Question

How do June’s feelings toward Lily and Lily’s feelings toward August help Lily begin to understand the irrationality of racism and help her begin to see beyond skin color to the beauty of individuals?

Answer 1

 I believe that the society in which Lilly lives in is the main cause for implanting this idea of racism in her mind. She has, and always will, think that whites are better than blacks. I think that an very important part of this novel is when June talking about protesting and the understanding and idea of blacks being racist against whites also comes about. Many people think that it is only whites discriminating against blacks but this novel proves that it can be the other way as well. June’s feelings toward Lily and Lily’s feelings toward August help Lily understand the irrationality of racism and help her begin to see beyond skin color to the beauty of individuals. Through different events within this section, Lilly is able to make the point that when you try hard to look beneath the skin, there comes a realization that all people are people.