CHAPTER III DISCUSSION In this chapter, the writer will discuss about the points in theoretical review combined with the scenes from the movie. 3.1. Summary of the story 12 years a slave is an adaptation movie from a real story with the plot about a slave and racism. In 1841, Solomon Northup was a free African-American man working as a violinist, living with his wife and two children in Saratoga Springs, New York. One day, Two white men Brown and Hamilton, offer him short-term employment as a musician if he will travel with them to Washington, D.C. However, once they arrived, they drug Northup and delivered him to a slave place run by a man named Burch. Northup proclaims that he is a free man, only to be savagely beaten with a wooden paddle and then a leather belt. Northup is later shipped to New Orleans along with other captive African Americans. He is told by the others that if he wants to survive in the South, he must adapt to being a slave and not tell anyone he is a free man. A slave trader named Freeman gives Northup the identity of "Platt", a runaway slave from Georgia, and sells him to plantation owner William Ford. Tension grows between Northup and a plantation overseer which ends with Northup savagely beating and whipping the overseer. To save Northup's life, Ford sells him to another slave owner named Edwin Epps. In the process, Northup 14 15 attempts to explain that he is actually a free man, but Ford tells him he is too afraid and that he cannot help him now. Northup begins working on the construction of a gazebo with a Canadian laborer named Samuel Bass. Bass is unsettled by the brutal way that Epps treats his slaves and expresses his opposition to American slavery, earning Epps's enmity. Northup overhears the conversation and decides to reveal his kidnapping to Bass. Once again, Northup asks for help in getting a letter to Saratoga Springs. Bass agrees to send it. One day, the local sheriff arrives in a carriage with another man. The sheriff asks Northup a series of questions to confirm that his answers match the facts of his life in New York. Northup recognizes the sheriff's companion as Mr. Parker, a shopkeeper he knew in Saratoga. Parker has come to free him, and the two embrace, though an enraged Epps furiously protests the circumstances and tries to prevent Northup from leaving. After being enslaved for 12 years, Northup is restored to freedom and returned to his family, leaving behind the other slaves. As he walks into his home, he sees his wife with their son and daughter (fully grown) and her husband, who present him with his grandson and namesake, Solomon Northup Staunton. 3.2. Analysis of the story In this part, the writer will discuss about the types of racism, how the treat of people about racism and also effects of racism that can be found in the main character of the movie 16 3.2.1. The type of racism in the movie The writer uses the theory in Chapter II to identify the types of racism. Below are the scenes that depict the types of racism according to expert 1. Individual-level Racism Data 1 Figure 3.2.1.1 The main character get abused by the white people Supporting Dialogue : Solomon : ”I‟am Solomon northup. I am a free man, a resident of Saratoga, New York. The residence also of my wife and children who are equally free. I have papers, The residence also of my wife and children who are equally free. I have papers, you have no right to detain me” Solomon goes to the his pocket but nothing, there no paper. Burch : ”You no freeman, and you ain‟t from Saratoga. You from Georgia. You ain‟t freeman , you nothing but Georgia runaway. You a runaway nigger from Georgia.” (Burch begins to beat Solomon about the back with paddle) (13.56-16.05) As the door opens, Solomon awake and Burch came. Solomon told Burch that he is freeman from Saratoga, but Burch doesn‟t care to the what Solomon talking about. Burch changed Solomon‟s identity from freeman to a runaway nigger from Georgia. 17 With no preamble, Burch begins to beat Solomon about back with the paddle. Burch strikes his wordlessly – no blow. His back immediately swelling with welts and bruises. This beating continues on and on. This scene showed the type of racism in (Belgrave & Allison, 2018) which tell that individual racism. Individual racism assumes the superiority of one‟s own racial group, and rationalize the dominance and power generally of whites over African Americans. The writer think this scene contain the type of racism of Individual- level racism and overt because the white people who have more power against the black people can do anything what they want to the black people and changing their identity. Also, the white people with cruelty beating of the black people without hesitate. Data 2 Figure 3.2.1.2 Mistress Epps beats one of the slave Supporting Dialogue : Mistress Epps : “There‟ll be none for you, Patsey. You see that? (to Epps) did you see the look of insolence she give me?” 18 Epps : “Seen nothing but her turn away.” Mistress Epps : “Are you blind or ignorant? It was hot, hateful scorn. It filled that black face. You tell me you didn‟t see it, then you choose not to look, or you saying I lied. Epps : “Whatever it was, it passed.” Mistress Epps : “Is that how you are with the niggers? Let every ill thought fester inside them, look at them. They foul with it, foul with their back to us in the dark night. You want that? You want them black animals to leave us gut like pigs in our own sleep? (01.16.46-01.18.05) In this scene mistress epps brings out a tray of freshly baked pastries. She sets them down on a table. But only Patsey who didn‟t get a baked pastries from Mistress Epps. Patsey merely turns away. Epps isn‟t sure how to respond to the inchoate berating, Epps does nothing. The mistress lets her anger loose. She moves quickly to Patsey, drives her nails into the Patsey‟s face and bloody gashes are left in Patsey‟s skin, the moment marked with appropriate screams. Patsey collapses on the floor, covering her bleeding face. This scene showed the type of racism in (Belgrave & Allison, 2018) which tell that individual racism. Individual racism assumes the superiority of one‟s own racial group, and rationalize the dominance and power generally of whites over African Americans. The writer thinks this scene support the theory of individual-level racism because the the black people receive a mistreatment from their own master even though they are not making a mistake it is because their master have more higher position than them until their master physically attack their slaves, sometimes the attack is personal that they have a grudge towards them. 19 Data 3 Figure 3.2.1.3 Burch called Solomon nigger as an insult Supporting dialogue : Burch : “You are runaway nigger from Georgia.” (00.14.04-00.14.17) In this scene Solomon tried to explain that he is a freeman from Saratoga and he have family. Solomon search for paper in his pocket but nothing, there is no paper to support his evidence. Burch doesn‟t care to what Solomon talking about and called Solomon as the runaway nigger from Georgia. Data 4 Figure 3.2.1.4 Freeman called slaves nigger as taunt 20 Supporting Dialouge : Freeman : “Captain get these niggers to my cart” (00.28.34-00.28.40) In this scene Solomon and the other black people arrived in the port of new Orleans. They are sit off on one side of the dock, waiting for their fate. Freeman the trader slave came to them and calling out names from a list. Freeman told the captain of the ship to bring the black people to the his cart, but freeman called the black people nigger. Data 5 Figure 3.2.1.5 Freeman called the slave a nigger to differentiate race Supporting Dialouge : Ford : “What is the price for the one Platt and Eliza?” Freeman : ”A thousand for Platt, he is nigger with talent. Seven hundred for Eliza. My fairest price.” (00.29.52-00.30.06) In this scene Freeman displayed the black people for sell, and one of customer asked for the price of Solomon and Eliza. Freeman gave a price to his customer but he called Solomon with nigger. 21 Data 6 Figure 3.2.1.6 Mrs. Ford marked the slaves as nigger Supporting Dialouge : Mrs. Ford : “Did you bring all those niggers? (00.32.18-00.32.22) In this scene Mr. Ford came back from freeman‟s house and bought two of black people to be a slave. Mrs. Ford came out from the house and asked to the Mr. Ford about the black people with the word niggers that directed for black people. Data 7 Figure 3.2.1.7 Tibeats named the slave as a nigger 22 Supporting dialogue: Tibeats : “Overall you are niggers shouldn‟t know my name is John Tibeats”. (00.33.11-00.33.22) In this scene Tibeats who worked as the chief carpenter in plantation‟ Mr. Ford introduced his self to the black people, he called the black people with the word of niggers and explained about the plantation.