The Devil

 

I have seen the devil, and the devil has seen me. He walks down the street where I live and waits outside my bedroom at night under the full moonlight. He stares at me with beady red eyes, and he glares at me with those beady red eyes. He waits outside my bedroom at night under the full moonlight, with those damn beady red eyes. I hear his black heart beating from under his chest. I cannot rest. And his claws are tapping, tapping, ever so gently rapping, rapping on the raw cement. As he sits waiting, waiting, waiting for me, to stake his claim and run away with me. His hatred seeps and creeps from under his skin, and I feel his breath, that putrid breath running, running down my spine, as if to say, "Now you are mine." And his claws are tapping, tapping, ever so gently rapping, rapping on the raw cement. As his black heart is beating and bleating, bleating and beating. And those beady red eyes, the eyes of nothing, stare and glare, glare and stare at me. Oh, how my blood turns cold, for the tale has been told, and my soul has been sold, for I have seen the devil, and the devil has seen me.

~Billie. Miller~

The Secret Life Of Bees

     There’s a danger when starting a book.  A  truth that is universally unacknowledged.  Sometimes a book cannot pull you in. However, the same cannot be said for The Secret Life of Bees. This book not only touches on the importance of mothers and community, but it also highlights the insidious nature of racism, misogyny, and the harmful effects of stereotyping.

The novel portrays racism in a powerful and thought-provoking way, emphasizing the impact of systemic prejudice on individuals and communities. The story also emphasizes the power of female friendship and community, as characters band together to support each other and challenge societal norms.

The protagonist, Lily, is not a typical racist, but her prejudices and stereotyping are still harmful. She initially believes that people have set roles that they cannot transcend, such as black women working as housekeepers and black men not becoming lawyers. However, as she learns and grows, she comes to understand the importance of breaking down these harmful stereotypes and challenging the status quo.

The novel's message about the dangers of stereotyping and prejudice is particularly relevant in today's world. Even if we are not marching down the street in khakis and carrying tiki torches, we may still hold harmful prejudices and beliefs. The Secret Life of Bees encourages us to challenge these harmful attitudes and embrace the power of diversity and community.