I'm so sorry I didn't get a Saturday Scripture Speaks entry up today. I spent the early part of the day doing school with the kids - we do school on Saturdays rather than Fridays because my husband works Saturdays and gets Thursday and Friday off. I still have science to do with Ryan and Amanda - scavenger hunt for household chemicals and compounds. We have a list of things like a tube of fluoride to look for. Should be loads of fun :P
But enough of that. I wanted to talk for just a minute about the movie, The Secret Life of Bees, and what I gleaned from watching it. The movie stars Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson and Queen Latifah. It's a story about an abused teenager, Lilly, who at age 4, accidentally shoots her mother. Lilly's dad is one of the worst dads a person can have.
The story takes place in, I think, 1964. This is at the height of the Civil Rights movement and sometime during the story, President Johnson signs a law giving blacks the right to vote. Lilly's friend, a black woman named Rosaleen, works for Lilly and her dad. She takes Lilly into town with her and some white folks beat up Rosaleen after she refuses to take any more degrading insults about her color.
To summarize the rest of the plot, Lilly and Rosaleen end up in another town living with three black sisters who raise bees and sell honey. They teach Lilly (and I would say Rosaleen too) that loves goes beyond skin color. In the process, one of the sisters also has some of her racial barriers blasted.
Though I didn't care for a bit of the language, I do realize that Lilly's dad would have probably said worse than what was put into The Secret Life of Bees. There is also some worship of Mary that I don't agree with, but that isn't really what the story is about.
This is a movie that beautifully portrays what people today need to know. Color is color, nothing more. If we were all blind, we'd never know what color another person's skin was. It would mean nothing. When the Bible speaks of men, it never once mentions race, only religious beliefs. The reason? There is no such thing as race - only differences in skin pigmentation. People are people and will always be people.
Isn't it time we learn to love one another because we are ALL made in the image of God?
I don't recommend The Secret Life of Bees for children, but for adults it could be a real eye opener.
4 comments:
I believe I would like to see it! Thanks!
Rita, thank you for the lovely review and how you were sensitive in writing it! (I too am a believer).
I also want to thank you for visiting my blog: overthetopaprons and leaving the nice comment; I do appreciate it!
thanks for reviewing the story, after reading this post, i believe i want to watch the movie. you are right, people are people and we have to learn to love one another for we all are created in His likeness. There is no ugly coloration, we all are beautiful.
You may like the book "Shades of Brown" by Denise Becker. It's about a school teacher and her mixed marriage. She tries teaching her class not to judge others based on race. A very good book!
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