PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
RACIAL DISCRIMINATION REFLECTED THROUGH THE CHARACTERS IN LUIS VALDEZ’S LOS VENDIDOS
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra in English Letters
By
ELFRIDA S. PUTRIE
Student Number: 084214116
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA 2012
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
RACIAL DISCRIMINATION REFLECTED THROUGH THE CHARACTERS IN LUIS VALDEZ’S LOS VENDIDOS
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra in English Letters
By
ELFRIDA S. PUTRIE
Student Number: 084214116
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTEMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA 2012
i PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
WHAT FIFTY SAID When I was young my teachers were the old. I gave up fire for form till I was cold. I suffered like a metal being cast. I went to school to age to learn the past.
Now when I am old my teachers are the young. What can't be molded must be cracked and sprung. I strain at lessons fit to start a suture. I got to school to youth to learn the future.
-Robert Frost-
Reality is a product of our dreams, decisions, and actions- Anonymous
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I dedicated this thesis to My beloved Mom and Dad
For All the Love and Support Given to Me
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I am so joyful that finally I can pass my study in Sanata Dharma
University. I can go through these years in Sanata Dharma because of the support people surround me. First of all, I want to send my deepest gratitude to Jesus
Christ for His blessing and guidance to me every time. Because of His kindness I finally finish my study.
I also want to show my gratitude to Ni Luh Putu Rosiandani, S.S., M.
Hum. as my advisor who is patient while teaching me. I thank for her time, books and knowledge that she gave me. It is also because of her corrections and advice that this thesis can get better. I also send my gratitude to Maria Ananta Tri
Suryandari, S.S., M.Ed. for her corrections, advice, and support for me. I also want to thank to my academic advisor, Linda Valentina Budiman, S.S., M.Hum.
My next gratitude goes to my family, my mom, dad and also my younger sister and little brother. They are the most important persons in my life. Because of their supports and love, I can finish this thesis.
I want to give a bunch of thanks to all of my friends in Sanata Dharma
University from English Letters 2008 for Daniel, Topan, and Ajeng who gave many suggestions for me. I also thank to Rania, Yeyen, Momon, Vita, Acen,
Lando, Cella, Teteh, Blesta, Rinrin, Save, Diana, for our unforgettable moments we spent together. Thanks to Metodius Helfi for lending me his printer, it helped me so much, and for his support for me.
I also want to give my special thanks to Cana Community, San’t Egidio, and Mudika Mrican for every chances, lessons, and experiences. I had many new
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experiences with them. For ‘GREASE’ team, Miss Dewi, Miss Linda, Miss Tata,
Ce Cita and Mbak Dela, thanks for letting me joined this incredible play performance.
And last but not least, I give my gratitude to mbak Anna Marsiana for her support and opportunities given to me to learn many things. Thank you!
Elfrida S. Putrie
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE ...... i APPROVAL PAGE ...... ii ACCEPTANCE PAGE ...... iii MOTTO PAGE ...... iv DEDICATION PAGE ...... v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...... vi TABLE OF CONTENTS ...... viii ABSTRACT ...... x ABSTRAK ...... xi
CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ...... 1 A. Background of the Study ...... 1 B. Problem Formulations ...... 4 C. Objectives of the Study ...... 5 D. Definition of Terms ...... 5
CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL REVIEW ...... 7 A. Review of Related Studies ...... 7 B. Review of Related Theory ...... 9 1. Theories of Character and Characterization ...... 9 2. Theories of Racial Discrimination ...... 11 C. Review on Discrimination Experienced by Mexican American 15 D. Theoretical Framework ...... 19
CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY ...... 21 A. Object of the Study ...... 21 B. Approach of the Study ...... 23 C. Method of the Study ...... 24
CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS ...... 26 A. Description of Characters ...... 26 1. Farmworker ...... 26 2. Johnny Pachuco ...... 30 3. Revolucionario ...... 33 4. Mexican American ...... 36 5. Secretary ...... 39 6. Honest Sancho ...... 41 B. Type of Racial Discrimination ...... 43 1. Situational Pressures ...... 45 2. Group Gains ...... 50 3. Institutional Discrimination ...... 53
CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION ...... 56
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BIBLIOGRAPHY ...... 59
APPENDIX ...... 61 Summary of Luis Valdez’s Los Vendidos ...... 61
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ABSTRACT
ELFRIDA S. PUTRIE. RACIAL DISCRIMINATION REFLECTED THROUGH THE CHARACTERS IN LUIS VALDEZ’S LOS VENDIDOS. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2012.
Discrimination toward minority group still happens in many countries. The discrimination which usually occurs is racial discrimination. Racial discrimination is the attitude of oppressing someone because of the different race. In Los Vendidos, Farmworker, Johnny Pachuco, and Revolucionario are the characters that experienced racial discrimination. They are discriminated by white people because they represent the Mexican characteristics. In order to see what happens to them, there are two main objectives to achieve in this research. First is to find out all the characteristics of the characters by looking at their characterizations. Since this study is focused on the types of discrimination, the second is to identify the types of discrimination which can be seen through their characteristics. Since this analysis is going to explain the types of racial discrimination which is experienced by Mexican people, it is going to apply the socio cultural- historical approach and the theory of racial discrimination. In this analysis, all the characters, Farmworker, Johnny Pachuco, Revolucionario, Mexican American, Secretary, and Honest Sancho are the objects. The characteristics of them will be used to see the types of discrimination. The result of this analysis shows that Farmworker, Johnny Pachuco, and Revolucionario are described as typical Mexican people. Farmworker is less educated, strong, and durable. Johnny Pachuco reveals the typical Mexican gangster who always bring knife, consumes drugs, and steals. Meanwhile, Revolucionario is described as a strong, courageous, and tough. The different description is about Eric Garcia, the Mexican American. He is well educated, can speak English fluently, and polite. Although he is a Mexican, but he has characteristics as a white people. Furthermore, Secretary is a Mexican American girl that chooses to be more like white people, and decide to discriminate Mexican people. Secretary experienced the first type of discrimination, it is situational pressure. The pressure from the powerful one makes her discriminate Mexican people. The second theory is group gains, it happens when the majority groups took advantages from the minority. The minority is forced to do the hardest and lowest job. Farmworker shows that he is experienced this type of discrimination. The last theory is institutional discrimination. The discrimination occurs when the members of minority group lack of ability and do not qualify to do some job. Farmworker and Johnny are experienced this type of discrimination.
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ABSTRAK
ELFRIDA S. PUTRIE. RACIAL DISCRIMINATION REFLECTED THROUGH THE CHARACTERS IN LUIS VALDEZ’S LOS VENDIDOS. Yogyakarta: Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2012.
Diskriminasi terhadap kelompok minoritas masih terjadi di banyak negara. Diskriminasi yang biasanya terjadi adalah diskriminasi ras. Diskriminasi ras adalah suatu tindakan yang menekan seseorang karena ras yang berbeda. Dalam naskah Los Vendidos, Farmworker, Johnny Pachuco, dan Revolucionario adalah karakter yang mengalami diskriminasi ras. Mereka didiskriminasi oleh bangsa Amerika karena mereka menggambarkan karakteristik orang Meksiko. Untuk melihat apa yang terjadi terhadap mereka, ada dua tujuan utama dalam penelitian ini. Yang pertama adalah mencari karakteristik semua karakter dengan melihat penokohannya. Karena penilitian ini difokuskan pada tipe diskriminasi, tujuan yang kedua adalah mengidentifikasi jenis- jenis diskriminasi yang dapat dilihat dari karakteristik mereka. Karena analisis ini ingin menjelaskan jenis- jenis diskriminasi ras yang dialami oleh orang Meksiko, maka analisis ini akan menggunakan pendekatan sosial, kebudayaan, dan sejarah dan teori diskriminasi ras. Dalam analisis ini, semua karakter, Farmworker, Johnny Pachuco, Revolucionario, Mexican American, Secretary, dan Honest Sancho adalah objek. Karakteristik mereka akan digunakan untuk dapat melihat jenis diskriminasinya. Hasil dari analisis ini menunjukkan bahwa Farmworker, Johnny Pachuco, dan Revolucionario digambarkan sebagai ciri khas orang Meksiko. Farmworker adalah pria yang kurang berpendidikan, kuat, dan bisa bekerja dalam waktu yang lama. Johnny Pachuco mengungkap ciri khas penjahat Meksiko yang selalu membawa pisau, mengkonsumsi obat- obatan, dan mencuri. Sedangkan Revolucionario digambarkan sebagai pria yang kuat, pemberani, dan tangguh. Penggambaran karakter yang berbeda tentang Eric Garcia, campuran Meksiko dan Amerika. Dia berpendidikan, dapat berbicara bahasa Inggris dengan lancar, dan sopan. Walaupun dia adalah seorang Meksiko, tetapi dia memiliki sifat orang kulit putih. Selanjutnya, Secretary adalah gadis campuran Meksiko dan Amerika yang memilih untuk menjadi orang kulit putih dan memutuskan untuk mendiskriminasi Farmworker, Johnny, and Revolucionario. Secretary mengalami jenis diskriminasi yang pertama, yaitu situational pressure. Tekanan dari orang yang lebih berkuasa membuatnya harus mendiskriminasi orang Meksiko. Teori yang kedua adalah teori group gains, diskriminasi terjadi ketika kelompok mayoritas mengambil keuntungan dari kelompok minoritas. Kelompok minoritas dipaksa untuk melakukan pekerjaan kasar dan rendah. Farmworker memperlihatkan bahwa ia mengalami jenis diskriminasi ini. Teori yang terakhir adalah institutional discrimination. Diskriminasi terjadi ketika anggota dari kelompok minoritas tidak memiliki kemampuan dan tidak berkualifikasi untuk bekerja. Farmworker dan Johnny mengalami jenis diskriminasi ini.
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CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
Every human being in this world has differences and similarities because God created human different one to another. For example in characteristics, races, sex, appearances, and so on. Each human has their uniqueness, especially with races. The problem of race in the modern world is essentially a social problem because it involves the relations of peoples, not merely as individuals in their interpersonal relations, but people as members of groups, which are differentiated because of both physical characteristic and cultural differences (Frazier, 1957:31). Races are distinguished from this individual’s viewpoint. The only properties that count are the immediately visible ones: skin color, body hair, facial configuration (Todorov in
Back, 2000:64). McLemore also stated that races are sharply distinguishable from skin color, head shape, eye form, hair texture, and so on are biologically inherited
(1980:83).
In dealing with those differences, people have their own perspective. It can be positive and negative. It is a positive perspective if everyone can accept the differences and live peacefully with another human being. On the other hand it is negative if people cannot accept the differences and try to oppress each other.
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This attitude is often called as discrimination. Discrimination means treating some people differently than others or favoring one social group over another based on prejudice (Hanes, 2007: 29). On the other words, discrimination is the unfair treatment of people simply because they are different from the dominant group in the society.
Discrimination is the most common form of prejudicial expression. Based on the book Prejudice in the Modern World by Richard Hanes, prejudice is a negative attitude, emotion, or behavior toward individual based on prejudgment about those individuals with no prior knowledge or experience. Prejudice itself is actually far more than simply a negative attitude. It often involves action such as discrimination or violence. Actually, discrimination is not the same as prejudice; discrimination is an action or behavior whereas prejudice is an attitude. Prejudice can encourage discrimination and then discrimination may cause the prejudice. Hanes in Prejudice in the Modern World stated that,
For example, discrimination driven by prejudice can lead to a group receiving fewer opportunities for education, jobs, and career advancement. These barriers to self improvement result in low morale and the development of few skills among members of the disadvantaged group. These results of discrimination can cause further prejudice and discrimination. It becomes a vicious, endless cycle (2007:69-70)
Discrimination and prejudice are certainly related and often found existing simultaneously within in a group or individual. Discrimination may take many forms.
Extreme forms of discrimination include genocide, the deliberate killing off of a PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 3
racial, religious, political, or cultural group (Hanes, 2007:72). It can be said from this quotation that discrimination also can cause the fatal result.
In this case of Mexican citizen is no exception. In the book Race and Culture in the Modern World, Frazier stated that the race and culture frontiers which have grown up in Latin America may be divided into two groups: Mexico and Central
America. In Mexico, racial mixture was so common that more than 90% of the
25.000.000 present inhabitants are of Spanish- Indian ancestry. The racial pattern becomes more complex in the other countries because of the presence of large numbers of Negroes, imported from West Indies (1957: 14-15). From this quotation it can be seen that many groups of different races dominated the number of citizen.
According to Race Relations 3rd Edition, the Mexican Americans are a most diverse ethnic group. On one hand, they are an indigenous people who were overpowered by white settlers and similar to the Native Americans (Kitano 1985:
157). Their immigration from Mexico to the United States makes them one of the largest immigrant groups. Their immigration has included the temporary worker, the legal immigrant, and unknown number of illegal or can be mentioned as the undocumented. The Mexican Americans are a large and complex ethnic group, yet in the minds of the majority, there remains a simple stereotype of lazy, stoic peasant, or its opposite, a ruthless, and cruel bandito. From the quotation above we can understand that the stereotypes of Mexican American people are unpleasant people, and most of them are criminal. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 4
For this research the writer takes a play by Luis Valdez, Los Vendidos. Los
Vendidos is a play about the condition of Mexican American from at first the
Mexican came in the early 1910. In this brief play Valdez clearly explores white’s stereotypical images of Mexicans while also exposing those who willingly play stereotypical roles. Los Vendidos means "those who sold out". Valdez did not agree with some people in his own culture selling out and forgetting their values and heritage and conforming to white society. (www.docshare.com)
This study is going to analyze the types of discrimination in the play Los
Vendidos, which experienced by the characters. Valdez used stereotypical models of
Mexicans to make the secretary of Governor Regan, think that the odd behaviors of the models were appropriate. The models were: The Farm Worker. Johnny is a big city thug. The Revolucionario starts and participates in revolutions and other things of that nature; the last is Mexican-American. This play showed how Mexican people who lived in United States were discriminated by Mexican American.
This is interesting to be analyzed because this play contains many forms of discrimination among Mexican in America. The writer attempts to analyze the stereotypical characters in this play then reveal the types of racial discrimination faced by Mexican American.
B. Problem Formulation
In order to have a thorough analysis, there are two main problems that will be discussed in this study. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 5
1. How are the characters in this play described?
2. How are racial discriminations revealed through the characters?
C. Objectives of the Study
The first objective is to find and explain how the characters in Los Vendidos are described. The second objective is to reveal the type of the racial discrimination in
Mexico reflected in the play seen through each character.
D. Definition of Term
In order to avoid misunderstanding and to make discussion clearer about the term racial discrimination, the writer gives some explanation that can be used as the references.
1. Racial Discrimination
Racial discrimination is treating some people differently than others or favoring one social group over another based on prejudice (Hanes, 2007:29). The term racial discrimination shall mean any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, color, descent, or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life (www2.ohchr.org on March
27th 2012). PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 6
According to Racial and Ethnic Relations in America second Edition, discrimination is an unfavorable action toward people because they are members of a particular racial or ethnic group (McLemore, 1980: 108). The term discrimination refers to an overt action. Discrimination, similarly, is used by some to refer only to certain forms of negative actions. Frequently, for instance, it refers only to negative actions that spring from prejudice.
2. Mexican- American
The Mexican American can count a great variety of Native Americans that is many Indian groups who once lived in Mexico and the American Southwest. Another major component is European, for Mexican Americans are also descended from the Spaniards who came to this hemisphere during the early periods of exploration, conquest, and settlement (Samora, 2008: 5).
From this quotation, it can be concluded that Mexican American is a mixture of diverse people. The Indian itself is also a mixture of many groups, and so does the
Americans who are the mixtures of many people around the world. The mixing of people who makes Mexican American exist. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL REVIEW
A. Review of Related Studies
Visage (2002), in his research, stated that Los Vendidos focused on the Latino stereotypes. It focused on how the stereotypes effects on society. His research focused on the characters that create stereotype of Mexican-American. Further, in his article titled Los Vendidos: Using Stereotypes to end racism, he stated that
The individual “models” appear to have their own identities within the Mexican race and each identity stands for a stereotype society generally holds of Mexicans. For instance, the farm worker "goes back to Mexico and doesn't return... until next Spring," and doesn't speak English. The revolucionario was romantic, rode horses, and started revolutions like in the movies. The Mexican American was educated and “Mexican but American.” In the end, however, the characters were stripped of stereotypical features and seemed to be of one people, all speaking Spanish and working together. The characteristics attached to the labels were fabricated by society (http://hubpages.com accessed on June 12th 2011).
This quotation implies that, each character in Los Vendidos hold the stereotype of Mexican people, for example Farmworker is described as a person who cannot speak English, Revolucionario is a romantic guy and Mexican American who is educated person. This research highlights the stereotype or label that is given to the
Mexican people by the society.
Another research on Los Vendidos also had been done by Michaela Abele in
2006. In her research titled Education with a Smile on its Face- An Analysis of Comic
Elements in Luis Valdez’s Los Vendidos.
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She stated that the play actually created a comic sense but it has ironical aspects. The purpose of making it into comic is to take awareness of people in thinking about moral value in society. Therefore, her research focused on the ironical aspects in the play. It is stated as follows
Taking into account that “people pay no attention to moralizers,” Robert Harris therefore considers irony to be “the only fruitful method” to reveal hypocrisy and flaws in society, as suggested in his article “The Purpose and Method of Satire.” Harris’s opinion appears to be reflected in Valdez’s acto Los Vendidos, in which he frequently uses irony as well as other kinds of comic elements in order to entertainingly educate his audience and to provoke changes. Initially, the comic nature of Los Vendidos is revealed by its ironical aspects (www.grin.com accessed on June 12th 2011)
The third study is taken from Jorg Vogelmann (2006). He had done a research about the comedic elements of Los Vendidos. His research titled Elements of Comedy in Luis Valdez’s Acto Los Vendidos as Techniques for Communication and
Mobilisation. This research focused on comedic elements. This element is used to deliver the political messages. Moreover, it is stated in the following quotation.
The thesis that Valdez’s play Los Vendidos consists of various comedic patterns to enable a thrilling, entertaining and effective communication between the author and his Chicano audience to sustainably deliver Valdez’s political messages can be seen when analyzing his probably most famous acto and the types of comedy he uses. Los Vendidos can be assigned to classifications like low, realistic or satiric comedy. This, indeed, shows how strongly Valdez relies on comedic-satiric techniques to politically communicate with and mobilise his Chicano fellow countrymen (www.grin.com accessed on June 12th 2011).
As the three studies mentioned above, this study has different objective. It is going to analyze the form of racial discrimination depicted through the characters in
Los Vendidos. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 9
B. Review of Related Theories
In this part, there are two theories that are going to be used to answer the problems that have been formulated. The first theory is theory of character and characterization to see the intrinsic element of the play, the second is theory of racial discrimination to analyze the form of racial discrimination.
1. Theories of Character and Characterization
Character is the main element in a literary work. According to M.H Abrams,
A Glossary of Literary Terms ninth Edition,
“Characters are the persons represented in a dramatic or narrative work, who are interpreted by the reader as possessing particular moral, intellectual, and emotional qualities by inferences from what the person say and their distinctive ways of saying it -the dialogue- and from what they do –the action” (2009: 42).
This quotation shows that the character is the one who plays an important role in the story. Based on How To Analyze Drama by Reaske, there are six devices to characterize the characters. a. The Appearance of the Character
“In the prologue or in the stage directions the playwright often describes the character in the physical sense” (Reaske, 1966: 46). This quotation shows that the appearance or what the character looks like is one of the ways to show the characteristic of the character.
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 10
b. Asides and Soliloquies
The characters can also be described by his or her dialogue to the audience.
“All of the further characterization is of course established through dialogue. We learn about the characters as they speak. To understand the characters best when they speak in short asides or in longer soliloquies” (1946: 46). To characterize what kind of person the character is by showing the character’s speech or mind that is addressing to the audience or it is only the character’s inner thought which is delivered when he or she is alone. c. Dialogue between Characters
“Not only does the language of the character speaking alone characterize him, but his language when speaking to others also sheds a great deal of light on his personality” (1966: 47). The conversation between the characters also can show the characteristics of the characters. d. Hidden Narration
“One of the devices of the characterization frequently employed is having one character in a play narrate something about another character” (1966: 47). From this quotation, it can be seen that the playwright indirectly shows the characterization of one character from another character’s description. e. Language
“Not only must we pay close attention to the kind of words which the character uses, but also we must be careful to remember how the character speaks”
(1966: 47). In brief, the way a character speaks, the expression he or she undergoes, PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 11
and the attitude while the character pronounces dialogue is also the important thing to characterize. f. Character in Action
The last device is about the character’s act. This is to show the reaction that the characters give on a certain situation.
2. Theory of Racial Discrimination
There are many kinds of races in the world. According to McLemore races are subspecies of mankind (1980: 79). It can be said that race is the mankind’s categorization which has certain distinctive physical traits. The difference of race in some place can be a serious problem if a person cannot deal with another who has different race.
“The problem of race and culture contacts in the modern world is essentially a social problem because it involves the relations of peoples, not merely as individuals in their interpersonal relations, but people as members of groups, which are differentiated because of both physical characteristics and cultural differences” (Frazier, 1957:31).
This statement implies that racial problem occurs due to the people’s relation as a member of group, the differences of physical appearance between the individuals and the cultural differences. Hanes in the book Prejudice in the Modern World stated that, discrimination means one group enjoys an undue or undeserved advantage over another group possessing the same qualifications based on arbitrary, or random, standards, or criteria (2007: 26). It means that discrimination is an attitude of one PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 12
group that oppresses another group unreasonably and can cause the disadvantage to another group.
“Discrimination is an unfavorable action toward people because they are members of particular racial or ethnic group. Discrimination, similarly, is used by some to refer only to certain forms of negative actions. For instance, it refers only to negative actions that spring from prejudice” (McLemore, 1980: 108).
From this quotation it can be concluded that discrimination is an unpleasant action toward people because they have different race or ethnic. Prejudice can lead people to discriminate. Prejudice is an unfavorable attitude toward people because they are members of a particular racial or ethnic group (McLemore, 1980: 108).
Hanes also stated that prejudice is far more than simply a negative attitude. It often involves actions such as discrimination (2007: 26). It is understood that discrimination may occur because of the existence of prejudice. Prejudice refers to an attitude, feeling, or opinion. To determine how prejudiced he or she is, can be known by the extent of people accept stereotyping (McLemore, 1980: 111). According to
Hanes, stereotyping is an oversimplified prejudgment of others using physical or behavioral characteristics, usually exaggerated, that supposedly apply to every member of that group (Hanes, 2007: xxxiv). This quotation implies that stereotype is an over prejudgment because of his or her physical or behavioral and apply to every member of the group.
Then it can be understood that discrimination is caused by the existence of prejudice, and to find out the level of prejudice of someone can be seen from how people can accept stereotyping. From this point, it can be seen the relation between PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 13
discrimination, prejudice, and stereotyping are really tight. These are the idea that people can be motivated to act in different ways and their actions are an indication of the way they think or believe something.
McLemore also stated three theories of the type of discrimination (1980: 126-
138), they are:
1. The Situational Pressures
This theory gives very important ideas, whether people discriminate or not may depend more on the characteristics and demands of the social situation (1980:
127). From this quotation it can be said that the discrimination may occur in some social situation or related to the society. “In fact people discriminate under some conditions. The specific social pressures is arising in particular situations and in many instances, this is to outweigh personal prejudice as a cause of discrimination”
(1980:127). This quotation explains clearly that this type of discrimination occurs in certain situation and causes by a pressure from the superior person in the instances. It is not true that a person discriminates the other because he or she wants to, but there are always pressures from somebody that leads a person to discriminate.
2. The Group Gains
The conflict between groups for the control of land and jobs, led to relatively fixed social arrangements in which the members of the more powerful groups enjoyed greater privileges than those in the less powerful groups (1980: 130). To illustrate, if minority- group workers are forced into the hardest, dirtiest, lowest paying jobs, then the majority- group workers may occupy the better jobs. From this PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 14
quotation, the more powerful groups get more advantages from the powerless one. It also can be said the minority get different treatment.
3. Institutional Discrimination
Institutional discrimination in employment arises because the members of a minority lack some ability or qualification intentionally denied them in the past
(McLemore, 1980:137). This statement shows that discrimination occurs when the minority group did not get the fair treatment in their past in some institution that affected in the future, they unqualified to have job and always be discriminated every single time. When an institution has requirements that the employer should have formal education such as high school or diploma, the automatic result is to exclude those who do not have the requirements. If people have been subject to discrimination in the schools, then they are less likely to have graduated and therefore to be less qualified for a job that requires a diploma (McLemore, 1980: 137).
Based on International Encyclopedia of Ethics, institutional discrimination includes segregation between race, redlining by financial institution, and the continuous practice of low paying job experienced by the minority groups (Roth,
1995: 232). According to John K. Roth, discrimination is a differential treatment based on physical and social affiliation. It has negative impact on just and moral behavior (1995:231). In the United States, various groups have experienced various forms of discrimination, including racial discrimination. Discrimination is not limited to individuals.
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C. Review on Discrimination Experienced by Mexican American
The interaction of Mexicans and Americans started when Mexicans had begun to immigrate to the United States in large numbers, approximately leads over 680.000
Mexican citizens, as early 1910. The Mexican Revolution and the unsettled economic condition were some factors that led Mexican came to United States; they came to the
United States looked for the jobs. Based on the World War II and Mexican American
Civil Rights,
Observers have estimated that approximately 3.5 million persons of Mexican descent lived in the US. Like other immigrant groups, most had embarked on the challenging journey to the US for material reasons – to earn enough to return to their native land and start a new life or to make a better life for themselves in the new country (Castillo, 2008: 8).
There was a need for the assistance in United States government and also a need for labor especially in cotton farming and agriculture. The Mexicans were experienced in farming, ranching, and mining. It was going through the next twenty years.
Based on World War II and Mexican American Civil Right, “Color prejudices were common throughout the United States, but Mexicans settled in areas where racial prejudice was deeply rooted and particularly strong” (Castillo, 2008: 11). The
Mexicans were natural targets of the race based discrimination that victimized
American Indians, African Americans, and Asians.
Poverty was generally the lot of unskilled, especially migratory, labor in the US. Economic problems for Mexican- Americans were compounded by the disposition of Anglos to see them as part of a permanent underclass and to discriminate against them accordingly. The fact that they were mostly unskilled, illiterate, and forced into subsistence living reinforced the PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 16
assumptions concerning their supposed innate inferiority. It was easy to stereotype them as unclean, unmotivated, slow, dishonest, able to live on less, and do not fit to associate with whites (2008: 11).
The economic problems faced by Mexican American were because they the most submerged and destitute group in the US. Many of them were employed in the
“lowest paid and least desirable jobs and also plagued by illiteracy, juvenile delinquency, criminality, and disease (Castillo, 2008: 8). Therefore the Americans see them as an underclass citizen and can be discriminated right away.
The Mexican American people not only being discriminated but also they were accused as a criminal.
Their second class status was signed in encounters with police, border officers, and other officials who adopted attitudes that ranged from disrespectful to humiliate. Police brutality was often visited upon Mexican Americans accused of crimes (Castillo, 2008: 14).
From the quotation above, it can be said that the second class status of
Mexican American citizen makes them mostly accused of crimes. The most obvious reminders of the demarcation of social status by race were announcement posted on restaurants and other places generally open to the public indicating that persons of
Mexican descent would not be served (Castillo, 2008: 14). Movie theaters often segregated their Mexican American customers. The use of public toilet was also frequently denied to people identified as “Mexican” and they were banned from or assigned special times for their use of public parks, swimming pools, and other recreational facilities. A sign like “We Serve WHITE’S only NO SPANISH or
MEXICANS” appeared in many public facilities in the Southwest during 1930s- PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 17
1940s (Castillo, 2008: 13). The impact of such conditions was obvious Mexican
Americans could not use those services to which they were entitled and were daily reminded of their inferior status. In 1940, conditions and prospects for Mexican
Americans remained much the same. Mexican Americans remained largely rural, disproportionately illiterate, mostly very poor, physically isolated from their
American neighbors, and deprived of the full potential of life in the US (2008: 14).
From the side of educational, up to now education has not provided Mexican
Americans with ladder to success. Segregation, isolation, inappropriate curricula, and poor teaching are partially the problem they faced (Kitano, 1985: 170). Mexican
American children on average received fewer months of instruction during the school year than the Anglo, and fewer years of schooling overall. Indeed, according to an official survey done during the war, 42 percent of Mexican American children of school age received no education at all (2008: 12).
During the US participation in World War I (1914-1918) in Europe, thousands of Mexican served in the military under the Americans flag. They took advantage during the wartime; they found employment as highly skilled laborers in construction and industry (Hanes, 2007:425). Many immigrants formed organization and labor union to combat prejudice and discrimination.
On the World War II, Mexican American also gave contributions to United
States. Similar to World War I, the manufacturing industry opened new job opportunities for Mexican Americans who were not in military service. Agricultural labor was in great demand, since Mexican Americans were great in agriculture. Then, PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 18
United States and Mexico established a bracero program or labor program. This program allowed braceros or laborers to legally enter the United States for seasonal work on farms. Almost five million workers from Mexico joined this program, even though the working conditions were obviously harsh and low paying job (Hanes,
2007: 428).
Not only working in the industries, probably about 500.000 Mexican
Americans men joined the armed service during the war. They volunteered for many reasons. Some wanted to escape poverty and discrimination; some did because of pride, sense of manhood, family loyalty, duty, and patriotism (Castillo, 2008: 50).
For many others citizen, the war experienced strengthened an identity that had been shaped by family and community one that had struggled against discrimination for generations (Castillo, 2008: 57). The condition of the war was very violent for them and their contributions might lead to have psychological trauma because many people loss their life. Not only had the war given effects on Mexican American’s identity, the suffering, poverty, and discrimination that existed before and after the war. And, those who were able to survive physically and psychology were undoubtedly change by their experienced (Castillo, 2008: 54). The emergence of pachuco that shocked many Mexican American people was one of the examples of how the youth try to find identity. They were considered to represent sexuality and violence by American people (Castillo, 2008: 69).
“During the aftermath of the infamous Zoot- Suit Riots, pachucas became scapegoats in both Mexican and the Anglo press, where they were accused of PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 19
being pot- smoking prostitutes who were cultural traitors (Castillo, 2008: 69).”
Zoot- Suit Riots was the incidents done by some Mexican Americans teenagers. They wore absurdly long coats with padded shoulder, porkpie hats completed by a feather in the back, watch chains so long they almost touched the ground, and peg- top trousers tapering to narrow cuffs (Kitano, 1985: 161).
“The threat of the pachucos was much exaggerated. The pachucos used to stand in front of the Cornet Theater, but they were harmless, they never hurt anybody, they just wanted to be the little tough guy, show off their clothing and the way they did their hairdo, no one was afraid of them, there was no incident of violence or killings (Castillo, 2008: 69).”
Mexican American people later remembered their youthful experiences with racism and discrimination as an integral part of shaping their identity with memories of discrimination and humiliations and with the desire to overcome or reconcile
(Castillo, 2008: 58). Most of them had grown up to expect hard work, poverty, hunger, and rejection, they learned to survive.
D. Theoretical Framework
The first problem in this study understands the characteristics of the six characters, Farmworker, Johnny Pachuco, Revolucionario, Mexican American,
Honest Sancho, and Secretary through their characterization. The theory of characterization by Reaske is used to explain their characteristics. These characteristics lead to answer the first question in problem formulation. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 20
After finding out the characteristics of those six characters, this study applies the theory of discrimination which is divided into three types, the situational pressures, the group gains, and institutional discrimination. Observing the type of discrimination using the theory of discrimination by McLemore will answer the second problem in the problem formulation. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
A. Object of the Study
This paper deals with one of Luiz Valdes’s plays entitled Los Vendidos. This play consists of only one act. This play was taken from The Harcourt Brace
Anthology of Drama the third edition by W.B. Worthen. The play was first performed in 1965. Valdez established El Teatro Campesino (the Farm Workers’ Theater) and it was awarded an Emmy in 1972. This theater specialized in doing short, improvised, satirical skits called actos. The idea of making the theater is because he had seen a strikes of farm workers and a boycott against grape owner which organized by Cesar
Chavez in Delano, California.
When the secretary first gets to the lot, Sancho, the model dealer, introduces her to each model. First is the Farm Worker Model, as a hard worker and an economical machine. The secretary does not want him because he doesn't speak
English and has tendencies to strike. Sancho then introduces her to Johnny, which immediately pulls out a switchblade and swings at the secretary. Sancho shows her that this model knows how to be arrested while slightly resisting. This model isn't as economical as the first, but he is still fairly cheap to operate. The problem comes when the secretary finds out that this model does drugs and steals the secretary's purse. It is because of these things that the secretary decides that this is not an appropriate model for her needs.
21
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 22
Sancho moves on to the Revolucionario, which used to act in movies and do commercials for TV. This model is more economical than the second but it is rather because he eats raw horsemeat and drinks tequila; however this makes it a better lover. The problem with this model is that he was come from Mexico and the secretary wants a model from America. Finally, Sancho introduces the Mexican-
American model. This model is charming, intelligent, patriotic, but very expensive to purchase and to maintain. It is expensive to purchase because it takes two Pachuchos, a Farm Worker, and three white-raced models, to make it. It is expensive to maintain, because it runs on dry martinis, bread, and mom's apple pie. This model delivers political speeches and is very refined.
The secretary decides that the Mexican-American model is what she needed so she pays $15,000 for it. As she is getting ready to load the model into her vehicle, the Mexican-American, starts shouting about human rights, striking for equality of the Mexican race and killing white people. The secretary is troubled about this new discovery, and wants to return the model and get her money back, but before she can get a response from Sancho, all four models turn on and shout at her as they move in on her. The secretary, runs for her life and leaves.
After the secretary is gone, Johnny walks over to Sancho and takes the money from his hands and turns him off. Then the four "models" proceed to divide the money up amongst themselves and talks about how much money they are making off this con. Los Vendidos is a play that satires the condition of Mexican-American from at first the Mexican came. This satire shows in the six main characters in the play. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 23
There are Honest Sancho, Secretary, Farm Worker, Johnny, Revolucionario,
Mexican-American. The last four characters become the ‘models’. Each individual give different identity within the Mexican race. Every single identity stands for a stereotype given by Mexicans in America.
B. Approach of the Study
In this paper, the researcher will use the socio cultural-historical approach to reveal the racial discrimination in Los Vendidos. The socio cultural-historical approach describes and evaluates a work in terms of social, cultural, and historical context in which it was produced and published and the facts of its author’s life
(Holman, 1986:238). The historical critic attempts to recreate through some historical process the meaning and the values of the work for its own time.
According to Reading and Writing about Literature, “Critics whose major interest is the socio cultural- historical approach insist than the only way to locate the real work is in reference to the civilization that produce it.” (Rohrberger, 1971:9)
From the quotation, it is understood that cultural historical approach was produced because of the reference to the civilization.
This approach is needed to analyze the social problem appeared in the play.
Then the writer should understand about the historical background of the story to answer the problem formulation. This approach may help to give a deep understanding in analyzing the story.
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 24
C. Method of the Study
This study is used a library research method in analyzing this play. As other thesis, this thesis uses a primary source and secondary sources. The primary source is the screenplay itself, Los Vendidos. The secondary sources are taken from some references books of theory, such as, Literary Criticism: An Introduction to Theory and Practices by Charles E. Bressler, How To Analyze Drama by Christopher Russel
Reaske, A Glossary of Literary Terms by M. H. Abrams, Race Relations third Edition by Harry H.L Kitano, Racial and Ethnic Relations in America second Edition by S.
Dale McLemore, Theories of Race and Racism A Reader edited by Les Back and
John Solomos, Prejudice in the Modern World by Richard C. Hanes, Sharon M.
Hanes, and Kelly Rudd, World War II and Mexican American Civil Rights edited by
Richard Griswold del Castillo, A History of Mexican American People, and Culture
Contacts in the Modern World by E. Franklin Frazier. The information from the internet also will be used as a second source.
There are some steps in analyzing this play. The first step was reading the whole play several times in order to get the deeper and better understanding about the idea of the story and then formulated the problems. The second step was finding references related to the play, Los Vendidos so that we could enrich our understanding about it. The third step was finding the literary theory of character and characterization, and the history of Mexican American, especially how the Mexican experienced the discrimination by the American. The fourth step was applying the theory about character and characterization on the characters of the play in order to PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 25
see their characteristics. Followed by the fifth step was revealing the form of racial discrimination reflected through the characters. The last step was making a conclusion based on the analysis. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
CHAPTER IV
ANALYSIS
In Los Vendidos, there are six characters. They are Honest Sancho, Secretary,
Farm Worker, Johnny Pachucho, Revolucionario, and Mexican- American. The play dramatizes a range of stereotypes applied by Anglo culture which is represented by
Miss Jimenez (Worthen, 2000:1008). According to Reaske (1966: 46-48), a characteristic can be seen from the appearance of the character, the dialogue between characters, the language, and also the action of the character.
A. Description of the Characters
1. Farmworker
He is a typical Mexican people. According to Reaske, the characterization can be seen from the character’s appearance. Mexican people usually have dark skin. The stereotype of the Mexican people is mostly dark or dark brown complexion and black hair (Samora, 2008:8). The Farmworker, from Sancho’s description, has dark or beige skin.
SECRETARY: Dark SANCHO: Prieto. SECRETARY: But of course not too dark. Perhaps beige. SANCHO: Beige, just the tone (Valdez, 2000: 1009)
26
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 27
After the Secretary asks Sancho to give her somebody that has beige or tan skin, Sancho immediately introduces Farmworker to her. It means that Farmworker has darker skin than the other.
Sancho also describes the Farmworker as a hard worker and durable. In 1960s the condition in the United States was very harsh. Many workers from Mexico worked in the field as a farmer for long hours (Hanes, 2007: 428). This quotation implies that many Mexican people work very hard for United States in the unkind condition. The characterization of Farmworker as a hard worker and durable person is formed from the actual condition that happened in 1960. It can be seen through
Sancho’s description and the Farmworker’s action.
SANCHO: That could be one model. Step right over here to the center of the shop, lady. (they cross the Farm worker.) This is our standard farm worker model. As you can see, in the words of our beloved Senator George Murphy, he is “built close to the ground.” Also take special notice of his four-ply Goodyear huaraches, made from the rain tire. This wide- brimmed sombrero is an extra added feature--- keeps off the sun, rain and dust. SECRETARY: Yes, it does look durable. SANCHO: Didn’t I tell you? Loves his patrones! But his most attractive feature is that he’s hardworking. Let me show you. FARMWORKER: (He begins to work.) SANCHO: He is cutting grapes, picks cotton, and also picks melon (Valdez, 2000: ….)
Workers in the United States were mostly immigrants from Mexico. They worked on the farm, because United States needed many workers who can work in the agricultural area (Hanes, 2007: 428). However, they did not work all the seasons.
There was a moment when they had to come back to their country. This is also what PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 28
happens to Farmworker. In the end of the season the Farmworker will come back to
Mexico. This condition indicates that Farmworker works seasonally.
SANCHO: And here’s an added feature: Every year at the end of the season, this model goes back to Mexico and doesn’t return, automatically, until next spring. (Valdez, 2000: 1010)
In the era of 1942, Mexico and United States established a program named bracero program. Bracero is a Spanish word which means worker (Hanes, 2007:
422). This program was particularly for the farm workers who worked in the United
States. They could legally enter the United States for seasonal work on farms (Hanes,
2007:428). Farmworker also talks about going back to Mexico, typical farm workers are known as the migrant because they come to the US once a year during the planting season.
Another characteristic of Farmworker can be seen from the dialogue between
Sancho and Secretary.
SECRETARY: Wonderful. But is he economical? SANCHO: Economical? Senorita, you are looking at the Volkswagen of Mexicans. Pennies a day is all it takes. One plate of beans and tortillas will keep him going all day. That, and chile. Plenty of chile jalapenos, chile verde, chile Colorado. But, of course if you do give him chile (Snap. Farmworker turns left face. Snap. Farm worker bends over.) Then you have to change his oil filter once a week. (Valdez, 2000: 1009)
Sancho says that the Farmworker is economical. It means that Secretary does not have to pay much money to get him. Sancho says that she only has to pay him some pennies and gives him chile, tortilla, jalapenos chili, which are typically
Mexican people’s food. The working conditions in United States at that time were PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 29
often harsh and mostly they were working in the fields for long hours but low paying
(Hanes, 2007: 428). The working condition that is very rude and the worker are forced to work in a long hours but they only get a little money.
Farmworker is supposed to be an ideal type for the Secretary. He has dark skin, and also hard working, and he is low paid worker so Secretary does not pay much for him. On the other hand, there is one more criteria from Secretary, she wants someone who can speak English to work in the office.
SECRETARY: How about that. But tell me: does he speak English? SANCHO: Another outstanding feature ------to go out on STRIKE! SECRETARY: No! Oh no, we can’t strike in the State Capitol. SANCHO: Well, he also scabs. (Snap.) FARMWORKER: Me vando barato, y que? (Snap) SECRETARY: That’s much better, but you didn’t answer my question. Does he speak English? SANCHO: Bueno….. no pero he has other ------SECRETARY: No! (Valdez, 2000: 1010)
From the quotation above, the farm worker uses Spanish language. When
Secretary asks Sancho about Farmworker’s ability to speak English, Sancho answers with Spanish language which means, Farmworker cannot speak English. Therefore, the Secretary directly rejects the Farmworker. In World War II and Mexican
American Civil Rights, it is provided the fact about Mexican people who were mostly unskilled and illiterate. Poverty and lack of education also played role to their lives
(Castillo, 2008: 11). According to Hanes, at that time the slaves like them had no right to learn or write, even posses books (Hanes, 2007: 337). Poverty and discrimination that they faced leads them to their disability to have proper education. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 30
Thus, it is obvious that many Mexican people were lack education so they cannot speak English, because they never received proper education.
Sancho also says that Farmworker was programmed to go out on strike. At that time many farm workers do strike because of the unfair treatment from the US government to the farm worker.
SANCHO: Another outstanding feature is that last year this model was programmed to go out on STRIKE! (Snap.) FARM WORKER: HUELGA! HUELGA! Hermanos, salganse de esos files. (Snap. He stops) SECRETARY: No! Oh no, we can’t strike in the State Capitol.
The unfair treatment they got was about the low wages they earned and also the working conditions. They want higher wages and better working conditions (Hanes,
2007: 429). They refused to work in farm and led a group of people to march in the road (Hanes, 2007: 24). Because of the characteristic of Farmworker that is lack education and cannot speak English fluently, the only way to protest of the unfair condition is by going out on strike.
2. Johnny Pachuco
During the World War II, many of young Mexican American formed a gang and named it pachuco (McLemore, 1980: 232). Pachuco is a slang word of Spanish which means tough guy (Hanes, 2007: 22). Pachucos owned unique style in wearing clothes. They wore jacket, it was long and very broad in the shoulder. They also wore trousers which were very tight at the ankle (McLemore, 1980: 232). This kind of PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 31
outfit made pachuco very unique and easy to know and became very popular at that time for Mexican youngsters. In 1942, pachuchos accused of murder. They found guilty and were arrested (McLemore, 1980: 233). Because of this incident, the stereotype of violent pachuco was widely believed.
The explanation from Sancho about this model is, he says that Johnny is bilingual. Bilingual here means Johnny can use both language Spanish and English.
However, when Sancho asks Johnny to show that he can use English as well, Johnny says the taboo word which makes Secretary rejects him.
SANCHO: But, he is bilingual. Johnny, give us some English.(Snap.) JOHNNY: (Come downstage) fuck you! SECRETARY: (Gasps) Oh! I’ve never been so insulted in my whole life. (Valdez, 2000: 1010)
Based on An Encyclopedia of Swearing, “fuck” is the most powerful taboo term. “Fuck” is still regarded as an unmentionable word (Hughes, 2006:188). This quotation shows that, the word fuck is a rude word to say. It is clear that it insults the
Secretary. Secretary may think that Johnny is an impolite person.
Johnny is also described as a person who consumes some drugs. This is the reason that Secretary rejects him again because of his bad habit.
SANCHO: Lenos…….. marijuana. (snap. Johnny inhales on an imaginary joint) SECRETARY: That’s against the law! SANCHO: He also sniffs glue (Snap. Johnny inhales glue, big smile.) (Valdez, 2000: 1010)
Pachuco was described by the people as an affront and a monstrosity, organized gangster, and high in marijuana (Castillo, 2008: 45). This quotation means that PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 32
pachuco is considered as criminals and they also use marijuana a lot. In this story,
Johnny is described that he has negative behavior. In addition he consumes marijuana and sniffs glue. Because of that, Johnny is illustrated as a typical Mexican gangster or criminal.
According to Reaske, the characteristics of a character can be seen from his or her action (Reaske, 1966: 48). By seeing through Johnny’s action, it can be concluded that Johnny is a criminal. At the end, Johnny tries to steal Secretary’s purse.
SANCHO: He steals. (Snap. Johnny rushes the Secretary and steals her purse.) JOHNNY: Dame esa bolsa, vieja! (He grabs the purse and runs. Snap by Sancho. He stops.) (Secretary runs after Johnny and grabs purse away from him, kicking him as she goes.) SECRETARY: No, no, no! We can’t have any more thieves in the State Administration. Put him back. (Valdez, 2000: 1010)
From the very beginning, Johnny gives a bad impression through his words to the Secretary. He also consumes drugs, marijuana, and also sniffs glue. By the end, he tries to steal the secretary’s purse. Because of his negative behavior, the judgment from the society also negative. However, pachuco still has the other good side.
SANCHO: Anything and everything necessary for city life. For instance, survival. SANCHO: He can also be beaten and he bruises, cut him, and he bleeds, kick him and he --- (He beats, bruises, and kicks PACHUCO.) would you like to try it? (Valdez, 2000: 1010)
From the conversation above, it can be seen that Johnny is characterized as strong and tough guy. He bruises, bleeds, but he survives. In the early 1940s, there were many teenagers protested to United States because of the discrimination they PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 33
were experienced. One of the incidents was Zoot- Suit Riots. They were wearing unique clothes and hairdo. They were called as pachuco. They just wanted to be the little tough guy, show off their clothing and the way they did their hairdo (Castillo,
2008: 69). From this quotation it can be seen that these young Mexican Americans tried to show that they are strong and tough, even though they experienced discrimination a lot.
3. Revolucionario
He is a revolutionary man. It can be seen from his name Revolucionario. As
Sancho described, he is well- built, sturdy, and durable.
SANCHO: Ah, a lover. (He smiles meaningfully.) Step right over here senorita. Introducing our standard Revolucionario. As you can see, he is well built, sturdy, and durable (Valdez, 2000: 1011).
The quotation above shows that Revolucionario is described as a well built and strong man. His characteristic is expected to illustrate how he can survive and struggle the unkind condition. At the war time many Mexican American people struggle to fight discrimination they experienced (Castillo, 2008: 29). It can be said that during the war, Mexican people confronted the hard time. They should face the harsh condition of the war yet they also experienced the discrimination, because they were minority group. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 34
Sancho also says about a lover in the conversation with the Secretary, and then he introduces Revolucionario to her. It indirectly says that Revolucionario is a typical lover guy or romantic.
“All Mexican people, whether rural or urban, began to understand the full impact of an increasingly Americanized society. They had become a marginalized group, separated from the Anglo society by language, culture, and economic power. In seeking ways of reducing the damaging effect of marginalization, many Mexican resorted to a unique strategy of romanticizing Mexican identity, both to reinforce a positive self image and to make their presence in American life seem less threatening to Anglos” (Tamura, 2008: 118).
The above quotation is taken from The History of Discrimination in U.S.
Education shows that the influence of United States society makes them become inferior and separate in the neighborhood. The inferior status gives bad impact to
Mexican people, to decrease the bad effect of the marginalization. They try to reveal the romantic identity in order to strengthen the positive self image and to make sure that their presence is not endangering the American citizen. However, at the end this effort did not succeed eliminating the discrimination, racism, or even segregation
(Tamura, 2008: 118).
Revolucionario was made in Mexico. This is the reason what makes him rejected by the Secretary. Secretary cannot hire a Mexican product.
SANCHO: And finally, there is one outstanding feature about this model I KNOW the ladies are going to love. He’s a genuine antique! He was made in Mexico in 1910. SECRETARY: Made in Mexico? SECRETARY: Mr. Sancho, I thought he was an American product. SECRETARY: No, I’m sorry. We can’t buy anything but American- made products. He just won’t do. (Valdez, 2000: 1011) PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 35
From the conversation above, it can be understood that Revolucionario is obviously Mexican product which is made in the 1910. It can be concluded that he is truly Mexican guy.
The following is the description from Honest Sancho about this model:
SECRETARY: What does he do? SANCHO: You name it, he does it. He rides horses, stays in the mountains, crosses deserts, plains, rivers, lead revolutions, follows revolutions, kills, can be killed, serves as a martyr, hero (Valdez, 2000: 1011)
The conversation above shows the image of Revolucionario that is very strong, courageous and tough. He even can stay in the mountains, lead revolutions, kills, and can be killed. Those characteristics portray the real Mexican guy. The characteristics of Revolucionario are related to the condition of Mexican people in the war time.
Many Mexican people especially Mexican men joined the World War II. They have variety of reasons why they wanted to volunteer themselves during the war.
Some sought to escape poverty and discrimination at home, some said because of sense of manhood, loyalty, and patriotism (Castillo, 2008: 50). This quotation implies that many Mexican men joined the war because they have senses of patriotism. It is signified as a brave action to take care of their country. It also reveals their loyalty.
They tried to take care about their country to defend what they have. It is also one way to escape from discrimination they had. They tried to help American people in order to get an equal treatment, so they will not experience discrimination anymore.
From the previous explanation, it is also said that Mexican people made an effort to PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 36
build a good image in order they can be admitted by American neighborhood and also to prove that they are not endangering them.
War makes them strong and tough. They also had grown to work harder than the other. Besides the war, the discrimination they faced makes them can endure the pain of being the second class neighborhood. In this story Revolucionario tries to reveal this value. The value about being a patriotic, loyal, and masculine or being true man, it is to survive and take care his country. As a man he also has to be strong in every condition.
4. Mexican- American
From Sancho’s explanation, he is educated person, intelligent, well- mannered, polite, and clean.
SANCHO: Well, we’ll just write that down. Yes, senorita, this model represents the apex of American engineering! He is bilingual, college educated, ambitious! Say the word “acculturate” and he accelerates. He is intelligent, well mannered, clean---- did I say clean? (snap. Mexican- American raises his arm) Smell. SECRETARY: (Smells.) Old Sobacco, my favorite. SANCHO: (Snap. Mexican- American turns toward Sancho.) Eric! (to Secretary) We call him Eric Garcia. (to Eric.) I want you to meet Miss JIM- enez, Eric. MEXICAN- AMERICAN: Miss JIM-enez, I am delighted to make your acquaintance. (He kisses her hand.) SECRETARY: Oh my! How charming! (Valdez, 2000: 1011)
His attitude toward Secretary makes her happy. He is the ideal model that the secretary looks for. He is Mexican but he can be like an American. Secretary was very impressed when Mexican- American gave speech about Mexican people. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 37
MEXICAN- AMERICAN: Mr. Congressman, Mr. Chairman, members of the board, honored guests, ladies and gentlemen. (Sancho and Secretary applaud.) Please, please. I come before you as a Mexican- American to tell you about the problems of the Mexican. The problems of the Mexican stem from one thing and one thing alone. He’s stupid. He’s uneducated. He needs to stay in school. He needs to be ambitious, forward looking, harder working. He needs to think American, American, AMERICAN, AMERICAN, AMERICAN. GOD BLESS AMERICA! GOD BLESS AMERICA!! (He goes out of control.) SECRETARY: Oh my! He’s patriotic too! (Valdez, 2000: 1011)
From the quotation above, Eric Garcia mentions about the problem of Mexican people who are stupid and lack of education. The Mexican people should go to school and work harder to change their destiny, and think to be more American. This speech is done to impress Secretary and makes her choose him to work in the office. His strategy to talk about the negative things of Mexican people makes the secretary feels amaze and decides to buy him. The long speech in English language also proves that he can use English in his conversation as well.
However, after Secretary bought him, Mexican American says something about protesting to white people using Spanish language.
MEXICAN- AMERICAN: RAZA QUERIDA, VAMOS LEVANTANDO ARMAS PARA LIBERARNOS DE ESTOS DESGRACIADOS GABACHOS QUE NOS EXPLOTAN! VAMOS (Valdez, 2000: 1012)
The above utterance means “Beloved Raza, let’s pick up arms to liberate ourselves from those damned whites that exploit us! Let’s go!” (Valdez, 2000: 1012).
Eric Garcia tries to struggle from the discrimination that he and his friends experienced. He wants to be free from the pressure from white people who exploit him. When Secretary snaps another finger to stop Eric, but apparently it makes Eric PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 38
turns toward Secretary and makes another opposition speech. The experience of being discriminated makes him want to fight back, in this text it is illustrated by giving the this speech, it indicates that he does not want to be controlled anymore. He does not follow what Secretary ask, so he does the opposite.
MEXICAN- AMERICAN: ESTA GRAN HUMANIDAD HA DICHO BASTA! Y SE PUESTO EN MARCHA! BASTA! BASTA! VIVA LA RAZA! VIVA LA CAUSA! VIVA LA HUELGA! VIVAN LOS BROWN BERETS! VIVAN LOS ESTUDIANTES! CHICANO POWER!! (Valdez, 2000: 1012)
This utterance means, “This great mass of humanity has said enough! And it begins to march! Enough! Enough! Long live La Raza! Long live the Cause! Long live the strike! Long live the Brown Berets! Long live the students! Chicano power!”
(Valdez, 2000: 1012). When the wartime, many chicanos joined the war. They fought to avoid discrimination and humiliation they felt. The segregation in school and public place also deeply felt by them. As a result for their participation and contribution to the war effort, they wanted an equal treatment. Mexican people formed organizations such as League of United Latin- American Citizen (LULAC),
Community Service Organization (CSO), Mexican American Youth Organization
(MAYO). This is formed as a movement to fight the discrimination (McLemore,
1980: 236).
In the text, their movement is illustrated by Mexican American’s speech. This opposition is about to reject the bad treatments from America. He wants no more discrimination from America and expects for fair treatment and justice for him and his friends, Farmworker, Johnny, and Revolucionario. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 39
5. Secretary
She is a Mexican woman. It is obvious by seeing her name, hers has Spanish surname, Jimenez. Her job is a secretary in Governor Reagan’s office. She is a
Mexican descent, but she speaks Spanish language a bit. She prefers to use English to communicate with people rather than with her native language. It reflects in her conversation with Sancho. She even does not want to pronounce her name with
Spanish accent. She prefers to pronounce her name with Anglo pronunciation. Anglo is a term means American people.
SANCHO: Ah, una chicana! Welcome, welcome Senorita Jimenez. SECRETARY: (Anglo pronunciation) JIM- enez. SANCHO: Que? SECRETARY: My name is Miss JIM- enez. Don’t you speak English? (Valdez, 2000: 1009)
From the quotation above it can be seen that Miss Jimenez slowly tries to reveal her identity as an American. She only wants to have a conversation in English. She does not admit her nationality as one of Mexican descent.
She looks for a Mexican type to work in the administration office, such as dark, economical, durable, and hard working. However, she wants a model that has characteristic of American, which is can speak English. When Secretary gets
Farmworker who has the characteristics she wants but unfortunately he cannot speak
English, she directly rejects him. This is the indication that Secretary discriminates people. Another treatment toward Farmworker is about differentiating his skin color. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 40
SECRETARY: Dark SECRETARY: But of course not too dark. SECRETARY: Perhaps, beige (Valdez, 2000: 1009)
From the quotation above, it can be said that Secretary also distinguishes the skin color of a person. She wants somebody with dark skin. However she immediately revised her words become she wants someone who has beige skin.
Mexican people typically have dark complexion skin (Samora, 2008: 8). Long time ago, if a person has dark skin color, he or she is considered to have bad behavior
(Hanes, 2007: 333). The idea that Mexican people mostly have a dark skin color and the stereotype about bad behavior of dark skin people makes Secretary rejects
Farmworker.
She gives the same attitude to Johnny Pachuco. When she knows that, Johnny is a criminal. She directly rejects him.
SECRETARY: No, no, no! We can’t have any more thieves in the State Administration. Put him back. (Valdez, 2000: 1010)
She does the same action to the next model, Revolucionario. Secretary almost chooses him before she knows that Revolucionario is the Mexican product.
SECRETARY: Mr. Sancho, I thought he was an American product. SECRETARY: No, I’m sorry. We can’t buy anything but American- made products. He just won’t do. SECRETARY: I don’t care. You still don’t understand what we need. It’s true we need Mexican models such as these, but it’s more important that he be American. (Valdez, 2000: 1011)
She gives many reasons to reject the models, even though some models are appropriate with her criteria. From this point it can be concluded that Secretary is a PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 41
selective woman. She is really concern about the criteria of the models. Those three models, Farmworker, Johnny Pachuco, and Revolucionario have characteristics that are appropriate with Secretary’s criteria, such as being hard worker, romantic, strong, and economical. However, they also have inadequacies, so that Secretary rejects them.
6. Honest Sancho
Honest Sancho is the owner of the shop. He sells four models, Farmworker,
Johnny Pachuco, Revolucionario, and Eric Garcia the Mexican American guy.
According to Reaske, to characterize a person can be from his or her character in action. By looking at the character’s action, reader can immediately understand the character much better (Reaske, 1966: 48). From Sancho’s action, it can be said that
Sancho is a good seller. He sells his models by promoting them to the Secretary.
However, he promotes them by saying the good side and bad side. He tries to be honest to Secretary.
When Sancho offers Farmworker to Secretary, he directly says the good characteristics of Farmworker that he is a hardworking person, economical, and durable. However, Sancho has no doubt to explain the shortcoming of Farmworker who is uneducated and always strikes.
The same action when Sancho introduces Johnny, at first Sancho says the good things of this model then he mentions the weaknesses about Johnny. He tells the truth PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 42
about his models, although they have weaknesses. As the seller he tries his best to promote his models to the only one buyer, Secretary. He does his best to convince
Secretary. He compares the requirements that she gave in order to get the suitable ones.
To identify a character is by seeing the dialogue of the characters (Reaske,
1966: 47). From the dialogue below, it shows that Sancho uses Spanish language a lot.
SANCHO: Bueno, bueno, mis monos, vamos a ver a quien vendermos ahora, no? (to audience) Quihubo! I’m Honest Sancho and this is my shop. Antes fui contratista pero ahora logre tener mi negocito. All I need now is a customer. (A bell rings offstage) Ay, a customer. SECRETARY: (Entering) Good morning. I’m Miss Jimenez from ---- SANCHO: Ah, una chicana! Welcome, welcome Senorita Jimenez. SECRETARY: (Anglo pronunciation) JIM- enez. SANCHO: Que? SECRETARY: My name is Miss JIM- enez. Don’t you speak English? (Valdez, 2000: 1009)
From the very beginning Sancho introduces himself with Spanish language. He also greets Secretary by calling her “Senorita”, senorita is Spanish language which means “Miss”. Even he pronounces Miss Jimenez’s name with Spanish or Mexican accent. Sancho wants to reveal his identity as a Mexican people, although he also can speak English fluently.
Sancho is also characterized as a persistent man. It can be seen from his action toward the Secretary. Secretary has many criteria to get what she wants, she refuses
Farmworker, but Sancho quickly introduces Johnny Pachuco to her. After knowing about the fact that Johnny is typical Mexican gangster and she rejects this model. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 43
However, Sancho brings another models to her, it is Revolucionario. Secretary rejects
Revolucionario because he is Mexican product. Then Sancho introduces Eric Garcia, the Mexican American guy to the Secretary. As a seller, he has an ability to persuade people. Another good characteristic of Sancho is that he is an honest person. He says all about the characteristics of the four models.
By the end of the story, Sancho is revealed that he is the real model in that store. Farmworker, Johnny, and Revolucionario are the opposite, they are human.
REVOLUCIONARIO: (To audience.) He’s the best model we got! Ajua! (Exit.) (Valdez, 2000: 2012)
Sancho is the real model in this store. He is used by Farmworker, Johnny
Pachuco, Revoulucionario, and Mexican American to pretend as a seller. Sancho is a tool that is used by Mexican people to tease American people.
B. The Type of Racial Discrimination
In the previous explanation, the six characters have been analyzed. By knowing them one by one, it is easier to see the discrimination that was undergone by the characters. According to McLemore, discrimination is a negative action toward people because they come from different race.
The discrimination occurs because of prejudice and stereotyping. It has been explained before about prejudice. Prejudice is an unfavorable attitude, feeling, or opinion toward people because they are member of a particular racial or ethnic group. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 44
Meanwhile, stereotyping means an over prejudgment because of his or her physical or behavioral and apply to every member of the group.
The story by Luis Valdez, Los Vendidos, contains of discrimination that are experienced by some characters. In the previous explanation about Farmworker, there is a quotation from the text about Farmworker’s ability of speaking English. When
Secretary knows the fact that he cannot speak English, she directly refuses him.
Because he only speaks Spanish and it represents the Mexican characteristics. This is one example of discrimination that is experienced by Mexican.
From the example, it can be known that there is a prejudice and stereotyping.
The over prejudgment from American society toward Mexican, that if someone cannot speak English they do not qualify to get a job as an administration staffs. This is showing that there is an unfavorable attitude of American society toward Mexican.
The judgment and stereotype from society that Mexican people are mostly illiterate and stupid gives negative image to them. It is understood that there is discrimination.
To identify the racial discrimination in Los Vendidos, the theory of discrimination by McLemore will be used. This theory is appropriate because it can show the discrimination between race clearly. The following explanation will analyze about the three types of discrimination.
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 45
1. Situational Pressures
The first type of discrimination is situational pressure. The previous explanation says that whether or not discrimination occurs depends on the social situation. This type of discrimination occurs because there is a pressure from a powerful person or a group of people toward people with less power, so that the people with less power will do exactly like what the powerful person wants.
This type of discrimination can be clearly seen in Los Vendidos. It can be seen from the Secretary’s characteristic. It has been explained before in the previous part,
Secretary asks Sancho to give her a model which is hard working, has tanned skin, and economical. These characteristics can be found in Farmworker, so Sancho introduces him to Secretary. It is supposed to be an ideal model for her, but when
Secretary knows the truth that Farmworker cannot speak English, she easily decides not to hire him for the administration office. From this point, it can be seen that
Secretary is under command of the powerful one, in this story it is the institution where Secretary works. She has to obey the command by finding a person who can speak English. Even though Farmworker is an ideal model for Secretary, but she cannot choose him because of his disability in speaking English. The one who can work in the administration should have the ability of speaking English. On the contrary, Farmworker can only speak Spanish. It shows that Farmworker does not get proper education so he cannot speak English, it also represents that he has Mexican characteristics, it means that most of Mexican people speak Spanish instead of PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 46
English. Because of that, Secretary cannot choose Farmworker. She has to choose the one that appropriate with the administration office needs, who can speak English.
The same treatment is given to Johnny Pachuco. After rejecting Farmworker because he cannot speak English, she finds a sophisticated model.
SECRETARY: I hope so. What we need is something a little more sophisticated. SECRETARY: An urban model. SANCHO: Ah, from the city! Step right back. Over here in this corner of the shop is exactly what you’re looking for. Introducing our new 1969 JOHNNY PACHUCO model! (Valdez, 2000: 1010)
Secretary clearly stated that, “We need something a little more sophisticated.”
Then Sancho introduces her to Johnny. At first, she does not know about Johnny’s background. However, Johnny slowly reveals himself as a criminal. He is a former prisoner, he is impolite by saying the unmentionable word to Secretary, he consumes drugs, and the last is he steals the Secretary’s purse.
Johnny Pachuco is the only one who is stereotyped as a criminal. The first reason is because of his appearance and the second is because of his behavior. The appearance which is very rare is considered as an uncommon style that is worn by
Mexican people. From the previous explanation, it can be known about the characteristics and the history of Pachuco itself. They got stereotyped as a criminal because of the murder they did and many of them got arrested. This incident happened long time ago but the image of Pachucos is still negative. In the text, it is told that Johnny always brings a knife because he knife fights (Valdez, 2000: 1010). PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 47
This habit is misunderstood by the Secretary, she is afraid that Johnny will do a crime. However, it is for instance survival.
The image of Mexican people as a second class citizen makes them easily accused as criminals by the society (Castillo, 2008: 14). They are directly stereotyped as gangster or criminals by the society. It makes Secretary rejects him, even though
Johnny is a sophisticated model that Secretary wants. The situational pressure discrimination also occurs here, Secretary cannot choose what she wants for herself, and she has to consider what the office needs.
Another unfair treatment from Secretary is given to Revolucionario. After she rejects Johnny Pachuco because he is not suitable with the criteria, she asks Sancho to give her the one who is more traditional and more romantic.
SECRETARY: Mr. Sancho, I don’t think you quite understand what we need. What we need is something that will attract the women voters. Something more traditional, more romantic. (Valdez, 2000: 1011)
Afterward, Sancho introduces Revolucionario to the Secretary. Revolucionario can impress the Secretary with his abilities. From the previous part, it has been discussed about the characteristics of Revolucionario that is well- built, strong, and courageous. He is the ideal model for Secretary, because he is also described as a romantic person. However, after Secretary knows about the fact that Revolucionario is made in Mexico, Secretary refuses to hire him in administration.
The war experience created changes in women participation in the job place, after 1945 the rate of Mexican American women who entered white collar jobs was PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 48
increasing (Castillo, 2008: 63). This quotation shows that Mexican American women tries to get white collar job, it is a kind of their movement from the war experience they had. The economic problem and discrimination are the reasons why women were forced to work in some institution.
The situation of the war makes the role of women in the workplace very important.
There is a factual experience that describes Secretary, this girl named Maria.
Maria decided to get a job as secretary. At that time Mexican girls are expected to be maids not white collar workers. When she applied for the job, they questioned her citizenship, and she defined herself as an American of Mexican descent. She was hired, but she felt like the contradiction of the double identity, the Mexican
Americans were being called upon to be loyal to Americans and sacrifice for their country (Castillo, 2008: 58).
At that time, there were not too many opportunities of having a job as a secretary offered to Mexican women. Because of that, when a woman have a job as a secretary, she tries to define herself as an American to have security and social acceptance. In this case, Secretary defines herself as an American by using English a lot in her conversation and also by pronouncing her name with American style.
The experience of being discriminated forces Secretary to survive in order she is not discriminated by other people. By discriminating Farmworker, Johnny
Pachuco, and Revolucionario and has a job a secretary, she would not be PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 49
discriminated. She sacrifices her own identity as a Mexican descent to be an
American. She also refuses to hire the models with Mexican characteristics, because she has to obey the command of the powerful one, in this text it is the institution where Secretary works.
The term “we” that Secretary usually use in every conversation is representing that it is not only her but also the whole company or someone who gave command to her to find a model that is suitable for the administration.
From the three models offered to her, there are similarities between them.
Farmworker is stereotyped as an uneducated person. The second is Johnny Pachuco, he is stereotyped as a criminal by the society. They represent the Mexican characteristics. The three models are suitable with Secretary’s criteria, such as hardworking, durable, romantic, sophisticated, and well built. However, each of them has inadequacies and has Mexican characteristics, so Secretary cannot choose them.
She does not choose the model through the ability, but decides through the race.
This condition is called a situational pressure. The pressure is felt by Secretary when she has to buy someone who is appropriate with the office needs, someone who does not have the Mexican characteristics. The criteria are given by the institution to find someone who comes from a high class, such as well educated and able to speak
English. At that time there are only a little Mexican citizen who have those criteria, so someone whose race is Mexican cannot work in the office, because people PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 50
considered them as under- developed race. This situation describes that discrimination toward Mexican citizen is exist.
2. Group Gains
The group gains theory of discrimination in the chapter two says that the more powerful group takes the benefit toward the minority group (McLemore, 1980: 130).
It also can be said that the dominant group get the advantages from the minority. The minority groups are forced to do the hardest and lowest paying job. They did not have a chance to get better condition because of the inferior status.
In this story, it is obvious that Farmworker is one of the members of the minority group. Because of his characteristic which is durable and hardworking, the
American took the advantages from him. He is forced to work all day long in the field picking grapes, cotton, and melon, but he can be paid with minimum wages. The stereotype from society that Mexican people are mostly uneducated, illiterate, and lazy gives bad effect to them in finding job. The skill they have also affects the job they got. This situation makes many Mexican people experiences small job opportunity. Most of them work in agriculture area, because Mexican people were experienced in farming (Kitano, 1985: 158).
Farmworker is one example of Mexican people who get low paying job. He is described as stereotyped of Mexican farm worker. First, he is illustrated as an economical model. According to Castillo, Mexican immigrant probably was the most PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 51
submerged and destitute group in the United States. They were employed in the lowest paid and least desirable jobs (Castillo, 2008: 8). This quotation implies the fact about Mexican people mostly get the low wages because they do not get the high profile job. The discrimination from the white people also plays role in this situation.
“Mexican citizens are ill-dressed, ill- fed, ill-cared for medically and ill- educated, all because of the low economic standard to which they have been relegated as the result of the general policy of restricting their employment and utilization to the lowest paid, and least desirable. Not only have they been restricted to the lowest bracket jobs, but even in these jobs they have been paid wages below the minimum” (Castillo, 2008: 137).
From the quotation above, it can be concluded that Mexican people were directly stereotyped that they will always be the second class citizen that can only have low paying jobs with low wages even the wages they earned is below the minimum wages. This also what happens to Farmworker, he works hard in the field, he cuts grapes, picks cotton and melon, he even can be put all day in the field, but
Secretary does not have to pay him much money.
They are discriminated, considered as a second class citizen, and being stereotyped because of their habit and status. Americans consider them as machines that can do anything. In this text, it is illustrated in the following conversation.
JOHNNY: Man, that was a long one, ese. (others agree with him.) FARMWORKER: How did we do? JOHNNY: Perty good, look all that lana, man! (He goes over to Sancho and removes the money from his hand. Sancho stays where he is.) FARMWORKER: They think we’re machines. REVOLUCIONARIO: Burros. JOHNNY: Puppets. (Valdez, 2000: 1012)
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 52
From the conversation above, it can be seen that Farmworker, Revolucionario, and Johnny do not accept the opinion about being machines or puppets. They are human as well. That is a form of their protest to American.
From the explanations, it can be understood that group gains theory of discrimination is clearly seen. The minority groups always have the hardest and low paying job, in this story it is reflected by Farmworker. He also got discriminated because of their status. Not only got discriminated, but also Americans gets the advantages of them by forcing them to do the hardest job and paying him with low wages.
The same treatment is given to Johnny Pachuco and Revolucionario. Both have the similarities, they are described as a tough, strong, and well built. Johnny and
Revolucionario are the tough Mexican guys, because of the war and the discrimination. They should face the harsh and sorrowful neighborhood because of the discrimination. It makes them strong.
In the World War, many Mexican men joined the war to avoid discrimination at home. They helped American in the war, in order to make white people realize their existence and they expected that they would not experience discrimination any longer. However, the fact is they still experience the discrimination (Griswold, 2008:
57). They felt the betrayal from American. This fact leads to the conclusion that
Americans are the most powerful group at that time. They exploited Mexicans or the powerless group by forcing them to join the war. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 53
This example also contains the group gains discrimination. It happens when the powerful group tries to take the advantages from the powerless group for their own importance. In this story, Johnny and Revolucionario are considered as machines or puppets that can do anything under command. They are considered as low class, because of their characteristics. Their race also identifies them as a minority group.
This condition that makes them being discriminated. Minority groups always get different treatment from the powerful one.
3. Institutional Discrimination
In the chapter two, it has been explained about the theory of institutional discrimination that it happens when the members of minority groups lack of ability and in the end they do not qualify to do some jobs (McLemore, 1977: 189). It can be understood that if a person from minority group disable to do something, then they cannot meet the requirement to do some job. The insufficient education background also can affect the condition in the workplace. Institutional discrimination includes segregation between race and the continuous practice of low paying job experienced by the minority groups.
The institutional discrimination focuses on how a member cannot get a proper education because they were discriminated before. The discrimination makes them have no interest and lazy to continue their study in school. They are less likely to graduate from school. So, the education background they got is not enough to get a PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 54
white collar job or job with higher wages. Then they can only have a job with low wages.
Mexican people experience the segregation because they were considered as a second class citizen in United States. They may not use the public services such as swimming pool, toilet, movies, public park, and recreational facilities. They were denied by the society because they are Mexican people. They also cannot get proper education because the segregation and isolation in the school. They receive fewer opportunities for education, job, and career advancement.
In Los Vendidos, the character Farmworker is described as an uneducated person because he speaks Spanish a lot instead of speaking in English. He cannot speak English fluently. Because of the education segregation in the past, it makes him cannot get enough education. This is what makes him lack of ability in speaking
English. Mexican people are considered as illiterate people, then they cannot go to school, the impact of this situation is they are unqualified to get a job.
Farmworker can only work in the field, picking melon, grapes, and cotton and pay with low wages. He works with all of his physical power for long hour in the field but he earned only low wages. Without any excellent education background, automatically they only can get a job below the minimum standard. From this explanation it can be seen that segregation especially the education segregation can affect the job they got. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 55
Because they cannot have the white collar job, the economic condition of
Mexican people becomes unstable. They also experienced poverty. Poverty has high correlation with crime. The delinquency, drug usage, and mental illness are the examples (Kitano, 1985: 169). Image of Mexican people as a second class citizen, it makes them easily accused as criminals by the society (Castillo, 2008: 14). They are directly stereotyped as gangster or criminals by the society.
It is reflected through the character, Johnny Pachuco. His background as a former prisoner also makes a bad impression for Secretary. Sancho also says that
Johnny is using drugs. Moreover, at the end Johnny steals Secretary’s purse. One more thing about him is the rude word toward Secretary. He intentionally says “fuck you” to her, from the explanation in the previous part, fuck is a taboo word and it should not be used carelessly, because fuck is still unmentionable word for common people. By saying this word, Secretary thinks that Johnny is impolite. It also indicates that he is lack of education.
From those explanations, the institutional discrimination is clearly reflected through the characters in Los Vendidos. The impact of the rejection from the institution such as at school, can affect them in the higher institution. They cannot have the appropriate job. There is also a possibility to be discriminated in the institution because of the insufficient education background. The segregation between race and the wages they received can be different. On the contrary they are forced to do the low paying job, because they do not have enough education background. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
CHAPTER V
CONCLUSION
Los Vendidos captures many issues about prejudice and stereotyping that leads them into an action named discrimination. This story is based on the condition in the 1940s era. The condition that tells about many Mexican people suffered because of the discrimination. They experienced the segregation in using public facilities, they cannot have proper education, and it leads them to get the low paying job. Because of that, they also experienced poverty. Their participation in the World
War II is one of the ways to avoid discrimination.
From the descriptions of the characters, it is known that Farmworker, Johnny
Pachuco, and Revolucionario represent the Mexican stereotype. Farmworker who is typically Mexican farm worker, always strike, come back to Mexico when the planting season is over. He is also hardworking, economical, and durable. However, he cannot speak English.
Johnny Pachuco is portrayed as Mexican gangster because of his habit bringing knife everywhere and using drugs. He uses an impolite word. He is also a former prisoner. By the end of the story, he steals Secretary’s purse. He builds his image as a bad guy in front of Secretary. That is why he is considered as a criminal.
Meanwhile, Revolucionary is strong and romantic. He was made in Mexico in 1910.
He represents the typical Mexican guy.
56
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 57
Eric Garcia the Mexican American reveals the different thing. He is a
Mexican but also an American. He impresses the Secretary by giving her a speech about the uneducated Mexican people. From the four models that were introduced,
Secretary chooses Eric Garcia to work in the administration. However, in the end of the story, the four models join together and take her money. They cannot take any longer to face the discrimination from American.
There are three types of discrimination. The first is situational pressure.
Whether or not discrimination occurs depend on the social situation. Secretary is the one who reveals this type of discrimination. She discriminates Farmworker, Johnny, and Revolucionario because she is under pressure from the powerful one. She cannot choose them, even though in some ways they are supposed to be her ideal model. She cannot choose a model based on her wants, but she has to choose a model that administration office needs. The pressure from the powerful one makes Secretary has to obey the request. She did that to avoid discrimination. She has to choose someone who reveals the American characteristics. She cannot choose the one with the same race with her.
The second theory is group gains. The most powerful group gets the advantages from the powerless one. In this story, Farmworker, Johnny, and
Revolucionario are the minority groups. They are exploited by Americans. Johnny and Revolucionario are the tough and courageous guys which were used to help
America in the World War. They joined the war to avoid the discrimination, but they still experienced discrimination although they have participated in the war. It PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 58
indicates that American took advantages from Mexican. Group gains theory also said that the minority group experienced the hardest and lowest paying job. It is represented by Farmworker. His characteristics which are hardworking and durable, is used by American to work in the agriculture area for long hour and only paid with low wages.
The third is institutional discrimination. The discrimination occurs in the institution. The discrimination from school makes the minority group lazy and do not want to continue the education. It influences to the higher institution, they cannot work in an office or white collar job. It is also possible to be discriminated in the institution because of the insufficient education background. It includes the segregation between races. The minority groups cannot get the same treatment like the majority one. It is reflected through the characteristic of Farmworker. He does not have enough education background to do some job in the higher institution. From his characteristics it also shows that he is uneducated person. It makes him get a job as farm worker.
From those explanations, it can be seen that the discrimination occurs by seeing from the characteristics of the characters. The theory type of discrimination is used to prove that racial discrimination is experienced by Mexican people. In addition, the three types of racial discrimination show that racial discrimination not only has one type, but it has three different types. Those three different types are experienced by the characters in Los Vendidos. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
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PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
APPENDIX
Summary of Luis Valdez’s Los Vendidos
The story was begun in the Mexican Curio Shop. The owner is a
Mexican guy named Honest Sancho. He sold four models in his store. They are
Farmworker, Johnny Pachuco, Revolucionario, and Eric Garcia the Mexican
American. Then, the Secretary named Miss Jimenez came to the store and asked for somebody who can work in the administration office. She asked for somebody who has dark skin, hardworking, durable, friendly, and economical.
Sancho introduced her to Farmworker the typical Mexican farm worker who has those characteristics. Secretary almost chose him, but then she knew the fact that Farmworker could not speak English, she refused to hire him.
Sancho introduced the second model. He is Johnny Pachuco, the sophisticated model from the city. At the very beginning Johnny made
Secretary scared. He brought knife everywhere because he is a knife fights and it is for survival. In addition, he was a former prisoner. He also gave an abusive language to Secretary, and it insulted Secretary. Johnny also sniffed glue and consumed drugs, such as marijuana. In the end, Johnny tried to steal the
Secretary’s purse. Secretary immediately rejected him to work in the administration office.
Then Sancho promoted the next model. He is Revolucionario. From his name it can be known that he was a revolutionary man. Sancho described him
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as a tough, romantic, and durable guy. Secretary very impressed because of his characteristics. But, Sancho revealed that Revolucionario was made in Mexico.
Secretary did not like, and again she refused to hire him.
Secretary asked Sancho to bring her a model that is Mexican but
American. After that, Sancho introduced the last model. He is Eric Garcia, the
Mexican American guy. He could impress the Secretary, because he was a polite, well mannered, and educated guy. He also gave a speech about Mexican people. He said that Mexican were uneducated people. Secretary found that he was a patriotic guy. She decided to buy him for $15.000. But then, something happened, and it surprised Secretary. Eric Garcia protested about the white people and asked for justice for Mexican people. The three models,
Farmworker, Johnny, and Revolucionario also joined. They made Secretary afraid, she left the shop and her money was taken by Eric Garcia.
In the end of this story, Eric Garcia, divided the money for him and his friends, and left Sancho. The fact is they were not the models, the truly models in the store is Sancho.