Plagiat Merupakan Tindakan Tidak Terpuji Plagiat

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RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN THE 20TH CENTURY UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SEEN FROM TROY MAXSON’S CONFLICTS IN AUGUST WILSON’S FENCES

AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra in English Letters

KARINA PRISDIANI

Student Number: 074214053

ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA 2011

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RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN THE 20TH CENTURY UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SEEN FROM TROY MAXSON’S CONFLICTS IN AUGUST WILSON’S FENCES

AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra in English Letters

KARINA PRISDIANI

Student Number: 074214053

ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA 2011

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LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN

PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS

Yang bertanda tangan di bawah ini, saya mahasiswa Universitas Sanata Dharma

Nama : Karina Prisdiani

Nomor Mahasiswa : 074214053

Demi pengembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya meberikan kepada Perpustakaan

Universitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang berjudul:

“RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN THE 20TH CENTURY UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SEEN FROM TROY MAXSON’S CONFLICTS IN AUGUST WILSON’S FENCES”

beserta perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada). Dengan demikian saya memberikan

kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimpan,

mengalihkan dalam bentuk media lain, mengelolanya dalam bentuk pangkalan

data, mendistribusikan secara terbatas, dan mempublikasikannya di Internet atau

media lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa perlu meminta ijin dari saya

maupun meberikan royalti kepada saya selama tetap mencantumkan nama saya

sebagai penulis.

Demikian pernyataan ini yang saya buat dengan sebenarnya. Dibuat di Yogyakarta Pada tanggal : 26 Agustus 2011 Yang menyatakan

Karina Prisdiani

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First of all, I would like to thank Allah Subhanahu wata’ala for the

blessings, loves, cares and also the spirit and the way shown to me.

I would like to thank my Advisor, Drs. Hirmawan Wijarnaka, M. Hum.,

for giving me advice, guidance and help in writing this thesis. I express a great

gratitude to him for spending many times in reading and correcting my thesis. I

also thank to my co-Advisor, Pak Harris for giving me suggestion and also

helping me to finish and improve this thesis. Besides, I want to thank him for his

guidance given to me during my study here. Without their patience in helping and

guiding me, I would not be able to finish this thesis.

My greatest gratitude goes to my parents, Widodo and Nani Hernawati, for

the supports and prayers. You are my wonderful parents for me. Thanks to my

little sister, Neyna Sezha Pramesthi, for the support to finish the thesis. Also

thanks to my beloved mate, Helmy Fahada who has been so patient in supporting

and encouraging me during thesis writing. I would like also to thank my best

friends, Tina, Cicil, Grace, Mustika, Maria, Novi and Tata for the joy and laughter

we have shared together during my study. I love you all.

Last but not least, I would like to thank everyone whose names are not

mentioned here, who has helped and supported me during my study and thesis

writing.

Karina Prisdiani

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE ………………………………………………………….. i APPROVAL PAGE ...…………………………………………………. ii ACCEPTANCE PAGE ……………………………………………….. iii MOTTO PAGE ………………………………………………………... iv DEDICATION PAGE ………………………………………………… v LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI………… vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ………………………………………...... vii TABLE OF CONTENTS ……………………………………………… viii ABSTRACT ………………………………………………………….... x ABSTRAK ……………………………………………………………… xi

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ……………………………………... 1 A. Background of the Study ……………………………………. 1 B. Problem Formulation ………………………………………… 4 C. Objectives of the Study …………………………………...... 5 D. Definition of Terms …………………………………………. 5

CHAPTER II: THEORITICAL REVIEW ………………………….. 6 A. Review of Related Studies ………………………………….. 6 B. Review of Related Theories ……………………………….... 9 1. Theories on Conflicts ………………………………….... 9 2. Theories on Racial Discrimination …………………….... 11 C. Review on the Racial Discrimination in the 20th Century American Society ...... 13 D. Theoretical Framework ....…………………………………... 19

CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY ………………………………….. 21 A. Object of the Study ………………………………………….. 21 B. Approach of the Study ………………………………………. 22 C. Method of the Study ………………………………………… 24

CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS …………………………………………… 26 A. Troy Maxson’s Conflicts in August Wilson’s Fences ……….. 26 1. Troy Maxson’s Conflict with His Employer, Mr. Rand …... 27 2. Troy Maxson’s Conflict with Major Baseball League …... 29 3. Troy Maxson’s Conflict with His Son, Cory …………….. 31 B. Racial Discrimination in 20th Century United States of America Reflected in Troy Maxson’s Conflicts ………..…… 35 1. The Reflection of Black Workers Seen through Troy Maxson’s Conflict with His Employer, Mr. Rand …...... 36 2. The Reflection of Negro Baseball Players Seen through Troy Maxson’s Conflict with Major Baseball League ……….... 39 3. The Reflection of Negro Football Players Seen through Troy Maxson’s Conflict with His Son, Cory ……………. 42

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CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION ………………………………………... 45

BIBLIOGRAPHY ………………………………………………...……. 47

APPENDICES Appendix 1 Summary of August Wilson’s Fences………………….. 50 Appendix 2 August Wilson’s Life…………………………………. 52

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ABSTRACT

KARINA PRISDIANI. Racial Discrimination in the 20TH Century United States of America Seen from Troy Maxson’s Conflicts in August Wilson’s Fences. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2011.

In this thesis, the writer discusses one of August Wilson’s plays entitled Fences (1957). This play addresses the issue of racism towards the Blacks practiced by the Whites in American society. Fences tells the conflicts of African American man that has to deal with and fights against racism. There are two objectives of the study. Firstly, the writer focuses on the conflicts that Troy Maxson has to deal with. Secondly, the writer focuses on how Troy Maxson’s conflicts reveal the racial discrimination in the 20th century United States of America. In analyzing the play, the writer applies socio-cultural historical approach. This approach helps the writer to get an understanding on social condition of African American people in the United States of America at that time. The writer employs library research in this study. It means that all data are taken from written sources. This research uses August Wilson’s Fences that found in W. B. Worthen’s The Harcourt Brace Anthology of Drama, Third Edition as the primary source. The secondary sources are taken from some books that contain of history of Blacks or African American and other information about the play. There are also some sources taken from the internet. The writer finds out three conflicts that Troy Maxson has to deal with. They are conflict between Troy and his employer, Troy and major baseball league, and Troy and his son. By presenting the conflict between Troy and his employer, it can be seen that the blacks usually get lower job than the whites. The discrimination toward the blacks also can be seen from Troy’s condition in major baseball league. The result of Troy’s disappointment to baseball league can be seen through the conflict between Troy and his son. All of Troy’s conflicts as seen in August Wilson’s Fences may reveal the racial discrimination toward the blacks in 20th century United States of America.

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ABSTRAK

KARINA PRISDIANI. Racial Discrimination in the 20TH Century United States of America Seen from Troy Maxson’s Conflicts in August Wilson’s Fences. Yogyakarta: Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2011.

Dalam skripsi ini, penulis membahas salah satu karya August Wilson yang berjudul Fences. Drama ini mengangkat topik permasalahan mengenai rasisme terhadap orang-orang berkulit hitam yang dipraktikkan oleh orang-orang berkulit putih di kalangan masyarakat Amerika. Fences membahas konflik-konflik yang harus dihadapi oleh seorang laki-laki berkulit hitam dan berjuang untuk melawan rasisme. Ada dua pokok bahasan dalam skripsi ini. Pertama, penulis berfokus pada konflik-konflik yang dialami oleh Troy Maxson. Yang kedua, penulis berfokus pada bagaimana konflik-konflik Troy Maxson mengungkap diskriminasi ras di Amerika Serikat pada abad ke 20. Dalam menganalisis drama ini, penulis menggunakan pendekatan sosial, kebudayaan dan sejarah. Pendekatan ini membantu penulis mengetahui kondisi sosial orang-orang berkulit hitam dalam drama ini. Penulis menggunakan studi pustaka dalam menjawab permasalahan- permasalahan tersebut, yang artinya semua data diambil dari sumber-sumber tertulis. Sebagai sumber utama, penelitian ini menggunakan drama karangan August Wilson yang terdapat di The Harcourt Brace Anthology of Drama, Third Edition oleh W.B. Worthen. Sumber-sumber sekunder diambil dari beberapa buku yang berisi sejarah mengenai orang-orang berkulit hitam atau Afrika Amerika serta informasi lain yang terkait dengan drama ini. Terdapat pula beberapa bahan yang diambil dari internet. Penulis menemukan tiga konflik yang harus dihadapi oleh Troy Maxson. Konflik-konflik tersebut antara lain, konflik antara Troy dan majikannya, Troy dan major baseball league, dan antara Troy dengan anaknya. Dengan menyajikan konflik antara Troy dan majikannya, dapat dilihat bahwa orang-orang kulit hitam biasanya mendapatkan pekerjaan yang lebih rendah dibandingkan orang-orang kulit putih. Diskriminasi terhadap orang-orang kulit hitam juga dapat dilihat dari keadaan Troy di major baseball league. Hasil dari kekecewaan Troy pada baseball league dapat dilihat melalui konflik antara Troy dan anaknya. Semua konflik-konflik Troy yang ditampilkan pada drama Fences karangan August Wilson ini bisa mengungkap diskriminasi ras yang terjadi pada abad ke 20 di Amerika Serikat.

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CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Study

One of the ways for human beings to express their ideas, experiences and

thoughts is through literature. Literary works help to connect the readers to the

cultural context, to recognize and to learn more about human dreams and struggle

in different situations and conditions. In Theory of Literature, Rene Wellek and

Austin Warren state that the work of literature represents life as a reality. They

also state that literature seems like “a mirror” of our real life because literary

works contain the reality of human situations, problems and relationships (1956:

96). Besides, reading a literary work will bring people to an aesthetic experience

and give the readers knowledge or new ideas. Many people have said that

literature works give an entertainment toward the readers. Literature also conveys

important messages of society. When there is a society, then there will be literary

works. Literature and society are a unity. The readers’ knowledge about the

history and social condition in the time when literary works are written may be

enriched by reading literary works. The readers can learn what story happened in

the past, what kind of human behavior and values exist in the society. Literary

works can play the role as historical document that records social realities, which

are artistically portrayed by the author (Wellek and Warren, 1956: 102).

Drama is one of the works of literature. It gives moral enrichment such as

self-consciousness and satisfaction to the readers. It can deepen and also broaden

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people’s understanding of life. In Courtney’s Teaching Drama, it is stated that

“reading a literature piece such as drama does not only give us pleasure but also

deepens and broadens our vision and experience of living” (1965: 100).

Meanwhile in Perrine’s Literature: Sound and Sense, the aim of writing literature

is to be understood and enjoyed. Life will be less tedious by literature and one will

feel that time passes quickly. One can broaden and sharpen his awareness of life

and its problem (1978: 3).

Sometimes the result of reading a literary work may provoke readers or

audiences to be more aware of the situations around them. There are many works

of literature which concern the conflicts of human beings such as the conflict that

happened in the United States, that was the issue of slavery. “All men are created

equal”, was the sentence stated in the Declaration of Independence which was

meaningless for the black people who were slaves. This issue had led America to

the civil war, the war between North America and South America. The North

wanted to abolish slavery, while the South wanted to maintain it. The civil war

ended in 1865 and was won by the North. The slavery was abolished but the

practice of racial discrimination continued in different forms in the United States

of America.

One of the plays that reflects the black’s experience of racial

discrimination in America is Fences which was written by August Wilson. It is

the story about an African American man, Troy Maxson, who works as a garbage

collector and who iss an ex-baseball player. He struggles for his right to have a

proper job as a truck driver and also to make his family live better. Besides to PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI 3

make his family live better, he also wants to help the blacks to have the same

opportunities and treatments.

A tragic character helps cover the way for other blacks to have the opportunities under conditions they were never free to experience, but never reap from their own sacrifice and talents themselves (sparknotes.com, 2010).

Troy’s bad experience related to sport affects his son, Cory, because he

does not want Cory to have the same experience: always in the backseat while the

whites always become the players.

A responsible yet otherwise flawed black garbage collector in pre-Civil Rights America who, in August Wilson's hands, rises to the level of an epic hero. Deemed a generational play, it mirrors the classic struggle of status quo, tradition, and age, versus change, innovation, and youth (greenwood.com, 2010).

Then he builds fences which symbolize his protection over Cory and also

all of his family. In Milly S. Barrenger’s Understanding Plays, it is stated that

The fence is tangible (“real” wood for the fence is sawed and hammered), but it is also Wilson’s metaphor for the cultural situation of African-Americans in the late fifties (1994: 545).

Fences, which was written in the year of 1957 but later developed from

1983-1987 in United States, is about the life of an African American family. It is

set just before the start of the civil rights movement, in 1957 in Pittsburgh, PA.

The play takes place at a time when organized baseball has finally become

integrated, but when racial discrimination remains widespread (findarticles.com,

2011). The main issue here is racism and the huge barrier between black and

white people and its effect on the Maxson family, especially Troy.

Troy is a Negro League baseball player who turns to a garbage man. He

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for them. The struggle of Troy Maxson againsts the white and struggles from the

conflict that happened at that time can be seen in the play. In the review written by

Wade Bradford entitled Character and Setting Analysis, it is stated that

The protagonist, Troy Maxson is a restless trash-collector and former baseball athlete. Though deeply flawed, he represents the struggle for justice and fair treatment during the 1950s. Troy also represents human nature’s reluctance to recognize and accept social change (plays.about.com, 2011).

In the writer’s perspective, this book conveys the real conditions and

situations of a society and portrays the live of African American since the author

lives in Fences was set, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Fences still deals with Jim

Crow Laws practices that was started in 1887, in Florida.

To understand the portrait of the racial discrimination experienced by the

black Americans in the twentieth century through literary works, Fences is a good

start for research. It is interesting to observe the experience or conflict of the main

character in facing the racial discrimination. The play is the representation of the

black people at that time who got the racial practices from the white.

B. Problem Formulation

To analyze the topic of this study, the writer has formulated two

questions to be examined. They are presented as follows:

1. What conflicts do Troy Maxson deal with in August Wilson’s Fences?

2. How do Troy Maxson’s conflicts reveal the racial discrimination in

the 20th century in the United States of America?

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C. Objective of the Study

There are two objectives of this thesis. Firstly, the study will observe the

main character’s (Troy) conflicts. Secondly, the study tries to explain the racial

discrimination in the twentieth century United States of America that can be

revealed through the conflicts experienced by Troy Maxson.

D. Definition of Terms

In this study, the writer needs to define two terms in order to avoid

misunderstanding on August Wilson’s Fences.

The first term is racial discrimination. Based on Feagin’s Racial and

Ethnic Relations, discrimination is “actions carried out by members of dominant

groups, which have a differential and harmful impact on members of subordinates

groups” (1978: 14-15).

The second term is conflict. William Harmon and Hugh Holman in A

Handbook to Literature state that “conflict is the struggle that grows out of the

interplay of two opposing forces” (2009: 107-108).

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CHAPTER II

THEORETICAL REVIEW

A. Review of Related Studies

There are some criticisms arise along with the presence of literary work.

Agreement, deep examination, judgment and comment are the example forms of

criticism. In this thesis, the writer will analyze August Wilson’s play Fences. This

part contains the related studies that deal with August Wilson’s Fences because

August Wilson and also his work got many critics’ attention. Several criticisms

will be presented in order to enrich the writer’s knowledge in understanding the

play.

August Wilson records the experience of African-American people in the

20th century in a series of plays that will stand as a landmark in the history of

black American culture, of American literature. The review about August Wilson

that found in courttheatre.org, entitled Study Guide for Court Theatre’s

Production of August Wilson’s Fences by Ben Calvert states that

In his work, Mr. Wilson depicted the struggles of black Americans with uncommon lyrical richness, theatrical density and emotional heft, in plays that gave vivid voices to people on the frayed margins of life: cabdrivers and maids, garbage men and side men and petty criminals (courttheatre.org, 2010).

Still, in the same source, according to Ben Calvert,

In bringing to the popular American stage the gritty specific of the lives of his poor, trouble plagued and sometimes powerfully embittered black characters, Mr. Wilson also described universal truths about the struggle for dignity, love, security and happiness in the face of often overwhelming obstacles (courttheatre.org, 2010).

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According to Milly S. Barrenger in her book entitled Understanding

Plays in Fences, “Wilson uses the well-made play model to examine the

inheritance of patriarchy in the father-son conflict between fifty-year-old Troy

Maxson and his teenage son, Cory.” The conflict that happens in this African-

American family develops to a crisis that hinges on the disclosure of crucial and

traumatic incidents in the father’s past and then in the present (1994: 544).

In August Wilson’s “Fences” Character and Setting Analysis, Wade

Bradford states that Fences explores the life and relationships of Troy Maxson, an

activist-minded trash-collector and former baseball hero. The protagonist

represents the struggle for justice and fair treatment during the 1950s

(plays.about.com, 2011). There are many conflicts happened in the Troy’s family,

between the member of his family either the people around him.

According to Linda Sullivan Baity in her review, Wilson Play Like

Listening to the Blues in South Coast Repertory: Playgoer’s Guide to Fences,

Troy Maxson has spent his entire life trapped behind fences he cannot scale. He is a man at once proud and humiliated, hopeful and disillusioned passionate and yet powerless to surmount the obstacles of racial prejudice, prison bars, family obligations and self-imposed emotional walls that block his way at every turn (scr.org, 2010).

The quotation above shows that the black people have to deal with racial

prejudice. Wilson used his character’s conflict to give us the condition of African

Americans in the 1950's in the United States. He focused on their inequality in the

society. Throughout the play, the writer can see the effects of racism existed in the

time of Troy Maxson which in the historical context mirrored the societies of the

United States in the 1950's. Racism produces inequality among society. Some PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI 8

examples of the effects on Wilson's conflict that the inequality has on them such

as Troy's frustration with the discrimination he endures when he recounts a

conversation he has with his boss concerning the issue.

This middle-aged African-American garbage collector and legendary ex- player in the Negro baseball league is the beating heart of August Wilson’s master work, Fences (scr.org, 2010).

As the drama’s compelling central character, Troy Maxson (a character

loosely based on the playwright’s own stepfather) also embodies the inequalities

and injustices confronting black American throughout the painful course of

modern history (scr.org, 2010).

This quotation implies the experience of the black American in 1950’s

which portrayed by the conflict felt by the character of Troy Maxson. Troy’s

character, who is the main character in this play, reveals the situation and

condition that is faced by black people and also the treatment of the whites to the

black.

In the thesis written by Christina Lina Yuliati entitled The Effect of

Troy’s Unpleasant Experiences in His Past Present Life in August Wilson’s

Fences, it says that

Troy’s unpleasant experiences in his past and present life are: the broken relation between him and his father, the murder that put him in the penitentiary, his unfulfilled dream to become a professional baseball player, his incapability in buying his own house, his unsuccessfulness in fighting the same position in the society, and his powerlessness as a father toward his elder son (1999: 62).

The quotation above shows about the unpleasant experiences of Troy Maxson in

his past life that affects his present life. PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI 9

The thesis entitled August Wilson’s Fences: The African-American

Women’s Pursuit of Dreams Seen From the Perspective of Rose Maxson by

Nandy Intan Kurnia shows about Wilson’s perspective toward the African

American women in pursuit their dreams, in this case is Rose Maxson. It states

that

However, the situation gradually changes when women have enabled themselves to be independent, like the one done by Rose Maxson. She starts her journey as an independent woman when decided to leave her husband, Troy, as a “womanless man” and beginning to set her new goals, which are to be a religious person and a good mother for her children. She shows that she has the freedom enables her to reach her dreams (staff.uny.ac.id, 2011).

These reviews will help the writer in collecting the information about the

issues that appears in the play and the conflict inside the play. In answering the

questions in problem formulation and analyzing the conflict in Fences and the

main topic of this thesis the writer is supported and helped by these reviews to

reveal the racial discrimination in Fences.

In this thesis, the writer wants to analyze August Wilson’s Fences which

focuses on the racial prejudice toward the black people in the 20th century United

States of America. This topic will be revealed through the conflicts of the major

character which have not been analyzed yet.

B. Review of Related Theories

1. Theories of Conflict

According to Abrams, “many plots deal with conflict.” There are

conflict between individual, conflict of a protagonist against fate, or against

circumstances that stand between him and a goal he has set himself, and in some PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI 10

works, the conflict is between opposing desires or values in a character’s in a

character’s of own mind (1981: 128).

In Stantons’s Introduction to Fiction, there are two kinds of conflict,

internal and external conflict (1965: 16):

1. Internal Conflict This kind of conflict is identified by term Man vs. Himself. It takes place inside the protagonist, meaning that he or she arguing with him or herself. He spends the entire story arguing with himself about what to do before something finally happens that forces him to make decision. 2. External Conflict This conflict is happens when the protagonist has trouble and conflicts against the other characters. The protagonist is opposed by another character. Frequently he fights with a single person or more than one.

In Handbook of Literature, Harmon and Holman state that conflict is “the

struggle that grows out of the interplay of the two opposing forces. Conflict

provides interest, suspense and tension.” They also state that the struggles occur

may be the struggles against nature, against another person, against society, and

struggle for mastery by two elements (1986: 107).

Conflict has important role in literary work because it always deals with

the plot. It appears from central character’s action deals with other forces. Central

character has a responsibility to solve the conflicts. Conflicts end when central

character succeeds or fails in overcoming the other forces. Sometimes the

protagonist gives up when the struggle is too difficult or worthless. As stated in A

Second Book of Plays,

The struggle between two opposing forces, ideas, or beliefs, which its the basis of the plot. In most plays the conflict is resolved when one force – usually the protagonist – succeeds or fails in overcoming the opposing force. Sometimes, the protagonist gives up the struggle as too difficult or not worthwhile. The inner conflict refers to struggle within the heart and PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI 11

mind of protagonist. The term external conflict refers to a struggle between the protagonist and outside force (Redman, 1964: 363).

2. Theory on Racial Discrimination

Racial discrimination is a different treatment based on physical and

social condition. The theory found in The New Encyclopedia Britannica states that

Racial is the idea that there is a casual link between inherited physical traits and certain traits of personality, intellect, or culture and combined with it. The notion that some races are inherently superior to others under the racism, a race is defined socially but based on physical characteristics. Such physical characteristics have no inherent significance, but only such significance as is socially attributed to them in a given society (1983: 360).

In International Encyclopedia of Ethics, Joan Ferrante’s Sociology: A

Global Perspective (1992), discrimination is “the unequal treatment, whether

intentional or unintentional, of individuals or groups on the basis of group

membership that is unrelated to merit, ability, or past performance” (1995: 232).

There are two types of discrimination. They are legal discrimination and

institutional discrimination. Legal discrimination is “unequal treatment that is

sustained by law”. Stokely Carmichael and Charles V. Hamilton’s Black Power in

International Encyclopedia of Ethics, say that:

Institutional discrimination is a subtle form of unequal treatment based on race that is entrenched in social custom (that is, social institutions). Institutional discrimination may include segregated housing patterns, redlining by financial institutions, and the practice of minority group members being forced continually into low-paying jobs. (1995: 232).

Then, Roth’s International Encyclopedia of Ethics states that:

The most pernicious acts of prejudice and discrimination in the United States have been directed against racial minorities. The history of race relations in the United States demonstrates that differential treatment has been accorded to all minority groups (1995: 232). PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI 12

According to Farley in his book Sociology in International Encyclopedia

of Ethics, he states that “a minority group is any group in a disadvantaged or

subordinate position (in this sense, a minority may actually constitute a numerical

majority: for example, blacks in South Africa)” (1995: 232).

In United States of America, there is such a caste-like system towards the

Blacks practiced by the Whites and the Blacks treat like the second class citizen.

“African Americans have operated in a caste-like racial structure in the United

States that has relegated them to inferior status, relative powerlessness, material

deprivation, and socio-psychic resentment” (1995: 233).

Discrimination is used as mechanisms of a racial category for life,

“Segregation and discrimination have been used as mechanisms for maintaining

the sociopolitical structure (status quo)” (1995: 233). This structure makes the

African Americans fell like ‘restricted’ from their life:

Within this structure, African Americans are members of a racial category for life; they are generally consigned to marry within their group; they are often avoided, both as ritual and as custom; and they experience limited opportunities (1995: 233).

It can be said that discrimination continues to be embedded in social,

political, and economic fabric of the United States.

According to Ellis Cashmore, racial discrimination is known as racialism.

It is “the active behavioral expression of racism and is aimed at denying members

of certain groups equal access to scarce and valued resources” (2004: 345). It

contains negative beliefs about groups. “It operates on a group basis: it works on

the perceived attributes and deficiencies of groups, not individualized

characteristics” (2004: 345). Racial discrimination is addressed to a group which PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI 13

different in physical or social condition. “Members of groups are denied

opportunities or rewards for reasons unrelated to their capabilities, industry, and

general merit: they are judged solely on their membership of an identifiable group,

which is erroneously thought to have a racial basis” (2004: 345).

C. Review on the Racial Discrimination in the 20th Century American Society

The story of African Americans dealing with racism during the 1950's

and 60's is not a story unheard by anyone. It is a common story that we hear early

in life. It is a real life event that many African Americans have to deal with for

many years. This is no way for anyone to live, and African Americans know it is

time for them to be treated like human beings. Many of them try to struggle in

their condition to oppose the racial discrimination.

Between 1700’s and early 1900’s the United States of America gained

control of large parts of Asia and Africa. This colonialists justified domination on

the ground that the black, brown, yellow-skinned people had to be civilized by the

superior, the white-skinned people. From 1600’s to the mid 1800’s, many whites

in the United States of America employed the black as the slaves. As we know,

slavery is the major cause of the American Civil War in 1861 until 1865. It was

the war between the Southern and Northern part of America. The South supported

slavery but the North abolished slavery and the North asked England for support

because England had abolished slavery in 1833. Slavery was abolished and freed

in 1865, in 1868 the slaves became citizens and in 1870, they were given the right

to vote. Although the slaves had been the part of the citizens, the segregation and

discrimination against the black people continued in the early 20th century. The PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI 14

racial problems which began with slavery and were fostered by the discrimination

and segregation continue to south of the United States of America. They passed

the anti-African American legislation.

In 1887 in Florida, there was a rule called Jim Crow Laws. It was

included the laws for the discrimination to the African Americans with the using

of facilities such as the segregation in seating in trains, restaurants, hotels, theaters

and public toilets, and concerning to the public schools’ attendance. Then in the

1890s, a fully segregated society happened in the South. The black Americans got

a ‘separate but equal’ treatment but the fact they treated with inferior private and

public facilities. The White’s points of view toward the Blacks are found in Eric

Hass’s book entitled Socialism: World Without Race-Prejudice for Online

Edition. The Blacks got racial treatments from the Whites such as:

The Negro is unemployed – therefore he is indolent. The Negro is forced to arduous, menial jobs – therefore, he hasn’t the capacity to perform operations requiring intelligence and skill. The Negro is compelled to live in black ghettos – therefore he brings down poverty values. The Negro’s life is shortened by malnutrition and extreme poverty – therefore he succumbs more readily to disease and is dangerous to be around. And so on (slp.org, 2011).

And there are some examples of unequal treatment of the Whites toward

the Negroes in some areas in the South America. In Alabama, for the white female

nurses will be not required in rooms in hospital which the Negroes are placed.

Then, there must be a separated waiting room and also ticket windows for the

white and the colored people in bus station. In the restaurant, it is unlawful for the PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI 15

whites and the blacks to be served in the same room. The use of the toilets has the

same law with the other public facilities (sju.edu, 2011).

In Florida, the marriages between a white person and an Afro American,

or between a white person and a person of Afro American descent to the fourth

generation inclusive, are prohibited. For education, the schools for the whites and

also the blacks must be separated. In Georgia, there are colored barbers shall not

serve as a barber to white girls. For amateur Negro baseball team, they shall not

play baseball in any vacant lot or baseball diamond within two blocks of

playground to the white race (sju.edu, 2011).

The prisons for the white convicts shall be separated for sleeping and

eating from the Negro convicts in Mississippi. For the militia in North Carolina,

organization of Negro troops shall not be permitted where white troops are

available. Still in the North Carolina, there shall be a separated place for the

colored people who may come to the library to read books that has been

maintained by the state librarian (sju.edu, 2011).

A Montgomery, Alabama, ordinance compelled black residents to take seats apart from whites on municipal buses. At the time, the "separate but equal" standard applied, but the actual separation practiced by the Montgomery City Lines was hardly equal. Montgomery bus operators were supposed to separate their coaches into two sections: whites up front and blacks in back. As more whites boarded, the white section was assumed to extend toward the back. On paper, the bus company's policy was that the middle of the bus became the limit if all the seats farther back were occupied. Nevertheless, that was not the everyday reality. During the early 1950s, a white person never had to stand on a Montgomery bus. In addition, it frequently occurred that blacks boarding the bus were forced to stand in the back if all seats were taken there, even if seats were available in the white section (u-s-history.com, 2011). PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI 16

The action above led the member of National Association for the

Advancement of Colored People in Montgomery, Alabama and also a seamstress,

Rosa Parks did not want to give up her seat on the city bus to a white man. She

challenged Jim Crow Laws and she was arrested. Then it turned to pastor at

Montgomery’s Dexter Street Baptist Church, Martin Luther King. Jr. He

suggested that Montgomery’s bus system was boycotted until it was integrated.

The black community walked to work and formed carpools. It made the bus

company bankrupt and the loss of business in downtown stores. But in November

1956, the Supreme Court ruled that bus segregation was illegal.

Then, sports in America also have institutional racism and individual

racism as the fundamental component, like what stated in encyclopedia.jrank.org,

“The playing fields of America were slowly integrated in the twentieth century,

and in the twenty-first century the struggle has shifted to equity in off-the-field

opportunities” (encyclopedia.jrank.org, 2011).

During the mid-nineteenth century and after the Civil War, the growth of

sport in America began to grow. But this growth was affected by race and racism

that started in 1887, based on Jim Crow Laws. Baseball began to spread out to

other places in large cities in the United States after the Civil War in 1861-1865.

During this period, race and ethnicity segregated the different clubs and leagues.

In 1871, the "colored" members had decided by the National Association of

Baseball Players to not include from their clubs. Therefore, African Americans

were forced to join, stay, and play in The Negro leagues, an exclusive all black

baseball leagues (liu.edu, 2011). PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI 17

As America embraced formal legal segregation toward the end of the century, the eviction of African Americans from many professional sports was already underway. African Americans were involved in all of the major popular sports of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, ranging from horse racing, baseball, and bicycling to boxing and football. Black athletes were systematically removed from all professional sports with the creation of formal color barriers by the early twentieth century. Professional football was one of the last sports to force black athletes out of its ranks by the 1930s, but one of the first to reintegrate beginning in 1946. (encyclopedia.jrank.org, 2011)

Before black athletes reintegrate in 1946, Matthew Eisenberg, in his book

entitled The Baseball’s Negro Leagues that found in tcr.org, states that “Black

men were unfairly prohibited from playing in baseball’s major leagues until 1947”

(tcr.org, 2011). From 1898 to 1947, racism became the fundamental component in

baseball. It excluded black players from white teams and leagues. They were

forced to play in inferior ballparks, under inferior conditions, because of their skin

colors.

From 1871 to 1947, African American baseball players were locked in

and forced to play only in teams which made for "negroes". As the all white

baseball teams increased and had more teams, right beside them were the

increasing numbers of all black teams.

Based on Robert Peterson’s Only the Ball was White: A History of

Legendary Black Players and All-Black Professional Teams (1970) in Baseball as

History and Myth in August Wilson’s: Fences, the black ballplayers were traveling

men. They find any kind of transportation to barnstorm the country. They rode in

packed automobiles and on broken-down buses, playing a game almost every day

and competing all over the country. To supplement their incomes, they often

played winter ball in Florida, California, Cuba, or Mexico (findarticles.com, PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI 18

2011). The article found in findarticles.com by Rust’s Art Rust’s Illustrated

History of the Black Athlete and Holway’s Voices from the Great Black Baseball

Leagues also states the experience that felt by Buck Leonard, the first baseman.

He states that “this itinerant life was not an easy one.” Although the basemen can

join the team, but they still get unequal treatment from their league:

Some seasons we would play 210 ball games. You're riding every day, playing in different towns. No air conditioning. Meals were bad. When I first started playing, we were getting 60 cents a day on which to eat (Rust 33).

Sometimes we'd stay in hotels that had so many bedbugs you had to put a newspaper down between the mattress and the sheets (Holway 259) (findarticles.com, 2011).

The colored ballplayers had to deal with racism in the United State of

America. They were unable to eat in restaurants for the whites only and to stay at

hotels that catered to white., In Craft’s The Negro Leagues: 40 Years of Black

Professional Baseball in Words and Pictures through findarticles.com, George

Giles who is the first baseman for the St. Louis Stars, says that, "The racism we

faced while I was in the Negro Leagues was one of the things that eventually

pushed me out of baseball.... I was treated like a second-class citizen in my own

country by people who knew they hated me before I could even say 'Hello'" (Craft

44). Ironically, most players found greater freedom and respect when they

traveled outside the borders of the United States, "the so-called land of the free"

(Craft 69) (findarticles.com, 2011).

For African American’s jobs, the 1940s and 1950s show that more

African Americans employed as practical nurses, elevator operators, industry

foremen, gas station and parking lot attendants, salespersons, social workers, cab PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI 19

drivers, and truck drivers. After the 1950s, the Census begins to show African

Americans employed in manufacturing, and as clerks, bookkeepers, cab and bus

drivers, mechanics, policemen, managers, foremen, salesmen, accountants,

auditors, and nurses. There were still African Americans employed in service

occupations, but the numbers were decreasing as more and more African

Americans were able to find work in places that had previously been denied to

them (berkshistory.org, 2011).

The significance of the play being set in 1957 is that it deals with the

class and race issues of this time period. At this time African Americans were

only recently allowed to play in mixed sports leagues; before this, there were

separate leagues for blacks and whites.

D. Theoretical Framework

The aim of this study is to find the racial discrimination in 20th century

the United States through the conflict of the major character, Troy Maxson in

August Wilson’s Fences. In this analysis, the writer provides some theories in

order to find the answer of the questions stated in the problem formulation. There

are theories of conflicts, theories on racial discrimination and some historical

background reviews. All the theories mentioned in the Review of Related

Theories are able to answer the problems in problem formulation because they are

related to each other.

In answering the first question of problem formulation, the writer will

analyze the conflict of the play. In analyzing the conflict, the theories on conflict

will be applied. Theories on conflict are the basis theories to analyze the first PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI 20

question in problem formulation because the writer will be able to get a clear

description about the conflict of Troy Maxson that found in the play.

The history of African-American people and also the society in America

in twentieth century are also important in this analysis to answer the second

problem formulation. Besides the theories written, to see the racial discrimination

that was described by August Wilson in his play, the theories on discrimination

gives a greatest contribution in answering the second problem, which is how the

conflict of Troy Maxson revealed the racial discrimination in the twentieth

century United States of America. This theory will describe the attitudes of people

that reflect racial discrimination from the white race.

PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI

CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

A. Object of the Study

In this study, the writer wants to analyze one of August Wilson’s play

entitled Fences. Since the setting of the play is in 1957, in the dirt-yard and porch

of the Maxson family's house in Pittsburgh, PA which also became Wilson’s

hometown, it is important to know the condition of society in Pittsburgh. By

reading the play, the reader can learn about the racism in United States of America

felt by African-American people.

Fences was Wilson's second play to go to Broadway and won him the

1987 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The play was written in 1957, later, 1965, which

was developed from 1983–1987 in United States. It was published in June 1986

with Penguin Books USA as the publisher.

Fences was presented as a stage at The Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center’s

1983 National Playwrights Conference. It was opened on April 30, 1985, at the

Yale Repertory Theatre in a production directed by Lloyd Richards. In the

following year, the Richards-helmed Broadway premiere won every accolade,

including the Tony Award for Best Play, the New York Drama Critics’ Circle

Award, the John Gassner Outer Critics’ Circle Award and the Pulitzer Prize for

Drama. (scr.org, 2010)

Fences is about an African American man named Troy who works as a

garbage collector and ex-baseball player. He cannot pursue his dream when he

PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI 22

tries to join a major league. Since his failed struggle as a black baseball player, he

does not allow his son, Cory to join the football league in his college. He does not

want his son experience what he has. What he does is for protecting his son and he

does not let his son to be disappointed like he was. Troy also struggles for his job.

He complains to his employers protesting about the limitation of black workers as

lifters not drivers on the trash trucks. He wants justice and same treatment for his

race till he becomes the first African American truck driver in his term. Although

he has self-imposed emotional, he has a wife who cares of him, named Rose. But

he betrays his wife with having affair with another woman. Rose, who is a loving

and caring woman, still forgive him and she takes care Troy’s child when the

child’s mother, Alberta died.

B. Approach of the Study

The writer uses the socio-cultural historical approach in analyzing this

study because the writer wants to analyze the play that is related to the history of

the black Americans in twentieth century in the United States. According to Mary

Rohrberger and Samuel H. Woods,

Critics whose major interest is the socio-cultural historical approach insist that the only way to locate the real work is in reference to the civilization that produced it. They define civilization as the attitudes and actions of a specific group of people and point out that literature takes these attitudes and actions as its subject matter (1971: 9).

The quotation above means that the approach concerns about the

society’s condition, the history of the story and the reflection of the society at that

time. PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI 23

This traditional approach to literature usually takes as its basis some

aspects of the socio-cultural historical frame of reference, combining it with an

interest in biographical as well as knowledge of an interest in literary history

(Rohrberger and Woods, 1971: 9).

This approach obviously explains that to more understand of the literary

work, the reader needs to know about what happens in the time of the literary

work and also the biography of the author.

Then, the historical critic examines not only the work itself but also the

work in relation to others by the same author or works of similar kind of subject

matter by different authors in the same period or in different periods (Rohrbrger

and Woods, 1971: 9).

According to William Harmon and Hugh Holman, in their book, A

Handbook to Literature, “historical criticism is criticism that approaches work in

terms of the social, cultural, and historical context in which it was produced”

(2009: 245).

Thus, there is a significant relation between society and literature because

literature is a product of civilization. This approach will help the writer in

exploring the socio-cultural historical background where and when the story

happens. It will be applied to understand the social and historical context of the

play. The African-American’s experience in racial prejudice is a part of the social

condition and history at that time.

PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI 24

C. Method of the Study

In conducting the study, the method used was library research method. It

means that all the data were taken from any written sources such as books on

literature, criticism and also encyclopedia to collect the information in the process

of analyzing and answering the problems.

Supporting this study, the writer used two kinds of sources. There were

primary source and secondary sources. The primary source was the play itself,

Fences that is written by August Wilson. The play was found in the W. B.

Worthen’s The Harcourt Brace Anthology of Drama, Third Edition.

Meanwhile, the secondary sources were taken from some books, such as

Glossary of Literary Terms (1991), Reading and Writing about Literature (1971),

Understanding Plays, Second Edition (1994), and also from the websites such as

www.sparknotes.com, www.courttheatre.org, www.findarticles.com, and

plays.about.com.

The writer took some steps in conducting this paper. The writer first

decided the literary work that would be analyzed. Second, the writer read the work

profoundly to know the whole of the play. In order to understand the play in

detail, the writer needed several times to read the work. Then, the third step was

making the topic that was going to be analyzed in this study. To help the writer in

analyzing the topic, problem formulation was transformed. It helped to focus and

narrow the discussion. The next step, the writer tried to collect the references

about the theories, approach and criticism relevant to the used topic to support this

thesis from library and internet. The data that contained criticism based on the PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI 25

play itself and other references, such as information related to the studies, theories

of conflict, theory on racial discrimination, some reviews of historical

background, and socio-cultural historical approach.

Then, the theories and approach were applied to analyze the topic. The

analysis was done by answering the problem formulations one by one. After

completing all of the steps, the writer drew a conclusion to finish the whole study.

PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI

CHAPTER IV

ANALYSIS

The writer divides this chapter into two parts. Each part answers each

question that is stated in the problem formulation in Chapter I. The first part

discusses the conflicts experienced by Troy Maxson, and this part will be the base

to answer the second problem, that is how Troy Maxson’s conflicts reveal the

racial discrimination in the 20th century United States of America.

A. Troy Maxson’s Conflicts in August Wilson’s Fences

In August Wilson’s Fences, the author presents Troy Maxson as the main

character of the play. Troy Maxson is described as a middle-aged African-

American man whose job is a garbage man.

Troy is fifty-three years old, a large man with thick, heavy hands…. The men carry lunch buckets and wear or carry burlap aprons and are dressed in clothes suitable to their jobs as garbage collectors. (Act I, Scene I, p. 1036)

He lives with his wife, Rose, and two sons, Lyons, his son by a previous

marriage and Cory, and he takes care of his care-free brother, Gabriel. His dream

was once to be able to become a baseball player for the major baseball league but

because of the racial discrimination that he faced, he never achieved that dream,

and he doesn’t want the same thing to happen to his younger son, Cory.

In Abrams’s Glossary of Literary Terms, it explains that external conflict

is a “conflict between individual, such as conflict between a protagonist and fate,

or between circumstances” (1981: 128). Based on Abrams’s explanation about

PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI 27

conflict itself, the writer finds out that there are three conflicts that Troy Maxson

has to face or against the circumstances standing between him and a goal that he

has set by himself by observing the play.

1. Troy Maxson’s Conflict with His Employer, Mr. Rand

Troy was a former baseball player. He practiced to play baseball for

fifteen years in the penitentiary. But his dream could not come true. He could not

be the member of the major baseball league. Because of losing his dream to

develop his career in baseball, Troy tried to find out another job to make a living,

that was as a garbage collector. It is stated in the beginning of the play, “the men

carry lunch buckets and wear or carry burlap aprons and are dressed in clothes

suitable to their jobs as garbage collectors.” (Act I, Scene I, p. 1036)

Although the salary as a garbage man is not satisfying, Troy tries to do

his best to be a good worker. In the place where he works, only the white can

drive a truck, and the black lifts the garbage. He wants the white people to

consider the existence of the black people by allowing them to drive the truck.

The first conflict can be seen in act one, scene one, when Troy Maxson

and his friend, Bono, engage in a conversation. They talk about the nigger who

comes and talks to Bono, saying that Troy will get them fired.

TROY. I ain’t worried about them firing me. They gonna fire me cause I asked a question? That’s all I did. I went to Mr. Rand and asked him, “Why? Why you got the white mens driving and the colored lifting?” Told him, “what’s the matter, don’t I count? You think only white fellows got sense enough to drive a truck. That ain’t no paper job! Hell, anybody can drive a truck. How come you got all the whites driving and the colored lifting?” He told me “take it to the union.” Well, hell, that’s what I done! Now they wanna come up with this pack of lies. (Act I, Scene I, p. 1037) PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI 28

The quotation above shows the conflict of Troy Maxson with Mr. Rand,

his employer. Based on Stanton’s Introduction to Fiction, this kind of conflict is

called external conflict. “It happens when the protagonist has trouble and conflicts

against the other characters. The protagonist is opposed by another character.

Frequently he fights with a single person or more than one” (1965: 16).

In the above dialogue, Troy Maxson has a trouble with other characters,

Mr. Rand. He is opposed by Mr. Rand and Troy fights against him. He demands

the same position as White in the society. He asks his right to be a truck driver

because only the white fellows can be appropriate to drive a truck while the blacks

only lift the garbage.

This conflict can also be concluded from the conversation between Troy

and Bono. Troy says that, “Brownie don’t understand nothing. All I want them to

do is change the job description. Give everybody a chance to drive the truck.”

(Act I, Scene I, p. 1037)

But his struggle to get a proper job as a truck driver is not in vain. Troy

Maxson finally can be what he wants, a truck driver which only white people’s

job. It is stated on the conversation between Troy and Rose,

TROY. Look here, Rose… Mr. Rand called me into his office today when I got back from talking to them people down there… it come from up top… he called me in and told me they was making a driver. (Act I, Scene 4, p. 1047)

Troy’s success as a truck driver can also be found in Bono’s dialogue in praising

Troy’s achievement,

BONO. Your daddy got a promotion on the rubbish. He’s gonna be the first colored driver. Ain’t got to do nothing but sit up there and read the paper like them white fellows. (Act I, Scene 4, p. 1047) PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI 29

It can be seen in the Bono’s dialogue that Troy is the first colored driver

at that time. After struggling to his employer, Mr. Rand, Troy earns a promotion

allowing him to drive the garbage truck. The main character, Troy Maxson,

succeeds in overcoming the other forces. He fights against his employer

concerning a promotion which is not an easy task to do.

2. Troy Maxson’s Conflict with Major Baseball League

In the past, Troy Maxson was a former baseball player in Negro baseball

league. Before he was able to play baseball, he learned to play baseball in the

penitentiary. He had to stay in penitentiary for 15 years because he killed a man

accidentally.

TROY. … Went to rob this fellow… pulled out my knife… and he pulled out a gun. Shot me in the chest. It felt just like somebody had taken a hot branding iron and laid it on me. When he shot me I jumped at him with my knife. They told me I killed him and they put me in the penitentiary and locked me up for fifteen years. (Act I, Scene 4, p. 1049)

Troy had enough time to think that he had done was wrong. He regretted

it but it was too late and it was impossible to him to turn back the time. And he

made a promise that he would never rob anymore. For that reason, Troy learned

how to play baseball. He knew that he had to have a skill to have a better life than

he had before. Penitentiary was the place where he learned baseball. He said,

“That’s where I learned how to play baseball.” (Act I, Scene I, p. 1049)

Troy’s best friend, Jim Bono, confesses the greatness of Troy Maxson in

playing baseball. And he remarks that only two baseball players who hit more

home runs that Troy, they are Babe Ruth and Josh Gibson. PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI 30

BONO. … Ain’t but two men ever played baseball as good as you. That’s Babe Ruth and Josh Gibson. Them’s the only two men ever hit more home runs than you. (Act I, Scene I, p. 1038)

Troy knows he can play basketball well. He is proud of his ability of

playing baseball because he is able to play baseball better than others.

TROY. Selkirk! That’s it! Man batting .269, understand? .269. What kind of sense that make? I was hitting .432 with thirty-seven home runs! (Act I, Scene I, p. 1038)

Troy realizes his skill in playing baseball and he wants to make it as his

career. He wants to be a professional baseball player. But Troy is very upset to

find out that he cannot make his dream as a professional baseball player come

true. He is powerless to fight against the condition he faced. He thinks that

baseball team does not accept him as the part of the team because he is a black

man. He cannot accept the rejection. Troy thinks that it is not fair to refuse

someone just because of his race. He has to face the reality that he cannot join the

major baseball league.

TROY. .. I’m talking about if you could play ball then they ought to have to let you play. Don’t care what color you were. Come telling me. I come along too early. If you could play… then they ought to have let you play. (Act I, Scene I, p. 1038)

Troy’s ability in baseball league diminishes because African Americans

were not given much chance to play in Troy’s day, so he was not able to make a

living out of playing baseball. He thinks what he did for fifteen years in the

penitentiary is useless.

The colored men were not allowed to play in baseball league in Troy’s

day. Most of them were not used in the play. PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI 31

TROY. If they got a white fellow sitting on the bench… you can bet your last dollar he can’t play! The colored guy got to be twice as good before he get on the team. That’s why I don’t want you to get all tied up in them sports. Man on the team and what it get him? They got colored on the team and don’t use them. Same as not having them. All the teams the same. (Act I, Scene 3, p. 1044)

Susan Koprince in her article Baseball as history and myth in August

Wilson's: Fences, says that Rose and Bono claim that times have changed since

Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball. And now many colored

players are involved in professional sport. Bono’s opinion, Troy just come too

early (findarticles.com). And Troy argues,

TROY. There ought not never have been no time called too early! ... I done seen a hundred niggers play baseball better than Jackie Robinson. Hell, I know some teams Jackie Robinson couldn't even make! What you talking about Jackie Robinson. Jackie Robinson wasn't nobody. I'm talking about if you could play ball then they ought to have let you play. Don't care what color you were. Come telling me I come along too early. If you could play ... then they ought to have let you play. (Act I, Scene I, p. 1038)

3. Troy Maxson’s Conflict with His Son, Cory

It has been explained before in the second problem formulation that Troy

was not able to be a baseball player in his time. But this unpleasant experience

makes Troy have a big disappointment which he has buried from time to time and

then it ends to his son, Cory, who is recruited by a college football team. It can be

seen in Rose’s dialogue. She says, “Cory done went and got recruited by a college

football team.” (Act I, Scene I, p. 1038)

Troy tries hard to force his value to Cory. He does not allow Cory to

have freedom in expressing his life and individuality. Troy does not want Cory to

have the same experience as Troy did. What Troy had in the past was only PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI 32

disappointment in baseball. What Troy does is to protect Cory. And the

unpleasant experience leads Troy to protect Cory.

Troy’s bitterness of the denial in playing baseball to major league

baseball is still felt by him. Cory is the new generation that is more optimistic than

his father to get a better life. He is eager to attend college on a football scholarship

team that is recruited by his coach, Coach Zellman, “Yeah. Coach Zellman say the

recruiter gonna be coming by to talk to you. Get you to sign the permission

papers.” (Act 1, Scene 3, p. 1044)

Cory likes to play football very much. It is shown in the dialogue

between Cory and Troy. In the dialogue is seen that Cory prefers practicing

football to doing his chores.

TROY. You just now coming in here from leaving this morning? CORY. Yeah, I had to go to football practice. TROY. Yeah, what? CORY. Yessir. TROY. I ain’t but two seconds off you noway. The garbage sitting in there overflowing… you ain’t done none of your chores… and you come in here talking about “Yeah.” CORY. I was just getting ready to do my chores now, Pop… TROY. Your first chore is to help me with this fence on Saturday. Everything else come after that. Now get that saw and cut them boards. (Act I, Scene 3, p. 1043)

Cory spends his time to play football and he is eager to be a football

player. What Cory needs to be the part of the football team was Troy’s signature

in the recruitment form. But Troy refuses it. He believes that Cory will have the

same experience, an unpleasant treatment, as what he had in the past.

ROSE. Why don’t you let the boy go ahead and play football, Troy? Ain’t no harm in that. He’s just trying to be like you with the sports. TROY. I don’t want him to be like me! I want him to move as far away from my life as he can get… I decided seventeen years ago that boy PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI 33

wasn’t getting involved in no sports. Not after what they did to me in the sports. (Act I, Scene 3, p. 1045)

They argue about a college football team that recruits Cory to be a

football player. Troy does not want Cory experiences the unpleasant experience

felt by Troy, so he says that “I don’t want him to be like me!” (Act I, Scene I, p.

1045). Troy obviously rejects that and asks Cory to work at the A&P although

Cory tells Troy that he will work in weekend.

Troy’s experience that he had in the past has pressed him. In the past, he

tried to join the major baseball league from Negro baseball league but he was not

accepted to be the part of the baseball team because he was a black. And up to

now he still thinks that the football team will do the same to Cory, the racial

discrimination practice. Troy still has a conservative mind like what stated in Troy

and Cory’s dialogue,

TROY. I ain’t thinking about the Pirates. Got an all-white team. Got that boy… that Puerto Rican boy… Clemente. Don’t even half-play him. That boy could be something if they give him a chance. Play him one day and sit him on the bench the next CORY. He gets a lot of chances to play. TROY. I’m talking about playing regular. Playing everyday so you can get your timing. That’s what I’m talking about. CORY. They got some white guys on the team that don’t play every day. You can’t play everybody at the same time. (Act I, Scene 3, p. 1044)

The dialogues between Troy and Cory show that Troy still believes that

there is still a racial discrimination practice in sport. He thinks the black players

are not given much time to play in the game. But Cory argues that the white

players do not play every day and the Puerto Rican boy has a lot of chances to

play because they cannot play at the same time. That is why, a deep PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI 34

disappointment that haunted Troy all these years makes Troy try to get Cory off

from sport, especially football.

TROY. I got a good sense, woman. I got a good sense enough to let my boy get hurt over playing no sports. You been a mothering that boy too much. Worried about if people like him. (Act I, Scene 3, p. 1045)

Troy’s rejection of Cory when Cory is recruited by a football team is

seen in Troy’s dialogue,

TROY. I told that boy about that football stuff. The white man ain’t gonna let him nowhere with that football. I told him when he first come to me with it. Now you come telling me he done went and got more tied up in it. He ought to go and get recruited in how to fix cars or something where he can make a living. (Act I, Scene I, p. 1038) TROY. I thought we had an understanding about this football stuff? You suppose to keep up with your chores and hold that job down at the A&P. Ain’t been around here all day on a Saturday. Ain’t none of your chores done… and now you telling me you done quit your job …I don’t care where he coming from. The white man ain’t gonna let you get nowhere with that football noway. You go on and get your book-learning so you can work yourself up in that A&P or learn how to fix cars or build houses or something,… Besides hauling people’s garbage. (Act I, Scene 3, p. 1044-1045)

The dialogue above shows that it is better for Cory to work in A&P to

make a living and earn money than to be a football player. Troy does not want to

see Cory hurt by the fact that Cory cannot be a football player because he is a

black. He thinks that he is responsible to take care of his family.

TROY. It’s my job. It’s my responsibility! You understand that? A man got to take care of his family. You live in my house … sleep you behind on my bedclothes .. fill you belly up with my food .. cause you my son. You flesh and blood. Not ‘cause I like you! Cause it’s my duty to take care of you. I owe responsibility to you! (Act I, Scene 3, p. 1045) PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI 35

Finally, what Cory dreams of is failed because of Troy’s denial. Troy

tells Cory’s coach in football that Cory cannot play football and join to football

team.

CORY. Papa done went up to the school and told Coach Zellman I can’t play football no more. Wouldn’t even let me play the game. Told him to tell the recruiter not to come. (Act I, Scene 4, p. 1050)

B. Racial Discrimination in 20th Century United States of America Reflected

in Troy Maxson’s Conflicts

Before the racism against black people happened, the black people had

been known as the slaves. Slavery was the main cause of the civil war that

happened between North and South America. The North wanted to abolish slavery

but the South still supported slavery. Although slavery was abolished, then the

black became citizens and they were given the right to vote, the segregation and

racism against the black people still happened in the twentieth century. In Florida,

there was a law that discriminated against the Afro-American people segregated

seating in public accommodation such as train and bus named Jim Crow Laws. It

required the different use of the public and also private facilities. For examples, it

was illegal to eat in the same room in the restaurants or lunch counters in the

restaurant, used the public toilets in the bus station, and used of the separate

entrances for white and colored patients and visitors in hospital (sju.edu, 2011).

In the play, Troy Maxson deals with some problems. Most of them are

the problems of racial discrimination that addressed by the white people to the

black American. As stated in Worthen’s The Hartcourt Brace Anthology of PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI 36

Drama, “the descendants of African slaves were offered no such welcome or

participation” (2000, 1036).

The following discussion is about the racial discrimination experienced

by black people which is revealed in the main character’s conflicts. The writer

tries to examine the essence of the conflicts and then to relate them to the racial

discrimination that happened in the American Society in the twentieth century.

1. The Reflection of Black Workers Seen through Troy Maxson’s Conflict

with His Employer, Mr. Rand

The conflict that happens between Troy and Mr. Rand is basically the

conflict felt by African American in the twentieth century. Troy’s conflict reflects

the racial discrimination that is addressed to the black people. In this case, Troy, at

first, was a garbage collector. It is supposed to be the proper job for the black

people like Troy. However, Troy tries to struggle to get more than that, that is to

get equality. He struggles for justice in job description for his race, “All I want

them to do is change the job description. Give everybody a chance to drive the

truck.” (Act I, Scene I, p. 1037)

The quotation above shows that Troy, as a black American, struggles to

get a proper job like the white. He thinks that it is not only for himself, but also

for his race. Here, the conflict that he faces is related to racial discrimination. In

Thomas N. Maloney’s article entitled African American in the Twentieth Century,

here is the job condition for the black Americans.

Black workers had access to a limited set of jobs and remained heavily concentrated in unskilled laborer positions. Black workers gained admittance to only a limited set of firms, as well. For instance, in the auto PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI 37

industry, the Ford Motor Company hired a tremendous number of black workers, while other auto makers in Detroit typically excluded these workers. Because their alternatives were limited, black workers could be worked very intensely and could also be used in particularly unpleasant and dangerous settings, such as the killing and cutting areas of meat packing plants, foundry departments in auto plants, and blast furnaces in steel plants (eh.net/encyclopedia, 2011).

The quotation explains limited job for black workers. They are usually

set in unskilled laborer positions. Only a few firms hire black workers. Usually

black workers are set in dangerous settings in auto plants, such as working in

foundry departments.

In W. B Worthen’s The Harcourt Brace Anthology of Drama that

contains August Wilson’s Fences, the setting of place in Pittsburgh,

The descendants of African slaves were offered no such welcome or participation. They came from places called the Carolinas and the Virginias, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee. They came strong, eager, searching. The city rejected them and they fled and settled along the riverbanks and under bridges in shallow, ramshackle houses made of sticks and tar-paper. They collected rags and wood. They sold the use of their muscles and their bodies. They cleaned houses and washed clothes, they shined shoes, and in quiet desperation and vengeful pride, they stole, and lived in pursuit of their own dream. That they could breathe free, finally, and stand to meet life with the force of dignity and whatever eloquence the heart could call upon (Worthen, 2000: 1036).

The quotation above reflects the life of African American in America.

They used their muscles and bodies to their employers. They were just like second

class citizen in the city because as they were rejected by the society, made houses

from sticks and tar-paper under the bridge. Many of them worked as

housekeepers, and any unskilled job to fulfill their daily needs.

The condition above also reflects the condition of Troy. He is a garbage

collector and the white people drive the truck. The job for the Afro Americans PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI 38

was limited and they got lower and inferior job than the white. It was because the

whites thought that African Americans were less-educated, low-earning workers,

so that they are placed into the lower job even they had to work very intensely and

concentrated in the unskilled laborer positions.

Troy feels the inferior facilities and quality which are different from the

White. He is only placed in an unskilled laborer position by his employer because

collecting garbage is an unskilled job. It is different with driving the truck which

needs driving skill. But Troy does not want to be a garbage collector in his whole

life. He asks Mr. Rand to get a promotion job. He wants Troy’s struggle for

justice, rights and opportunity got a result. Finally, he gets a promotion to get a

higher job from his employer, Mr. Rand. He is the first truck driver in that time,

1957. In United States of America, the black American started to get the same job

with the white in around 1940s-1950s.

The 1940s and 1950s show more African Americans employed as practical nurses, elevator operators, industry foremen, gas station and parking lot attendants, salespersons, social workers, cab drivers, and truck drivers (berkhistory.org, 2011).

Troy Maxson’s conflict has the same conflict with the real condition of

African American people in 1955. It is supported with the real story felt by Rosa

Sparks, one of the members of National Association for the Advancement of

Colored People in Montgomery, Alabama. She did not want to give up her seat to

the white man on December 1, 1955. Because of this act, she was arrested. But her

struggle to justice and equality for her race led the 381-day Montgomery Bus

Boycott that forced the city to desegregate its system in 1956 (u-s-history.com,

2011). The segregation on inter-state railways was another inferior facility that the PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI 39

Negro got in 1952. It was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. The

own policy of transport segregation was continued by states in the Deep South. It

is involved the white people sitting in the front and for the black people who sat

nearest to the front had to relinquish their seats to any whites standing

(spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk, 2011). It can be seen that Troy Maxson and Rosa

Sparks struggle for the justice of their race. Both of them tried to break the law

that made them as the second class citizens.

2. The Reflection of Negro Baseball Players Seen through Troy’s Conflict

with Major Baseball League

Troy’s unpleasant experience after he got an unequal treatment from

major baseball league is also the racial practice by the white Americans. He wants

to be a professional baseball player because he is confidently capable in doing

that. But it is diminished because of his race. The African Americans were not

given much chance to play in sports arena.

Troy has to face the discrimination in 1930s (his day), when there is still

racial discrimination towards the black athletes. Firstly, he played to Negro

baseball league and wanted to join the major baseball league and he was talented

enough to be a professional baseball player. But after black players reintegrated in

1947, Troy could not join the major baseball league because of his age. He was PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI 40

too old to play when he was over forty. It is shown in Rose’s dialogue, “How’s

was you gonna play ball when you were over forty? Sometimes I can’t get no

sense of you” (Act I, Scene 3, p. 1045). But Troy argues, “What do you mean too

old? Don’t come telling me I was too old. I just wasn’t the right color. Hell, I’m

fifty-three years old and can do better that Selkirk’s” (Act I, Scene 3, p. 1045).

Troy feels that he is still young and he can still do the best, “Hell, I can hit forty-

three home runs right now!” “I hit seven home runs off of Satchel Paige. You

can’t get no better than that!” (Act I, Scene 3, p. 1044)

Troy Maxson, who had played in the Negro Leagues, found the change to

integrated leagues had come too late; he is now too old to play professional ball.

Still, in the same source, findarticles.com by Susan Koprince, racist society has

crushed Troy’s dream to play in major leagues, but in his own imagination he is

still at bat and young. He is not Troy Maxon, a garbage collector, but Troy

Maxon, a “power hitter and hero” (findarticles.com).

Besides boxing, horse racing, and football, baseball was one of the sports

which took hold and became crowd pleasers. It was shown in early records that

African Americans were involved in these sports whenever given the opportunity

to participate. American sports were filled with records of many African

American athletes that were able of participating in the broad sports arena but they

were not given the chance only because of their race. Although sports grew

popular into an American pastime, it also grew along on separate fields with race

as a dividing line. Race separated most of the sporting events until the 1940's and

for the African Americans, who were ready and able to cross that line, they had to PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI 41

pay a heavy price. They, who were able to cross that line, actually became the

prime symbol of their race in that individual sport. While demonstrating their

skills in the sports arena, they were, at times, teased, harassed, and belittled

(liu.edu, 2011).

The year in which Fences was set, in 1957, black athletes had become an

integrated part of professional and college sports, at least on the surface. The all-

white teams of the World War II-and previous-years began to include blacks in

1947 when Jackie Robinson became the first black professional baseball since the

color line was drawn in the 1890s.

In Fences Wilson taps into a history of black baseball that began in America in the decades following the Civil War and continued in various forms until 1947, when Jackie Robinson finally crossed baseball's color line (findarticles.com, 2011).

It is also stated in the Rose’s dialogue, “They got a lot of colored baseball

players now. Jackie Robinson was the first. Folks had to wait for Jackie

Robinson” (Act I, Scene 1, p. 1038). Jackie Robinson was the first Afro American

to play in major league baseball. “He was regarded as a role model: an exemplary

human being, someone who didn't smoke or drink, who was not hostile and

defiant, and who was likely to get along well with white players and baseball

executives” (findarticles.com). Here, the history of African Americans in playing

baseball began a new era that made the black’s dream come true for countless

players aiming for a chance to show their talents in the majors-league (liu.edu,

2011).

PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI 42

3. The Reflection of Negro Football Player Seen through Troy’s Conflict with

His Son, Cory

Troy’s conflict between Cory is caused by Troy’s disappointment and

desire to protect Cory. Cory wants to be one of football players in his college. He

gets a recruitment football player from his football coach. But Troy argues that to

be a black athlete, Cory has to be twice as talented to make the team and that "the

white man ain't gonna let you get nowhere with that football noway." (Act I,

Scene 3, p. 1044)

Even Troy instructs Cory to concern with his job at the A & P or to learn

how to fix cars, a trade like carpentry: "That way you have something can't

nobody take away from you" (Act I, Scene 3, p. 1045).

The conflict between two different generations is based on the two

different perceptions. Troy, who is an actual person, has increased tensions in the

racially charged environment of the 1930 and 1940s. As what stated in Act I,

scene 4, page 1049, Troy practiced baseball in the penitentiary for fifteen years,

“That’s where I learned how to play baseball… Fifteen years was a long time for

her to wait” (In Worthen). Cory, who believes in the promise of the American

dream, for black athletes in the 1950s, feels that Troy is too selfish in holding him

back from success (findarticles.com, 2011). He says, “Just cause you didn’t have a

chance! You just scared I’m gonna be better than you, that’s all.” (Act I, Scene 4,

p. 1050)

Troy struggles to protect Cory until he goes to football coach, “Papa done

went up to the school and told Coach Zellman I can’t play football no more. PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI 43

Wouldn’t even let me play the game. Told him to tell the recruiter not to come”

(Act I, Scene 4, p. 1050). Because of Troy’s statement, Cory cannot continue his

hobby and dream as a football player.

Since 1880s, many colleges in the Northeast had African American

students and they also played on the football teams. Based on the article found in

liu.edu entitled The African-Americans in the Sports Arena, the first African

American who played in 1889 in football team as center position was William

Henry Lewis, from Berkeley, Virginia and became the captain in 1890s. The other

was William Tecumseh Sherman Jackson who played in the half back position

from Alexandria, Virginia. Both of them played in the same squad, Amherst.

In 1892, at the University of Chicago, came Amos Alonzo Stagg, coach of the football team. Stagg, from his experiences as a coach, wrote, along with H.C. Williams, a book entitled, A Scientific and Practical Treatise on American Football for Schools and Colleges (Chicago: University of Chicago, 1893). This solitary source became the guide for many developing football teams at all black colleges in the South during the late 1800's. The Morrill Act of 1890 came along and helped land-grant colleges and universities to grow in numbers. Along with these country- wide large universities came the growth of sports which included larger sports arenas for grand football games. Many of African Americans African Americans were playing football in the eastern colleges by the end of the 1890's (liu.edu, 2011).

Rose’s dialogue also shows that time has changed, “They got lots of

colored boys playing ball right now. Baseball and football.” (Act I, Scene 1, p.

1038)

Cory actually is allowed to join college’s football team; even he is

recruited and gets scholarship. In the explanation above, many of African

Americans joined the football team in the end of the 1890s. But how poor Cory is, PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI 44

he cannot continue to join as the member of football team because his father’s ego

which is much influenced by racial discrimination that happens in his society.

PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI

CHAPTER V

CONCLUSION

In this thesis, the writer focuses on the racial discrimination happened in

the twentieth century United States of America seen through the conflict of the

main character, Troy Maxson. There are three main conflicts which represent

racial discrimination. The first conflict is the conflict between Troy Maxson and

his employer, Mr. Rand. The second is Troy Maxson’s conflict with major

baseball league. And the third is the conflict between Troy Maxson and his son,

Cory.

Troy who is a garbage collector, finally gets a promotion after he asks a

higher position as a truck driver to Mr. Rand, his employer. The blacks are

underestimated by the whites that they do not have any skill to get a better job.

Garbage collector does not need a skill but driving a truck requires a driving skill.

And the racial discrimination that Troy faced does not make him give up. He

struggles to get equality and justice from Mr. Rand until he gets what he wants,

that is a promotion. He finally becomes the first truck driver at his time. He is

allowed to drive the garbage truck and has the position same as the white’s.

Troy’s condition reflects the racial discrimination felt by the black American in

the twentieth century United States of America. They got inferior facilities and

qualities. The job that they got should be lower than the White’s. And also many

of Afro American’s jobs were unskilled job. But in 1950s, African Americans

were employed as police, practical nurses, truck driver and etc.

PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI 46

Troy is an ex-baseball player. His dream to be a professional baseball

player in major baseball league diminishes because of his race. The Whites do not

give him a chance to play in major league. And what he has done in the

penitentiary for fifteen years is useless because he cannot be what he wants to be,

as a professional baseball player. However, the color baseball athletes integrated

to major league since 1947 and the color barrier was broken by Jackie Robinson.

Since then on many colored players were involved into the game. Although many

black American integrated in the team, they got unequal treatment, such as the

meals they got was bad, there was no air conditioning in their room.

The last is the conflict between Troy and his son, Cory. This conflict is

based on Troy’s disappointment and desire to protect Cory. He is disappointed

that he could not play in major leagues because of his race, as the black man.

Meanwhile, he does not want Cory experience what he got in the past, so he is

eager to protect Cory. Although Cory really wants to attend the college’s football

team, his father has canceled the scholarship that he gets.

PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI

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APPENDICES

Appendix 1: Summary of August Wilson’s Fences

Troy Maxson is a garbage collector and ex-baseball player. He lives with

his wife, Rose, his son, Cory and also his brother, Gabriel. In his fifty-years old,

he still works to fulfill his family’s needs. There are several conflicts that Troy

Maxson has to deal with and it is related to racial discrimination. Troy thinks that

he gets discrimination practice from his employer, Mr. Rand. Troy complains to

Mr. Rand that Blacks also can drive the truck. It is an unfair treatment that Troy

gets in his work place because Mr. Rand only gives many chances to the Whites

to have a higher position in the job position. The Whites can drive the truck but

the Blacks can only lift the garbage.

The situation really makes Troy wants to struggle and fight the unjust

treatment from his employer. He asks a promotion to be a truck driver to his

employer. His struggle is not only for himself but also for his race. He wants

everybody has a chance to drive a truck. Fortunately, he can be the first colored

driver in his year.

Then, when Troy was a young, he was a baseball player but he faced

racial discrimination in major baseball league. In the beginning, Troy practiced

baseball in the penitentiary for fifteen years because he accidentally killed a man.

Because he thought that he was able to be a baseball player, he wanted to make

him as a professional baseball player in major baseball league. Unfortunately, in

Troy’s day, black baseball players could not join or only sat in the bench and were

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not given many chances to play. Because of the racial prejudice was addressed to

him, he could not pursue his dream to be a professional baseball player. He

though that what he did in the penitentiary for fifteen years was useless.

The bitter experiences that Troy got in the past affect his relationship

with his son, Cory. Cory is recruited by his college football team. Because he

loves to play football, he wants to attend it. But Troy argues that Cory cannot be a

professional football player. The Whites will not give him many chances to play

in the game. The Blacks just sit on the bench. It is the result of his unpleasant

experience in the past. Troy thinks that all of the leagues and teams will do the

same to Cory. He does not want Cory to get the same experience like what he had

in the past. What he does is to protect Cory.

As a son, Cory cannot do anything. He has no freedom to express his

idea. Cory is forced to work in A & P and he finally does not join into college

football team. He does not get a signature from his father. Cory’s mind is wider

than Troy. Now time has changed. There are many black Americans that can be

baseball and football players but Troy does not want to know. He thinks he is still

able to be a baseball player. Because of this conflict, Troy and Cory do not have a

good relationship as a father and a son.

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Appendix 2: August Wilson’s Life

August Wilson was born on April 27, 1945, to Daisy Wilson and

Frederick Kittel, a white baker German immigrant who never lived with the

family and rarely made an appearance at the apartment. Wilson grew up as the

fourth of Daisy Wilson’s six children in “the Hill”, the Pittsburgh neighborhood.

Wilson’s first name was Frederick August Kittel. Then he changed his name to

August Wilson in 1965, after his father’s death.

The teacher accused Wilson of plagiarism because the teacher did not

believe a black child could write term paper on Napoleon. He quitted school and

began to educate himself in Pittsburgh’s libraries. Wilson began to be a poet that

influenced by the writings of political poet and playwright Amir Baraka. His

interest in political led him to be a co-founder of Black Horizons, a Pittsburgh

community theater in the late 1960s. He moved to Minnesota and received a

fellowship from the Minneapolis Playwrights Center in 1978.

Wilson’s first play, Black Bart and the Sacred Hills was staged by St.

Paul’s Penumbra Theatre in 1981. In 1982, after several rejections of other scripts,

finally the National Playwrights Conference of the O’Neill Theatre Center in

Connecticut accepted Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom for a workshop. The head of the

Playwrights Conference, Lloyd Richards, would direct the first five plays in

August Wilson’s 10-play cycle that chronicling the experiences of black

Americans throughout the 20th century. Wilson’s 10 play cycle are Gem of the

Ocean (1904), Joe Turner’s Come and Gone (1911), Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

(1927), The Piano Lesson (1936), Seven Guitars (1948), Fences (1957), Two PLAGIATPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TIDAK TERPUJI TERPUJI 53

Trains Running (1969), Jitney (1979), King Hedley (1985), and Radio Golf

(1997).

In 1983, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom was developed at the Playwrights

Center and moved to premier at the Yale Repertory Theatre in 1984. Then in

1989, it won New York Drama Critics’ Cycle Award for Best American Play. For

the next two decades, Wilson became one of the late 20th century’s most

acclaimed playwrights. Wilson had ioperable liver cancer in August, 2005 and

died on October 2, 2005, after Radio Golf was premiered in a little more than six

months.