Portrayal of Racial Discrimination in Michael Jackson’s Black or White and Neil Young’s Southern Man Abstract By Muhammad Dzul Fadly [email protected] This study investigates the portrayal of racial discrimination in Michael Jackson’s Song Black or White and Neil Young’s Southern Man. Researcher identifies the racial issues in both songs, explaining the meaning that is implied in Michael Jackson’s Black or White and Neil Young’s Southern Man lyrics which relate to the words that possibly as indicators of racial discrimination. In this study researcher uses descriptive method in analyzing and interpreting the data collected. Data are collected from variety of sources such as books, journal, online website, and some additional information. The findings from the study show that both songs represent the disagreement and resistance of the fatal thoughts of treating people differently just because of the racial differences. Researcher concludes that in Michael Jackson’s Black Or White and Neil Young’s Southern Man the portrayal of racial discrimination clearly represented through the lyrics. The meanings of each song is lie on the historical background that influence the emergence of such songs.

Keywords: racism, racial discrimination, song.

Penggambaran Diskriminasi Ras pada lagu Michael Jackson’s Black or White dan Neil Young’s Southern Man Abstract By Muhammad Dzul Fadly [email protected] Studi ini mengkaji penggambaran diskriminasi ras dalam lagu Michael Jackson: Black or White dan Neil Young: Southern Man. Peneliti mengidentifikasi isu-isu rasial dalam kedua lagu, menjelaskan maksud yang tersisirat dalam lirik lagu Michael Jackson’s Black or White dan Neil Young’s Southern Man yang berhubungan dengan kata-kata yang sebagai indikator dari diskriminasi ras. Dalam studi ini, peneliti menggunakan metode deskriptive dalam menganlisa dan menginterpretasikan data yang terkumpul. Data yang dikumpulkan berasal dari berbagai sumber seperti buku, jurnal, website online, dan beberapa informasi tambahan. Temuan-temuan dari studi ini bahwa kedua lagu ini mewakili pertentangan dan perlawanan terhadap pemikiran-pemikiran fatal tentang memperlakukan orang berbeda-beda karena perbedaan ras. Peneliti menyimpulkan bahwa dalam lagu Michael Jackson’s Black Or White dan Neil Young’s Southern Man penggambaran dari discriminasi ras jelas dipaparkan melalui lirik lagu tersebut. Makna dari tiap lagu ini berlandaskan pada latar belakang sejarah yang mempengaruhi munculnya lagu tersebut.

Kata Kunci: rasisme, diskriminasi ras, lagu.

A. INTRODUCTION Music has been an effective way for some people in expressing their thoughts. They created songs with various intentions. Regarding to this idea, this thesis is focused on how racism is portrayed in songs. The emergence songs about racism from famous singer in the late 20th, it was a kind of reaction of what happened in that age. In the early 1960 song was used as a resistance against injustice. One of efforts that emerged during this issue was the appearance of singers that showed their concern in racial and ethnical issues through songs. Singers such as Michael Jackson entitled Black or White was the example of how human being should be treated the same way no matter what the color of their skin, ethnic, and race. The development of song is also influenced by this racial and ethnical issues and it emerged many black and white singers to do the same thing by singing songs that contain defensive attempt. In this study, writer chosed Michael Jackson’s song, Black or White and Neil Young’s, Southern Man as the object of research. In Michael Jackson’s song, Black or White and Neil Young’s, Southern Man’s lyrics. B. QUESTIONS 1. How is racial discrimination portrayed in Michael Jackson’s song, Black or White and Neil Young’s, Southern Man? 2. What are the indicators of racial discrimination in Michael Jackson’s song, Black or White and Neil Young’s, Southern Man? C. FINDINGS

Racial Discrimination As Seen In Michael Jackson’s Song Lyric: Black Or White Michael Jackson thinks about the concept of race is considered very controversial and paradox. This song describes the problem of equation issued in the 1980-90's. The equation in this time had not fragmented on the issue between blacks and whites, but also on the issue of humanity. It contains the lyrics hint for racial problems in society. This song was Jackson thinking about equality, tolerance and mutual respect in the setting of social life American the late 1980s. And unity is manifested Jackson by eliminating differences in black or white.

Take a look at the first verse of the song lyric: The 1st verse

I took my baby on a saturday bang boy is that girl with you yes we're one and the same now I believe in miracles and a miracle has happened tonight

In the first set of verses, seems like Michael Jackson was referring to himself and someone of another race being seen together by a racist, and was questioned by that racist of why they were together, and Michael Jackso's answer was "yes were one and the same", meaning, yes we can be together, were one and the same. As one listens to this song, they will realize that Jackson was expecting his audience to be both white or of color ethnicities. The common problem between many ethnicities is racism. These lyrics describe his opinion on racism and how they have affected him and the world around him. The first line of fourth verse of the lyrics that says: The 4th verse

They printed my message, In the Saturday Sun, I had to tell them, I ain't second to none

Here he states that he is somebody with quality. So he explains on the 4th verse next to the 5th that he is telling the equality, simply campaigns the important of being living in equality. The 4th and 5th verses are the portrayal of how Michael Jackson tries to show people that discrimination is a misunderstanding which leads to devil and evil. The 5th verse

I told about equality and it's true, either you're wrong or right.

In these few lines Jackson is trying to say that everyone has their own opinion on what equality is. If someone has a different opinion on equality, each person is right. Equality should not be placed as something new and strange on people’s state of mind. It should be placed as something important and fundamental in creating a harmony life in society. When he says, “I told about equality and it’s true, either you’re wrong or right” shows his open-minded thoughts about life. Later in the song, Jackson states: The 7th verse

I am tired of this devil, I am tired of this stuff, I am tired of this business, So when the going gets rough, I ain't scared of your brother, I ain't Scared of No sheets, I ain't scare of nobody, Girl when the goin' gets mean.

Jackson is stating that he is tired of the racism, which is described as a Devil . Also, he states that he is not scared of anyone when things get bad and will not let the racism that another person has for a different ethnicity, affect him. Michael describes that racism is about “places, faces, where your blood comes from and where your space is.” He also states that he's “not going to spend my life being a color.” Jackson does not want to be labeled of a different races, he wants people to see him for his artistic abilities. One of the last few verses of Jackson's song Black Or White, he stated:

The 12th verse

I said if you're thinking of being my brother, it don't matter if you're black or white.

Michael Jackson was a very open minded person and was willing to accept many people. One's race did not matter to this man. Through his song Michael Jackson opened up gates from many people to realize that no matter what one's skin to tone is. This song is basically saying not to discriminate people based on color. Which it is going back to what Martin Luther King Jr. protested against racism. Michael always accepted everyone no matter the color of their skin. And he always tried to show everyone in the world that just because someone's skin color is different, not to single them out. Racial Discrimination In Neil Young’s Song Lyric: Southern Man Black slaves first appeared in North America in the early 17th Century. Most were sent to cotton plantations in the Southern United States where they worked in the fields, picking cotton. In the Northern United States, labourers were free people who were paid for their work. With the American Empire expanding, disputes arose over whether newly admitted states to the union would be "free" or "slave" states. Eventually, these conflicts led to the American Civil War. In the end, the North won and slavery was abolished. The first verse of Southern Man, 1st verse

Southern man better keep your head Don't forget what your good book said Southern change gonna come at last Now your crosses are burning fast Southern man

The verse above is taken from the perspective of the singer speaking directly to the people of the Southern United States. This verse talks about the hypocrisy that exists in the Southern United States at that time. The line, "Don't forget what your good book said", refers to the word of the Bible (the "good book") and Southern United States which has very strong Christian ideals. Yet the Ku Klux Klan, which is primarily based in the South, burns crosses, a symbol of Christianity, and kills people of minority groups, going against the teachings of Christianity. He asks back the Ku Klux Klan belief which mostly lay on the “good book” or Bible in Christian. If it is said in clear words Neil Young asks, “where is the people who lay on Bible and why do they let this happen?” This verse is repeated later in the song to make the point of the hypocrisy that exists clear. In the first lines of the next verse, 1st & 2nd lines of the 3rd verse

I saw cotton and I saw black Tall white mansions and little shacks

Young makes good use of juxtaposition in the same way that Charles Dickens did in his historical novel about the French Revolution, A Tale of Two Cities. Young shows the contrast between the whites and blacks (the rich and the poor) at the time of slavery. And it happened with racial reason when the poor people (blacks) being minored by the rich (whites). In the next line of the verse, 3rd line of the 3rd verse

Southern man when will you pay them back?

Young brings about the idea that the Southern people of today owe something to the black people of today for the acts of their ancestors.

The final verse of Southern Man, 6th verse

Lily Belle, your hair is golden brown I've seen your black man comin' round Swear by God I'm gonna cut him down!

This verse shows how absurd it is to have a hateful attitude towards someone because of the color of their skin. It is written by neil young from the perspective of one ignorant southerners who was discovering a white woman's affair with a black man, and vows to kill him. Sadly enough, this is what actually happened in such a situation for a very long time, and probably still happens in some areas of the South.

D. CONCLUSION

Researcher concludes that on Michael Jackson’s song lyric: Black Or White and Neil Young’s: Southern Man the portrayal of racial discrimination clearly represents through the lyrics. Meaning of each of song lyric is laid on the historical background that influence the emerge of such songs. The words used of both singers indicate the meaning that they want to say. On Michael Jackson’s song lyric Black Or White, the meaning is conveyed explicitly and listener will easily understand the meaning being carried by the song. While on the Neil Young’s song lyric Southern Man, the meaning is also conveyed through a simple and clear way that everyone will directly understand the meaning of the song. In addition, both Michael Jackson’s Black Or White and Neil Young’s Southern Man song lyrics contain message about racial discrimination issue and their resistance to that kind of thing by creating such song lyrics.

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