Theory on Adaptation to Prejudice and Discrimination

community in which they had been involved for two centuries and especially in the sixty years before the Civil Rights Movement- made them ideal political activists Hine and Thompson, 1998: 267. This period also become the first step for them to get freedom. Cashmore states: On December, 1955, Rosa Parks, a black seamstress, refused to give up her seat to white man on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Her action was to prompt changes of monumental proportions in the condition of blacks in the Use. It provided the impetus for the most influential social movement in the history of North American race and ethnic relations. That was the beginning of Civil Rights Movement in United States. Her attitude brought protest from black community in that time. Almost people in the world who concern to racial discrimination that Black people faced in the past know Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr. He became leader of black community and could mobilize grassroots black protest and was made to mount a sustained campaign of black protest 2004: 81. As time passed, some black women were found their way to get freedom. One by one began to appear and to show their skill and power. There were some who successes in business, politics, the arts etc. History written some Black women who had been fighting for so long to change the racism face of America. Women were also leaders, playing key roles in initiating protests, mapping out strategies, and mobilizing necessary resources. They were Ella Baker, Rosa Parks, Daisy Bates and Diane Nash Bevel. These women and others had kept the issue at the forefront of the American consciousness and conscience. Finally, their effort was success. The federal government started to catch up, passing the Civil rights act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 Hine and Thompson, 1998: 283. From the history above, it can be known that it was only a matter of time until African America was accepted by Americans. Black women showed their ability even though was not direct. Those black women like Ella Baker and Rosa were just some names from million names of African American women who had been struggle. Their successes in some aspect like business, politics, professions and arts leads Americans to realize that they also have a power.

D. Theoretical Framework

This study is focus on the struggle of African American women against the racial discrimination. A novel entitled The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd is the literary work that the writer uses to see and to find out the issue of racial discrimination. To solve the 3 major problems, some theories were chosen. Theory of character is applied to analyze the five characters of African American Women in novel. Then, theory of characterization is to understand and to describe the characteristics from 5 characters African American woman in novel. Theory of race is to know the meaning of race and this theory is also leads the writer to know deeply about racism. The theory of racial discrimination is used to know the meaning of racial discrimination because these theories show, explain and give understanding about the practice of racial discrimination that African American experienced in the past. The theory of the relation between literature and society is to help the writer to make a connection between the society in the novel of The Secret Life of Bees with the society of African American women in the real life in 1960. In connection with the struggle, theory on adaptation to prejudice and discrimination are implemented. The review of the history of African American women is used to help the writer to know more about racial discrimination that happened toward them. This theory is also to help the writer to see how they keep struggling toward racial discrimination. The writer sees that every character has their own way to struggle.