The Secret Life of Bees | Themes

The Secret Life of Bees Themes

Civil Rights and Equality

The Civil Rights Act that President Lyndon Baines Johnson signed on the 15th of June 1964 was passed after 73 votes to 27 ruled in favor of the act. It made racial discrimination in public places a crime and demanded equal employment opportunities regardless of culture, race or color. It also required African Americans to have voting rights in the Deep South. Kidd includes the Civil Rights Act and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., within her story to show the rise of deep-seated resentment, creating tension and an incredibly powerful and moving plot.

Equality is explored prominently throughout the book, not only in relation to civil rights but also in relation to gender segregation. T-Ray constantly puts Lily down and refuses to acknowledge her intelligence and ability in anything more than fill a typical female role, such as a beautician, a mother or a housewife. Lily's female teacher tells her...
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