Reaction is also one way to know the characteristics of a person. Rosaleen‟s words that she is going to register her name as voter of coloured
people intrigued three white men to mock her. In spite of that, Rosaleen is not afraid to these men and reacts to them in a brave manner.
Coming alongside the men, Rosaleen lifted her snuff jug, which was filled with black spit, and calmly pured it across
the tops of the men‟s shoes, moving her hand in little loops like she was writing her name-Rosaleen
Daise- just the way she‟d practiced Kidd, 2002: 53.
What Rosaleen did drive three white men angry and they yelled to her to ask to apologize. In short, even Rosaleen is under arrest and those white men hit her, she
never apologize “....He hit me till the policeman said that was enough. They didn‟t
get no apology, though” Kidd, 2002: 76. The last chapter of the novel, it is written that Rosaleen is still going to register her name as a voter. She does not
worry about what happened the last time she tried to register her name but does not give up easily until she gets what she want. She perseveres and endures the
beating from the white men in order to achieve her goal. From the quotation above, the writer concludes that Rosaleen is a brave
woman. While some people at that time are afraid to register their name to vote for the freedom of coloured people, Rosaleen is brave to register her name to vote
for freedom of coloured people. Then, she is also brave to lift her snuff jug to white men‟s shoes and even she is hit by them to force her apology, she does not
want to apologize. She is a woman with a strong determination to fight for what she believes is right.
Through Murphy‟s theory on speech and reaction characterization method, the writer can prove that Rosaleen is brave from what
she says and what she does.
The writer also sees that Rosaleen is caring person. Rosaleen works for T- ray, a white man. T-ray has a daughter named Lily, she is fourteen years old.
Since Lily was a child, Rosaleen has worked for the family even she took care of Lil
y because Lily‟s mother has passed away. Her caring personality is exhibited through the conversation between Lily and her.
“She Jerked the broom as she swept, raising a wind. “What happened?”she said.
“I went out to the orchard last night. T-ray thinks I met some boy.” “Did you?.”
I rolled my eyes at her. “No.” “How long did he keep you on these grits?‟
I shrugged. “Maybe an hour.” She looked down at my knees and stopped sweeping. They were swollen
with hundreds of red welts, pinprick bruises that would grow into a blue
stubble across my skin. “Look at you, child. Look what he‟s done to you,” she said” Kidd, 2002: 40-41.
From the conversation between Lily and Rosaleen above, the writer knows
that Rosaleen cares for Lily by the way she looks at the bruises in Lily‟s knees. It
also shows that she is worried about Lily. Her loving for Lily is also expressed by her way of calling Lily “child”.
The other proof that Rosaleen is a car ing woman is from Lily‟s words,
“...She made me go to school wearing long britches under my Pentecostal dresses...She bought me an Easter dyed
biddy from the mercantile...” Kidd, 2002: 14-17. The sentences above describe that Rosaleen is a caring woman. She does
many things for Lily as a mother for daughter such as buying dyed biddy in order to get easter eggs for Lily. From what she has done, the writer sees that Rosaleen
treats Lily like her own daughter eventhough she is just a houskeeper in Lily‟s
house.
From explanation above, it is known that Rosaleen is a brave person, does not give up easily and is also a caring person. Her characteristics will lead the
writer to examine the way she struggles against racial discrimination that she faces.
2. August Boatwright
August Boatwright is a bee-keeper who lives in Tiburon with her sisters, June Boatwright, May Boatwright and April Boatwright. Through the
conversation between Lily and a man in the store, the writer knows about the physical appearance of August as an old black woman.
„” I know what you mean. A lot of folks won‟t buy it cause it‟s got the Virgin Mary pictured as a colored woman, but see, that‟s because the
woman who makes the honey is colored herself.” “What‟s her name?”
“August Boatwright,” he said. She keeps bees all over the country”‟ Kidd, 2002: 105.
From the conversation between Lily and a man above, it is clear that August Boatwright; the producer of the black Madonna honey is a black woman.
Many people do not buy the honey since she is black. Then, the proof that August is an old woman is
through using Lily‟s words. “She was almond-buttery with sweatand sun, her face corrugated with a
thousand caramel wrinkles and her hair looking flour dusted, but the rest of her seemed decades younger” Kidd, 2002: 117.
The writer sees that Lily describes August as a woman with wrinkles in her face and with grey hair. These indicate that August is an old woman. Nevertheless,
Lily also points out that August appears much younger than her age. August is an educated black woman. Before she chose to be a beekeeper,
she was a teacher like her sister June. However, at that time the place for black
women to teach were rare. It made her change her job as housekeeper. From August‟s speech the writer sees that she is an educated black woman.
“I studied at a Negro teacher‟s college in Maryland. June did, too, but it was hard to get a job, since there weren‟t that many places for Negroes to
teach. I ended up working nine years as a housekeeper. Eventually I got a job teaching history. It lasted six years, till we moved down here” Kidd,
2002: 240.
From August‟ speech above, the writer sees that August is not only an educated black woman but also a hardworking woman. Although it was hard to
get a job at that time, she still tried to get another job, which was different from her previous working experienced as a teacher.
In the story, August is wiser than the others. It is proved by the way she reacts, says and thinks about something. She realizes that as a black woman, she
has limited part to do something because of the treatment and the rule from white people. Therefore, she continues to make a black Madonna honey to show black
people that Mary is not only come for Whites but also for Blacks. The writer sees that from her black Madonna honey, she conveys a message about hope to Black
people who buy her honey. A hope that God is with them even they are in discrimination. Her conversation with Lily below shows that she is wise.
„“How come you put the Black Madonna on your honey?” I asked..... .”I wish you could‟ve seen the Daughters of Mary the first time they laid
eyes on this label. You know why? Because when they looked at her, it occurred to them for the first time in their lives that what is divine can
come in dark skin. You see, everybody needs a God who looks like them,
Lily”‟ Kidd, 2002: 232. She is also kind hearted through the way she accepts Lily to stay at their
home although Lily is white and has lied about many things since she came to their home. She knows that Lily needs help. Through the conversation between
August and June, the writer sees that August is a kind person to accept people whoever they are.
“You know she‟s lying,” said June. “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.”. . .
A pause followed. I crept closer to the edge of the porch. “ I just have a feeling about this, June. Something tells me not to send her back to some
place she doesn‟t want to be. Not yet, at least. She has some reason for leaving. Maybe he mistreated her.
I believe we can help her” Kidd, 2002: 142- 143.
From her speech, the writer sees that August is a kind person. “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” Kidd, 2002: 188-119. August kindly gives enough time for Lily and Rosaleen to stay in her house. She does not have the heart to let
them to be homeless. The way she gives many things to Lily and Rosaleen like giving a place to live, foods, and jobs is the proof that she is kind hearted through
give what Rosaleen and Lily need that she has. “All right, then. Rosaleen can help May in the house, and you can help me
and Zach with the bees. Zach is my main helper, so I cant‟s pay you anything, but at least you‟ll have a room and some food till we call your
aunt and see about her sending some bus money. ”
“ I don‟t exactly know her whole name,” I said. “My father just called her Aunt Bernie;
I never met her.” “Well, what were you planning to do, child, go door to door in Virginia?”
“No, ma‟am, just Richmond.” “I see,” said August. And the thing was, she did. She was right through it”
Kidd, 2002: 122.
August is not only a kind hearted woman. She is also very considerate and thoughtful. She knows about the needs of Rosaleen and buys her the things that
Rosaleen needs.
