Jackson immediately. If you're not a member, why not come back and watch the evolution of our work?
Let's start building! -
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