HEGEMONIC DISCRIMINATION AS SEEN IN ERNEST
J. GAINES’
A LESSON BEFORE DYING
THESIS
Submitted as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Sarjana Degree of English Department Faculty of Letters and Humanities
State Islamic University (UIN) Sunan Ampel Surabaya
By:
Achmad Naufal Irsyadi
Reg. Number: A03212025
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF LETTERS AND HUMANITIES
STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERISTY (UIN) SUNAN AMPEL
HEGEMONIC DISCRIMINATION AS SEEN IN ERNEST
J. GAINES’
A LESSON BEFORE DYING
THESIS
Submitted as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Sarjana Degree of English Department Faculty of Letters and Humanities
State Islamic University (UIN) Sunan Ampel Surabaya
By:
Achmad Naufal Irsyadi Reg. Number: A03212025
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF LETTERS AND HUMANITIES
STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY (UIN) SUNAN AMPEL
ABSTRACT
Irsyadi, Achmad Naufal. 2016. Hegemonic Discrimination as Seen in Ernest J.
Gaines’ A Lesson Before Dying. Thesis. English Department. Faculty of Letters and Humanities. State Islamic University (UIN) Sunan Ampel Surabaya.
Thesis Advisor: Itsna Syahadatud Dinurriyah, M.A.
This thesis attempts to analyze one of Ernest J. Gaines’s novel A Lesson Before Dying. This novel narrates about the life of Black Americans in the Southern American. This thesis focuses on analyzing Black and White Americans social relation in the Southern. Besides, the purposes of this thesis are to identify the White Americans’ treatment and to identify the effect of White Americans treatment toward Black Americans in the novel. As the need of the analysis, this study applies the theory of hegemony as the main theory used for analyzing both problems of the study. The theory of hegemony is taken due to the existence of discrimination within the relation of Black and White Americans in the Southern. Meanwhile, the theory of discrimination is applied as the secondary theory which emphasizes the hegemony of White Americans. Further, the sociology of
literature approach is used as an approach to connect literature with sociological aspect. Dealing with this, this thesis places sociology of literature and African American criticism as umbrella or underlying discourse of overall analysis. Hence, the result of this thesis is White Americans in the novel have been successfully reaching for a term Hegemony as it is signified by the White
Americans domination in some aspects of life and Black Americans submission to them. The process of reaching for Black Americans submission has been done structurally, beginning from the phase of domination and ends up with the phase of directing.
INTISARI
Irsyadi, Achmad Naufal. 2016. Hegemonic Discrimination as Seen in Ernest J.
Gaines’ A Lesson Before Dying. Skripsi. Sastra Inggris. Fakultas Adab dan Humaniora. Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Ampel Surabaya.
Pembimbing: Itsna Syahadatud Dinurriyah, M.A.
Skripsi ini mencoba untuk menganalisa salah satu novel Ernest J. Gaines A Lesson
Before Dying. Novel ini menceritakan tentant kehidupan orang kulit hitam Amerika di Amerika bagian Selatan. Skripsi ini difokuskan untuk menganalisa hubungan sosial orang kulit putih dan kulit hitam di Amerika bagian Selatan. Di samping itu, skripsi ini bertujuan untuk mengidentifikasi perlakuan orang kulit putih Amerika dan mengidentifikasi dampak perlakuan orang kulit putih Amerika terhadap orang kulit hitam Amerika di novel tersebut. Sebagaimana kebutuhan dalam analisanya, penelitian ini menggunakan teori hegemoni sebagai teori utama yang digunakan untuk menganalisa dua rumusan masalah. Teori hegemoni ini digunakan, karena adanya diskriminasi dalam hubungan antara orang kulit hitam dan kulit putih Amerika di Amerika bagian Selatan. Sedangkan, teori diskriminasi digunakan untuk menegaskan tentang hegemoni orang kulit putih Amerika. Selanjutnya, pendekatan sosiologi sastra digunakan sebagai sebuah pendekatan untuk mendekati dan menghubungkan sastra dengan aspek sosiologi. Berkenaan dengan hal tersebut, skripsi ini menempatkan sosiologi sastra dan kritik Afrika Amerika sebagai payung wacana dari keseluruhan analisa. Karena itu, hasil dari penelitian dalam skripsi ini adalah bahwa dalam novel, orang kulit putih America berhasil meraih hegemoni mereka sebagaimana yang ditandai dengan dominasi orang kulit putih di beberapa aspek kehidupan dan ditandai dengan adanya kepatuhan orang kulit hitam kepada mereka. Proses pencapaian kepatuhan orang kulit hitam Amerika dilakukan secara tersusun, bermula dari fase dominasi (domination) dan berakhir dengan fase penggiringan (directing)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Inside Cover Page ... i
Inside Title Page ... ii
Declaration Page ... iii
Approval Sheet Page ... iv
Examiner Sheet Page... v
Motto ... vi
Dedication Page ... vii
Acknowledgement... viii
Table of Contents ... x
Abstract ... xii
Intisari ... xiii
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ... 1
1.1Background of The Study ... 1
1.2Statement of Problem ... 9
1.3Purpose of The Study ... 10
1.4Scope and Limitation ... 10
1.5Significance of The Study ... 11
1.6Method of The Study ... 11
1.7Definition of Key Terms ... 14
CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW ... 15
2.1Theoretical Framework ... 15
2.1.1 African American Criticism ... 15
2.1.2 The Sociology of Literature ... 17
2.1.3 The Sociology of Literature Approach ... 19
2.1.4.1 Phase of Domination ... 26
2.1.4.2 Phase of Directing ... 27
2.1.5 Theory of Discrimination ... 28
2.2Review of Related Studies ... 30
CHAPTER 3 ANALYSIS ... 33
3.1 The Acceptance of Black Americans over The Treatment of White Americans ... 34
3.2 The Effect of White Americans Treatment towards Black Americans ... 46
CHAPTER 4 CONCLUSION ... 66
I r s y a d i 1
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1Background of The Study
Boon defines that literature is a creative and universal form of
expression that indicates the emotional, spiritual, or intellectual concerns of
humanity (214). So, the world presented and represented in literature is
adopted from the writer’s experience of a social and historical reality (Dani
and Mohen ed 276). Therefore, these explanations lead to an argument of
Dawson toward literature, that literature as a primary artistic product has a
creative sense and critical commentary (37). Emotional, intellectual, sense of
humanity, social and historical reality will be seen in a work of literature.
Commonly, the work of literature can be said as literary work.
Literary work is an integral unity of some elements which construct it.
The elements which construct a literary work can be categorized into two
aspects: form and content aspect. In this case, Budi Darma through a book
Babad Panjalu, states that the form aspect of literary work is a way of the author in delivering his ideas and concepts. Then, the content aspect of literary
work is the idea and concept that the author intends to deliver (Rosyadi,
Kusumah, Aswan, and Udansyah 219). Therefore, there are some kinds of
literary work, like drama, poetry, and prose that are used to deliver the ideas
I r s y a d i 2
In general, literary work is divided into several genres, they are drama,
poetry, and prose. As Bloemendal, Eversmann, and Strictman, drama is a
form of composition which is designed for performance in a theatre, where
actors take the roles of the characters to perform the indicated action, and utter
the written dialogue (1). It also involves a presentation of a situation which
tells a story in the term of some kind of physical action (Hartley and Ladu 1).
Therefore, drama is the practice of a written work of literature.
The further kind of literary work is poetry. According to Runco and
Pritzker, that poetry is the oldest form of literature in which it is an
arrangement of words in verse, and always rhythmical and rhymed (409). It is
also made up of a distinctive form which uses short sentences in its lines, and
contains of rhythmic pattern, rhyming words, and word repetition (Cowen and
Cohen 407). As one of genre of literary work, for Webster through Lawrence’s
book, argues that poetry also functions to tell a story and express any kind of
emotion, idea, or state of being (149). Therefore, poetry is a beautiful language
arranged systematically and with specific pattern within, in which it tells a
story designed by the existence of emotion and idea of the poet.
The last genre of literary work is prose. Mardalena defines prose as
writing that is organized in sentences and paragraphs (1). It is also a free
composition which is not banded with the principle of poetry, and it is usually
used to describe an evidence and idea (Intisa 37). Therefore, prose is a piece of
creative writing, in which its language is not in verse form, but it has a similar
I r s y a d i 3
Novel is a kind of prose. Jassin through Nurgiyantoro in Wicaksono’s
book, claims that novel is a work containing a story which plays within human
world. Semi and Atas argue in the same sense of understanding that novel
expresses a focus on life, and expresses a deeper aspect of humanity which is
delivered smoothly (Wicaksono 76). Somehow, novel can also have its setting
on a period of history and it can attempt to convey the spirit, manners, and
social condition of a past time. This is what actually called as a historical
novel (Kuiper 33).
One of the novels which has a relation to the historical events in the
past time is A Lesson Before Dying which is composed by Ernest J. Gaines.
The author, Ernest J. Gaines, was however one of Black American writers
whose works were famous with the life of Black Americans. Ernest J. Gaines
was born on January 15, 1933 on the River Lake Plantation nearby New
Roads, Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, and grew up there when the Southern
society was racially segregated. As a boy, he worked in the plantation fields
nearby Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He had been forced to work long hours
toiling in the fields, and had arrived in California with just the skimpiest of
education (Abrams 13).
A Lesson Before Dying is an America novel which is composed by Black American author. This novel attempts to reveal and fully presents the
life of black Americans in the Southern. Ernest J. Gaines brings to the novel
the same rich sense of place, the same deep understanding of the human
I r s y a d i 4
The novel tells about Black Americans life in the Southern, whom
were called as Free Blacks. Free Blacks lived in the Southern, and were
treated as second civil. As the novel told, that Black people in the novel had
indicated that they had a right to live like other White people. It is proven in
the novel that Blacks had been served proportionally by Whites who handed a
wisdom. They can interact and meet the Whites, getting an education, being
on societal participation, owing property, working on plantation, and getting a
job as soldier unlike Black Slaves in the North.
The novel A Lesson Before Dying has a historical background that is
related with the slavery and the abolition of slavery. It happens when the Civil
War era. According to Hirsch Jr, American Civil War happened in 1861 to
1865. It was a conflict of the Union which was led by the President Abraham
Lincoln with America Confederate States which was led by the President
Jefferson David. The America Confederate State was a state of the United
States which was constructed by the Southern states of America (255). In the
case of Civil War, The Southerners which were a part of the Confederate
State, claimed that the underdevelopment of the Southern was caused by the
increase of North mastery. On the other hand, the Northerners which came
from the Union, claimed that slavery was the first factor of Southern
degradation. Whereas. Slavery was seen as very important for Southern
economic.
Slavery and the abolition of slavery in the United States were seen to
I r s y a d i 5
Defenders of the Union then went to war against the Confederacy, in which
opened the way for antislavery people to demand the complete abolition of
slavery (Nolen 1). Therefore, when Abraham Lincoln decided that slavery was
to be banned, the land owners in the Southern resisted it. The land owners in
the South planned to secede from the United State government or the Union
which was at the time led by the President Abraham Lincoln.
In April 12, 1861, the Civil War was started by the shoot of cannon. In
April 14, 1861, the Confederate State was success to occupy Sumter Fort in
South Carolina. The collapse of Sumter Fort made some states like Arkansas,
Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina affiliated with the Confederate State
(Turner 31). Due to this, the President Abraham Lincoln commanded a big
recruitment of war volunteer and blockade surrounding the Confederate State
area (Thompson and Jones 40).
In July 1851, a war with a big scale between the United Stated army
and the Confederate State happened in Bull Run River. It ended with a
conquest of the Confederate State army (Bradford 109). Michelle and Howard
told that due to the collapse of the Union in the war, the United States
parliamentary proclaimed a resolution that the war which opposed the
Confederate State did not intend to abolish slavery, but it was done to keep the
integrity of country (6). This resolution was proposed to make the slave states
which still became the part of the Union, were supposed to affiliate with the
I r s y a d i 6
The American Civil War resulted myriad of impacts like the abolition
of slavery system, the nation was reunited and the Southern states were not
allowed to secede, the Southern was placed under the military rule and had to
apply for readmission to the Union, the Federal government proved its
supreme over the states, reconstruction (a plan to rebuild America after the
war), and the industrialization began (http://www.socialstudieshelp.com).
In addition, almost all slaves who had been born in North America still
strove for surviving in subjection. As in the fact that ninety five percent of
slaves who lived in rural places, usually raised cotton, sugar, tobacco, and rice.
The size of the master’s plantation influenced the slaves’ life (Schneider &
Schneider 78). Although they were employed in their plantation, some masters
gave them Saturday off, and almost all their masters allowed them free
Sunday. This dispensation might be sufficiently comfortable for them to do the
tasks of their daily life like hunting, fishing, gardening, and taking a care of
their health. On the other hand, slaves’ most important holidays happened just
before harvesting and at Christmas (101).
The life of Blacks as slaves in a life of Whites faces imbalance.
Sometimes, slaves resisted, and that they used their skills in everything which
could protect themselves and expanded their independence within the system
ruled by Whites. They also asserted their freedom by discovering the ways to
exercise their choice, and reclaimed their own identities, and cultures. It was
proven that slaves established their families, constructing churches, choosing
I r s y a d i 7
program. They cared for each other, covering each other, and supporting each
other when a trouble came. That was the way they possibly did to survive
within the life and system of Whites (98).
As referring to the novel, A Lesson Before Dying is somehow telling a
portrait of Southern Blacks’ life. The Blacks in the Southern were called as
free Blacks. They were treated in different way. They were sometimes hanged
for minor offense, and judges which sentenced those who accused of minor
crimes to slavery. In addition, when a free Black left some states, he or she
was not allowed to return to the origin place. Luckily, it was unbelievable that
White and free Blacks often did a business one another like harvesting crops,
founding churches together, and joining in spousal unions (Hargis and Griffin
115). It indicated that the free Black in the Southern did not get fully a bad
treatment by Whites, but they also had a better life when they interacted with
Whites. It is because of their uncertain status in the Southern.
Over all the comfortable life of Blacks as free Blacks in the Southern, a
discourse of discrimination can still be identified in the novel. Although free
Blacks in the novel experience a sufficient good life, but they are still under
the mastery and law of Whites. As the story in the novel runs, Blacks are still
restricted by a law. A restriction of law is in the interaction between Blacks
and Whites, getting an educational facilities, and rights on societal
participation. It is in line with the argument of Freeman who states that free
I r s y a d i 8
opportunities, political and legal rights (465). Thus, these cover how the
restriction of law in some previous cases are evidently portrayed.
A historical fact proves that Blacks in the Southern have no right to
vote. According to Bentley, Brindenthal, and Yang say that free Blacks in the
Southern may not have been slaves, but they held an uncertain status, because
they were not White (96). Uncertainty of status leads them to think whether
they are slaves or free blacks. Thus, it is explained that Blacks in the Southern
live in the nuance of discrimination.
The discrimination towards Black Americans in the Southern leads to
the discourse of hegemonic discrimination. It means that Black who were
treated as in the novel received the treatments done by White Americans
within the novel. Hegemonic discrimination is adopted from the theory of
hegemony by Italian Marxist, Antonio Gramsci. One of Gramsci’s ideas is the
concept of ideological domination. It is said that when one ideology
dominates, it suppresses any other ways of explaining reality. In his idea,
Gramsci adds another dimension of hegemony, that is a domination by
consensus. A consensus contributes an equilibrium for the social maintenance
(Saifuddin 326).
Dealing with the issue in the novel, the hegemony of White Americans
in the Southern can be identified in the aspect of law, which will then
influence to other aspects of life. In the novel, it can be seen that the Black
Americans did not have any rights to acclaim for their rights, and it is seen
I r s y a d i 9
electrocution, and that the other closed Blacks, like Grant Wiggins, Miss
Emma (Jefferson’s godmother), Reverend Ambrose, and Tante Lou could not
acclaimed for their rights as civil to declare their respond to the decision of the
trial to sentence Jefferson through electrocution.
Therefore, it is true that the Blacks were allowed to meet Whites, but
there is a restriction that Blacks should obey. The Blacks, as in the story
within the novel, when Grant Wiggins, Miss Emma, and Tante Lou visited
Henry Pichot’s house, they passed through the back door, by which the back
door was directed to the kitchen of the house. These cases lead us to the issue
which goes beyond the sufficient comfortable life of Blacks.
By knowing the issue of both Black and White Americans in the novel,
the writer intends to present a research on Black and White Americans social
matter in the novel by the proposed title Hegemonic Discrimination as Seen in
Ernest J. Gaines’s A Lesson Before Dying. The novel is chosen due to an
interesting part which is available in the novel that although Black people in
the Southern within the novel were treated as being discriminated by White
people, the Black people receive it without any rebellion. They do so, because
they realize that the surviving under the hegemony of Whites tastes
sufficiently comfortable for their life in the Southern.
1.2Statement of Problem
Based on the background of the study above, there are several
I r s y a d i 10
discussion in this research. The problems are formulated in the following
statements:
1.2.1 How is the treatment of White Americans towards Black Americans as
narrated in the novel A Lesson Before Dying?
1.2.2 How do Black Americans accept the treatment of White Americans in
the novel A Lesson Before Dying?
1.2.3 How is the effect of the treatment toward Black Americans in the novel
A Lesson Before Dying?
1.3Purpose of The Study
The purpose of the study will be classified as in the following
purposes:
1.3.1 To identify White Americans’ treatment to Black Americans in the
novel A Lesson Before Dying.
1.3.2 To identify Black Americans’ acceptance on White Americans’
treatment in the novel A Lesson Before Dying.
1.3.3 To identify the effect of White Americans’ treatment toward Black
American in the novel A Lesson Before Dying.
1.4Scope and Limitation of The Study
The scope of the study is made to make the discussion of the research
clear and systematic. Therefore, the research stands on the scope or coverage
I r s y a d i 11
Dying.The hegemonic discrimination is chosen due to the fact that the setting of the novel is the America Southerner, in which free blacks are hegemonized.
Furthermore, the limitation of the study is trying to make the research
focused on the specific discussions which the writer chooses. Therefore, the
study intends to give a limitation of the research on the discussion of
hegemonic discrimination in the aspect of law as seen in Ernest J. Gaines’s A
Lesson Before Dying.
1.5Significance of The Study
Through an analysis towards Black and White life in one population
which depicts hegemonic discrimination, it is expected that this research
would give readers an understanding on the life of human with different race
and nation in a state. With an expectation, that this research would be much
more benefit for readers to respect other people who come from different race
and nation who live in a state of a large population belongs to the host. Thus,
finally this research with the title Hegemonic Discrimination as Seen in Ernest
J. Gaines’ A Lesson Before Dying is supposed to be useful for further study in
literature of English Department Faculty of Letters and Humanities State
Islamic University of Sunan Ampel Surabaya in broadening the knowledge of
literature.
1.6Method of The Study
In this part of thesis, method of study tries to discuss about how the
I r s y a d i 12
study, they are research design, source of data, procedure of data collection,
and procedure of data analysis.
1.6.1 Research Design
Due to the need of analyzing the object discussed, the study applies
descriptive qualitative research method. According to Raco, the data in
descriptive research will concern to text (60). This research does not take any
concern on data counting, but it concerns on the interpretation and analysis on
the object with some helps of library research. Thus, the study applies for
qualitative research method based on library research.
1.6.2 Source of Data
Due to the methodology of research used is qualitative research method,
therefore, the data will be taken from the text of the novel entitled A Lesson
Before Dying. The research will then take some quotations in the novel involving both dialogue and prologue which is related to the statement of
problem.
1.6.3 Technique of Data Collection
Technique of data collection is a strategic step in a research. In this
case, the technique of data collection can be done in various settings; as
sources and as procedures. As Catherine Marshall and Gretchen B. Rossman’s
statement quoted by Sugiyono that “the basic methods relied on by qualitative
researchers for information gathering contains at least several procedures are
participation in the setting, direct observation, in-depth interview, and
I r s y a d i 13
the data is collected through documentary technique which relies on library
research.
Therefore, there are several steps in collecting the data according to the
problem of the study, and those will be classified in the following below:
1.6.3.1Reading the novel A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines.
1.6.3.2Taking a note and understanding the intrinsic element of the novel A
Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines
1.6.3.3Collect some related quotation including dialogue and prologue
according to the statement of problem.
1.6.4 Technique of Data Analysis
In qualitative research method, the data is obtained from various
sources by using various techniques of data collection, and it is done
continuously up to the final and considered-sufficient data. Stainback through
Sugiyono’s book says, “Data analysis is critical to the qualitative research
process. It is to recognition, study, and understanding of interrelationship and
concepts in your data that hypotheses and assertions can be developed and
evaluated”.
Therefore, the study uses several techniques in analyzing the data
according the problem of the study, and those techniques will be clarified as in
the following:
1.6.4.1Analyzing the hegemonic discrimination practiced in the novel A
I r s y a d i 14
1.6.4.2Analyzing the impact of hegemonic discrimination as narrated in the
novel A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines
1.6.4.3Making an overall brief conclusion according to the analysis.
1.7 Definition of Related Key Terms
In this phase, the research cedes several clues which will help the
readers to understand the topic and problem discussed in this thesis. The clues
are formulated in the form of key term in which it would be defined clearly in
order to be a useful point in reading the thesis. Therefore, those related key
terms would be in the following below.
Hegemony : The domination of one group over another, and often supported by legitimating norms and ideas (Budd 2013).
Discrimination: Imbalance treatment towards individual and group based on race, nationality, religion, or other social classes
I r s y a d i 15
CHAPTER 2
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1Theoretical Framework
Precisely, this sub-chapter would like to deliver and highlight the theories
applied in the analysis of this thesis. Theoretical framework will be useful to bring
an understanding and comprehension on the theories including the fundamental
concept and how it works on literary work analysis.
This thesis applies the sociology of literature and African American
criticism as umbrella or underlying discourse of whole discussion in the thesis.
The discussion goes on the social matter between Black and White Americans in
the novel. Due to the applied of sociology of literature as the umbrella of overall
discussion, sociology of literature approach will be useful to apply in this thesis,
that the approach is used to approach and identify the problem of Black and White
Americans in the social life in the Southern. Thus, as a foundation to analyze the
problem between Black and White Americans in the novel, this thesis applies the
theory of hegemony by Antonio Gramsci as main theory, and the theory of
discrimination as secondary theory.
2.1.1 African American Criticism
Basically, Tyson (394) mentions that African American criticism is the
study of a body of literature written by a specific group of marginalized people.
I r s y a d i 16
written by an African American, and it is used as a theoretical framework.
However, as a theoretical framework, African American criticism foregrounds
race include racial identity, African American cultural traditions, psychology,
politics, and many others related to the life of African American. It is because of a
reason that race, in America informs individual and cultural psychology and
literature in profound ways.
In addition, African American criticism is somehow about African
American Studies. It is defined as the systematic study of Black experience
framed by the socio economic, cultural and geographical boundaries (Hayes III
24). Hayes adds that it is also about the Black intellectual tradition as it has
assumed a complex burden over many generations and engage in a critical
dialogue with White scholarship on a range complex issues including the
definition and reality of race as social construct. Furthermore, according to Hogue
(1), in the United States, the African American is constituted in a Black or White
binary of signification that defines Whites as normative and superior and that
African American represents Blacks as victim, inferior, and devalued others.
Therefore, in the study of African American, Blacks are construed as victim and
devalued people.
Due to the position of being a victim and devalued people, African
American begins to establish a work of literature. As the historical evidence says
that African American brings to an inspiration of establishing work of literature as
historical script. The established work of literature contains the historical evidence
I r s y a d i 17
defined as writings by people of African descent living in the United States of
America (Richardson 34). However, it is not only African American history and
life is extremely varied, but also African American literature. It means that
African American literature can be varied according to its historical events, and it
has generally focused on themes of particular interest to Black people in the
United States.
Tyson (385) emphasizes that there are much effort has been expended in
delineating the distinguishing features of what has been identified as the African
American literary tradition. Many critics agree that African American literature
has focused on a number of recurring historical and sociological themes, all of
which reflect the politics include the realities of political, social, and economic
power of Black American experience (Richardson 34). The African American
literature is also described as it has arisen out of the experience of Black Writers
in the United States, especially with a concern on historical racism and
discrimination.
As the need of this study, the African American is used as a supporting
discourse which underlies the discussion of African American in the novel A
Lesson Before Dying. It is also used to strengthen the historical facts of African
American life in the United States as it is connected to the novel A Lesson Before
Dying by one of African American authors: Ernest. J Gaines.
2.1.2 Sociology of Literature
One of branches of knowledge which concerns with the social
I r s y a d i 18
through literary work as the art of literature. It is in line with the argumentation of
Plato who claims that literary work is a mimetic of the real world and the world of
idea (47). Sumardjo and Saini through Rokhmansyah, defines literature as an
expression of human in personal sense including experience, thought, feeling,
idea, and a spirit of faith in a concrete form which raises an enhancement by
language used (2). The language used which contains experience, thought, feeling,
idea, and a spirit of faith is clearly seen in written form of literary work. On the
other hand, it is said that whatever written and expressed through the text in a
literary work, obviously embodies and represents an author’s feeling, idea, and
experience which sometimes indirectly reflect the time of the written work
including the social life. In sum, it is briefly concluded that both fantastic and
mystical literary work form, cannot be separated from profound social concern.
The close relation between sociology and literature leads to the emergence of
sociology of literature.
Basically, the term Sociology of literature is taken from the word
Sociology and Literature. Sociology comes from the Greek Sos which means
united, companion and comrade, and Logos which means remark and likeness
(https://www.scribd.com). Epistemologically, sociology is the scientific study of
social behavior, social origins, social development, social organization, and social
institutions (Speedy Study Guides 2014). Sociology is also concerned with
describing and explaining the patterns of inequality, deprivation and conflict
belong to all societies (Browne 2). So, sociology is the science of society (Kavitha
I r s y a d i 19
Sociology of literature is a combination between two major kinds of
knowledge: sociology and literature. Both of two kinds of knowledge itself have a
similarity on the object: human in society. Sociology of literature concerns with
literature and society, and it is mentioned as a study of a comprehension on work
of literature by considering the societal aspects (Siswanto 191). The societal
aspects are figured and mirrored in a totality of literary work. A totality of literary
work means a dialectical relation between literature and society (Reising 185).
The dialectical relation is a relation that reflects a connection between literary
work and society (Faruk, Purwanto and Soemanto 86). In other word, if a
sociologist portrays human life and society through scientific and objective
analysis, an author expresses those (human life and society) through emotion
subjectively and evaluative. Thus, sociology of literature attempts to find a quality
of interdependency between literature and society.
As the need of this study, the sociology of literature is applied in this
study. It is due to the range of the discussion is about social phenomenon which is
reflected in one of literary work A Lesson Before Dying. Hereby, this study uses
the sociology of literature as umbrella of overall analysis toward the object A
Lesson Before Dying. This study analyzes Black Americans with their social life. It will be about how they were treated by White Americans in the Southern.
2.1.3 Sociology of Literature Approach
An approach comes to approach and identify an object in a research. In
literature, an approach is used to analyze a matter in the work of literature. There
I r s y a d i 20
with literary studies especially the social study in literature. Therefore, there are at
least two sorts of approach proposed in literature: intrinsic and extrinsic approach
as proposed by Wellek and Warren (Dady ed 438).
Wellek and Warren state that extrinsic approach usually questions
literature in the relation to society, ideas, and the other arts (Ramakrishna 2). The
extrinsic approach is somehow discussing the extrinsic element of literature. As
Nurgiyantoro states that the extrinsic element is an element which exists outside
of literary work, and indirectly influences the construction of literary work
(Yudiono 109). One of the extrinsic element of literature is the social context of
literary work (Wiyanto 2219). However, from the argumentation of Wiyanto, it
can be stated that the extrinsic approach is done based on the social context of
literature. The social context will view and discuss about society, social structure,
social interaction, and social problem. Thus, it can be summarized that the social
context of literary work which includes several previous items, influences the
construction of outside world of literary work.
Dissimilar as the extrinsic approach, the intrinsic approach is somehow a
research of literature which is autonomously originated from the literary text
itself. The intrinsic approach can also be mentioned as structural approach which
talks about the elements which construct the inside world of literary work
(Wicaksono 29). It means that the intrinsic or structural approach researches
literary work as an autonomous work which in case, is alienated from the
background of social, history, author’s biography, and anything exists outside of
I r s y a d i 21
and function of each element of literary work as a structural unity that
concurrently produces an overall meaning (Dirgantara 123). Thus, the intrinsic
approach is an approach in the study of literature whose work is to analyze the
elements which construct the inside components of literary work.
As the need of this research, the sociology of literature approach is taken
as an approach in the research. The sociology of literature approach is one of
approaches in the study of literature especially literary work extrinsically. The
sociology of literature approach attempts to analyze human in society in their
relation (Elliott 2013). This approach considers literary work as it belongs to
society. It means that literary work is the ownership of society. In its principle, the
sociology of literature approach has a fundamental thought that there is an innate
relation between literary work and society (Budiana, Husen, Budiman and
Wahyudi 128). The relation is produced through an author. An author is a part of
society which becomes a famous one in a particular period (Escarpit 129). It
means that author is one of members in society who becomes well known as he
creates a literary work in his period by relying on the context of social. Thus, the
sociology of literature approach is an approach towards work of literature in
which it connects the work of literature with the aspect of social (society) due to
the author’s experience and view of social life.
Hereby, the sociological approach is chosen as an approach used to
approach and identify the object matter. The object of this study is Black
I r s y a d i 22
about the social relation between Black and White Americans in the Southern as
narrated in the novel A Lesson Before Dying.
2.1.4 Hegemony Theory
The theory of hegemony is pioneered by Antonio Gramsci, an outstanding
Italian Marxist. The notion of hegemony is illustrated in Gramsci’s popular book
The Prison Notebooks. The Prison Notebooks was written when Gramsci was in the jail that the Italian Fascist government sentence him to imprison his ideas in
which he was not capable to write his ideas. The book which consists of 33 daily
notes and 2.848 handwriting contains the ideas of hegemony and civil society
(Ratna 184). Thus, the notions of hegemony are explained in Gramsci’s
outstanding book The Prison Notebook.
In general, hegemony can be construed as an influence of leadership,
power, and domination of a social group to another social group (Jackson II and
Hogg 324). Hegemony can also be identified as an influence and more control
towards other state and other group of people (Dowding 306). The control can be
manifested in the form of domination and authority in field of social, culture,
ideology and economy. It can be precisely stated that hegemony can be performed
in the sector of social, culture, ideology and economy, and it is manifested in the
term of domination.
According to Gramsci’s thought on hegemony, it is true that hegemony is
a power or domination on life values, norm, and culture of social group where the
I r s y a d i 23
not have a sense of being oppressed. It is similar as Plehwe, Walpen and
Neunhoffer’s argumentation in their book that:
“… It combines the aspects of ‘political leadership’ and ‘consensus’. Hegemony is to be understood as the ability of the ruling groups and classes to pursue their interests in such a way that they are regarded as common or general interests by ruled groups and classes, and that there are broadly shared ideas about social relations and their development. To this extent, hegemony is the active consent of the ruled” (246).
From the above statement, it can be concluded that the indoctrinated social
group will automatically fells that the domination which is done by the
dominating social group is the matter that actually should happen.
According to Gramsci, the most important factor as the stimulant of
hegemony is the ideological and political factor which is created by the
dominating social group in influencing, directing and shaping the public mindset
(Budiman 127). It means that the dominating social group which performs
hegemony is caused by the ideological and political aspect. For the success of
performing hegemony and as referring to previous statement clarified by Plehwe,
Walpen and Neunhoffer, the dominating social group should give a consensus on
their subordination to dominated social group. It is done for the purpose of
obtaining a respect of dominated social group. Thus, the previous assumption of
Gramsci’s hegemony reminds to what is called as dominating by moral leadership
and intellectual consensually.
As the practice of consensual hegemony, Patria and Arief said that the
consensus is seen as a desired action and voluntarily which is accepted
individually (124). It is also known as the starting point of Gramsci’s hegemony.
I r s y a d i 24
includes a variety of socio-political acceptance of the rule or other rules (125). For
Gramsci, hegemony through consensus emerges through an active commitment on
the social class which has historically born in the relations of production (126).
Through a consensus, the ideology of the dominant group can be spread to others.
As Simon says that consensus is a major point in Gramsci’s hegemony.
Consensus is performed in the way of politic and ideology, but it just remains
ideology as a first major focus in the hegemony of Gramsci (23). Ideology can be
identified as a set of ideas which supports a power of particular social group
(Barker and Jane 602). As ideology in the concept of hegemony, Robinson claims
that ideology constitutes the glue that sustains social control under consensual
arrangement (30). It means that ideology stands to construct a condition of being
tied which maintain a social control practiced through consensual arrangement.
Thus, ideology is definable as a set of ideas which is performed by a particular
social group to maintain and stabilize the hegemony to other groups.
According to Salam, a powerful state is a state that is hegemonic.
Hegemonic countries described as a country which is able to build its power by
consensus (Salam 31). A hegemony which is committed by the state is the
intellectuals who spread his power through religion, education, mass media, or
other ideological strength (15). In other words, a social group within a state which
performs hegemony over other groups, utilizes ideology to manipulate the
consciousness of another group. Due to this, the dominated social group
I r s y a d i 25
The above statement indicates the important of ideology in the process of
hegemony. It is known that ideology plays an important role in consensual
hegemony of Gramsci. According to Sudiarja, Subanar, Sunardi and Sarkim ed,
ideology is a core of all human thoughts (912). It means that ideology is a core
thought of human. It becomes an important matter of human treatment in his
social life. As Stevenson defines that ideology is a system of power protection
belongs to a controller (person in charge) (27). It is a set of ideas and principles
that explain how society works, and it offers an extract of order of particular
society (Michael 75). It means that it performs a power which eventually produces
a consensus of a dominated social group. Therefore, for the dominant class,
ideology is aimed of maintaining social cohesion and the dominant interests.
Furthermore, ideology works in the social life of society through two
levels: level of philosophy and common sense level (23). Common sense is the
public awareness in the practice of everyday life. According Eriyanto, if the idea
or the notion of a dominant group is accepted as common sense, and the ideology
is accepted, the hegemony has clearly occurred (107). From this view, it is known
that the existence of a procedure for the implementation of hegemony by a social
group against other social group, is clearly available. It can be seen that common
sense which is known as an ideology of the practice of everyday life, can be
accepted by the other groups. Therefore, it can be stated that the success of
hegemony will appear as the success of a dominant group by the acceptance of
dominated social group over the ideology and common sense which the dominant
I r s y a d i 26
There can be summarized that the hegemony of a social group can be
performed in several phases which can be formulated as a phase of domination
and a phase of direction. A phase of domination is performed by a social group
which intends to include its idea or thought. It can be said that a phase of
domination is the first stage in the process of Gramsci’s hegemony. It firstly
implants the idea of a social group to other social group. After implanting the idea
of a social group, a phase of direction comes to strengthen the implanted idea. It is
defined that a phase of direction means that a direction which is performed by a
social group which is successful to perform domination towards dominated social
group. (http://nederindo.com).
2.1.4.1Phase of Domination
Domination is understood as a condition which is suffered by a social
group when it depends on a social relationship that other social group dominates it
(Schuppert 29). It means that domination is about being structured. In this field,
school, mass media and state institutions are common domination performed by
apparatus state (Law 105). The apparatus state plays an important role in a
domination of a social group, because state is an apparatus of domination (Exner,
Fleissner and Kranzi 245). As Evans. Ruschemeyer and Skocpol say that the
apparatus state is very powerful role and have a strong interest in domination
(338). The apparatus state then includes the ideology to a dominated social group,
in which it is done to be a legal norm that is acceded by dominated social group.
By this view, it can be claimed that domination is the first point in the process of
I r s y a d i 27
2.1.4.2Phase of Directing
In the case of directing, society should be submissive to the dominating
social group (Paul and Elder 222). It is due to a fact that a state compels its
ideology to society through persuasive power. Persuasive power (persuasion of
power) is defined as persuading subordinate classes to accept moral, political and
cultural values belong to dominant class as natural order (Jackson 53). The
persuasive power can be identified through mass media, education and religion
that are intentionally dominated by a state. A state then implements the awareness
of society, in which the awareness unconsciously supports the power of a state
(Salam 64).
Therefore, the first phase: phase of domination is used for the first
problem of the study and the phase of directing is used for the second problem of
the study. It is due to the reason that White Americans in the novel firstly
dominate the law in some aspects of life and finally enable them to direct Black
Americans involve their ideology into a discourse that White is the dominant and
a supreme social group in which Black Americans should respect and admit White
domination.
Based on these stages, Gramsci tries to provide an overview of the
implementation of hegemony through two cases: moral leadership and
intellectual leadership. According to Hardiman ed, moral and intellectual
leadership are mentioned as a leadership over other social groups. Moral and
intellectual leadership is influential in producing a support and a consensus on
I r s y a d i 28
hegemony over the other groups for the group has an effect that encourages the
emergence of agreement (consensus) of these groups. After a dominant social
group obtains a consensus, a dominated social group can be argued accepting the
domination of dominant social group.
As the need of this study, the theory of hegemony is applied as theoretical
base in analyzing the problems between Black and White Americans in the novel
A Lesson Before Dying. The problem occur due to a social interaction and social relation between Black and White Americans in the novel. The theory of
hegemony will be applied as a base in identifying the White domination on Black
Americans in the novel. The practice of consensual hegemony can be identified in
the process of White American domination to Black American. The Black
Americans in the novel are those who live in the Southern, and mentioned as free
Black who still have several rights as nation.
Finally, this study does its research on the acceptance of Black Americans
over the domination of White Americans that is believed as a phase of
domination, and the effect of White Americans treatment to Black Americans
which is said to be a phase of directing in the novel A Lesson Before Dying. Over
all analysis of both problems, the theory of hegemony is particularly the main
theory in this study.
2.1.5 Theory of Discrimination
Fishbein in his book Peer Prejudice and Discrimination: The Origins of
I r s y a d i 29
treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a
person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or
thing is perceived to belong to rather than on individual merit. Thus, this includes
treatment of an individual or group, based on their actual or perceived
membership in a certain group or social category.
In addition, as Healey and O’Brien, discrimination refers to an unequal
treatment based on group membership (22). While, as Theodorson and
Theodorson (115-116), defines discrimination as an imbalanced treatment against
person or a group in the basis term of race, tribe of nationality, religion, or social
class membership. Discrimination is also a form of injustice (Mikkola 196). The
injustice is manifested in the distinction between legal treatment against fellow
citizens, on the basis of skin colour, tribe, ethnic group, religion, sex (gender) and
many others (http://plato.stanford.edu/).
Myriad forms of discrimination have been practiced in the life of human.
Those forms resemble race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, ethnic or social
origin, colour, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief,
culture, language, and birth (Epstein and Walker 677). In the United States, the
term discrimination is always related to racism. Racism is prejudice or
discrimination against other people because of their race or what is thought to be
their race (Reilly, Kaufman, and Bodino 16). Both terms can be combined and
produce an incoming term: racial discrimination. Racial discrimination is a form
I r s y a d i 30
Related to this study, the theory of discrimination is applied to emphasize
the existence of discrimination in the domination or hegemony of White
Americans in the Southern America as narrated in the novel A Lesson Before
Dying by Ernest J. Gaines. The evidence within the novel shows that the
hegemony of White Americans also produce a discrimination on Black Americans
in the Southern. It means that, when Black Americans are under the hegemony of
White Americans, Black Americans are also discriminated.
2.2Review of Related Studies
This part of chapter attempts to present some related researches to the
novel A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines. It is done for the purpose of
clarifying the previous related researches to make a comparison of analysis for the
sake of finding differences within the same object analysis.
This research with the title Hegemonic Discrimination as Seen in Ernest J.
Gaines’ A Lesson Before Dying has its previous researches done by several
researchers. The previous researches come from a thesis by Fatima Annisa K and
a journal by Corina Anghel Crisu. Both previous researches have its own
analytical principles. Although both previous researches have the same object A
Lesson Before Dying, but both have different discussions which then influence to the theory and approach used in the analysis.
The first previous research is a research by Fatima Annisa K, a student of
English Department Faculty of Humanities Diponegoro University, with her thesis
title The Influence of American Black Liberation to The Major Characters’
I r s y a d i 31
concentrates the analysis on Black American liberation toward Jefferson’s and
Grant’s attitude change, where other Black Americans including his godmother,
Reverend Ambrose, Grant Wiggins, and Grant’s aunt always deliver a support for
the sake of Jefferson’s life, that he should die with dignity as a man, not a hog.
In the analysis, the writer of this thesis concerns with some approaches;
Structural, Sociological, and Psychological approach. By the help of some
approaches and theories used in the thesis, it makes the result of the analysis is
true that two main character’s attitude changes (Jefferson and Grant Wiggins) are
caused by the spirit of liberation done by Black American in their environment.
Hence, Annisa K as the writer of this thesis assumes that the persuasive sense of
Black Americans influences two main character’s attitude changes.
The further research was done by Corina Anghel Crisu entitled “Tell
Nannan I Walked”: Reconstructing Manhood in Ernest J. Gaines’s A Lesson
Before Dying. This research finds that the author, Ernest J. Gaines attempts to reconsider the black male character in the context of racial prejudice in the
segregated Southern in the late 1940s. In Crisu’s assumption, Gaines’s novel
reveals us the African American man as a standing hero, in which his final
endurance remains an exemplary lesson inscribed in both the black and white
communal spirit. Therefore, as the writer, Crisu briefly notices that stereotypical
assumption undermined in Ernest J. Gaines’s novel is the inability of the African
American character to transform, to evolve, and to be more than a simple pawn in
I r s y a d i 32
In brief, A Lesson Before Dying has been studied by several researches as
previous explanations. Both previous researches with the same object A Lesson
Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines, are equally different with the core discussion of this research. The discussions or the taken issues in both previous researches are
different, where the difference will lead to the different theories used in the
analysis. Therefore, this research entitled Hegemonic Discrimination as Seen in
Ernest J. Gaines’s A Lesson Before Dying somehow tries to observe and discuss
about the life of Black Americans under hegemonic discrimination done by White
Americans which is commonly done in the social, law, and cultural aspect. To
find and discuss the hegemonic discrimination which is available in the novel, the
I r s y a d i 33
CHAPTER 3
ANALYSIS
In this chapter, the research will be brought into the discussion in
accordance with the issues raised in this paper. This thesis will examine and
analyze more detail about discriminative treatment which is done by White
Americans against Black Americans in the Southern America, and parse the
effects of discriminatory treatment in the lives of Black Americans in the
Southern America. However, before analyzing both issues, the thesis will be
firstly directed to the assessment of the facts related to the life of White
Americans and Black Americans in the novel which will be based on the
suggested theories.
In the novel by Ernest J. Gaines, Black Americans who becomes free
Blacks in the Southern America get a different life of Blacks in the Northern
America, where Black people in the Northern America are still enslaved by
Whites. The Black people in the Northern work as farmer who usually plant and
harvest crops (Hatt 22). The life of Black American in the Southern looks like
human life in general. They usually interact with White people, visiting to their
residence, getting a decent job, and earning the right to life like other people's
lives (Hargis and Griffin 115). However, on the sidelines of life and the
relationship between Blacks and Whites, there is still a discrimination against
I r s y a d i 34
consensually accepted by Black people, because the life they have in the
Southern, though it should be under the authority of White people, brings a
comfort for Black people. They receive the treatment, because they believe that
this is what they both deserve as free Blacks, The Black people who get a
freedom, but are still limited by several law is clearly seen in the novel by Ernest
J. Gaines entitled A Lesson Before Dying. The law will be established in the term
of public facilities, religious place, education, and civil rights. Thus, the Black
Americans are dominated and discriminated within those terms of law.
3.1 The Acceptance of Black Americans over The Treatment of White Americans
The acceptance of Black Americans over the treatment of White
Americans will mean a process of hegemony in the first stage: domination.
Domination is an exercise of power over other social groups (Bove and Kaplan
15). It is also a condition which is suffered by a social group when it depends on a
social relation that other social group dominates it. The domination is performed
by the apparatus state, and they dominate school, mass media and state institutions
to get an acceptance of the dominated social group (Law 105). The acceptance of
Black Americans can be a cause of accepting and admitting the domination of
White Americans in the Southern. The Black Americans are firstly given an
opportunity to live like others. The Whites give them school, profession, and
religious institution that are evidently used to get an admission and an acceptance
I r s y a d i 35
A novel A Lesson Before Dying, one of the works of Ernest J Gaines is a
novel that tells the life of Black people in the Southern America. This novel has a
place in Bayonne as the setting of the novel.
Bayonne was a small town of about six thousand. Approximately three thousand five hundred Whites; approximately two thousand five hundred colored. It was the parish seat for St. Raphael. The courthouse was there; so was the jail. (Gaines 21)
Based on the above quote, Bayonne is a small town consisting of 6
thousand population with approximately 5,500 Whites and 2,500 Blacks. Courts
and prisons are located in the small town of Bayonne. Bayonne is a small town
which is located in the area of Southern America, where Blacks are no longer a
slave to White people who live in this area. The places in Bayonne which become
public facilities are differentiated by nationality: Blacks and Whites. The places
can be exemplified as Catholic Church and Movie Theater.
There was a Catholic Church uptown for Whites; a Catholic church back of town for colored. There was a Whites movie theater uptown; a colored movie theatre back of town. (Gaines 21)
The separation of places as public facilities which appears in the Southern
American, especially in Bayonne as narrated in the novel, shows a social
problems over the population of Blacks and Whites in Southern America. Ernest
J. Gaines as the writer of the novel narrates and describes the condition and
situation of social and geographical portrait in his novel A Lesson Before Dying.
In the term of separation, the separation does not only appear in the case of
churches and theaters, but also educational institutions.
I r s y a d i 36
The above quote explains about the separation of Whites and Blacks
school. The school is an elementary school, and it is divided into two kinds of
elementary schools: Catholic elementary school and public elementary school.
These schools belong to Whites. For Black schools, the schools are also
categorized into Catholic and public elementary school, but those schools locates
in the back of town, Bayonne.
In the style of authorship and narration in this novel, the author describes
more about the setting of places with a prologue, and the prologue is expressed by
the author in the novel A Lesson Before Dying. Ernest J. Gaines completely
describes about geography and social conditions in the Southern America. In the
beginning of his narration of the novel, he says plainly about the condition
Bayonne as a small town in the novel. In the town of Bayonne, there is a
separation which is performed by the honored people: Whites. The separation
does not only exist in term of places of worship and theater, but also in education.
In accordance with the above quote, educational institutions for Black people is
located behind the town of Bayonne.
The description of the Bayonne which is described by Grant Wiggins as
the main character, is an illustration which explains that Bayonne is not only seen
as a small town that can be said having an adequate and sufficient public facilities,
but Bayonne is no more an area in the Southern America which also has a portrait
of the life of bordered society.
I r s y a d i 37
As above citation, it is explained that the major industries in Bayonne
cover sturdy and tall crops, sawmills and slaughterhouse of pigs. It is seen that
Bayonne is described as a small town whose majority are farmers on the
plantation, and the above quote is a quote which is clear enough to describe the
livelihoods and daily activities of people in the area of Bayonne.
From some quotes which are described in previous paragraph, it is
understood that Bayonne is no more a small city, where people can live and
develop their lives and fortunes, but Bayonne is said as a small town where a
separation between two social groups: Whites and Blacks, is clearly portrayed.
Separation is obtained from a small image of the history of Blacks in the United
States. In the history, Black Americans are divided into two categorization based
on where they live: the slaves and free Blacks. Slave is understood as a person
who is wholly subject to the will of other, and they have no freedom of action
(Child 105). Besides, free Blacks is defined as a person who is legally free who
has a restriction of law and privilege of freedom (Spickard 85). The definition is
obtained from Spickard’s definition of free Blacks in his statement:
“…their rights were legally and socially curtailed at all times. I use the term ‘legally free’ in preference to ‘free’ to mark their difference in legal status from those who were enslaved and their difference in social status
from Whites, who enjoyed all the rights and privileges of freedom (85)”.
Both categorizations between slaves and free Blacks have a different life
condition one another. The slaves are available in the region of the Northern
America, and the free Blacks are available in the Southern America. Southern
Americans claim that the slaves in the Northern America can be a determinant of
I r s y a d i 38
other hand, one of Northern Americans finds that slavery system should be
immediately terminated (Rodriguez 496). The opinion which is spoken by the
Northern is a part of the spirit of Lincoln in ending system of slavery. Lincoln as
the president of the United States, plans to ban slavery in the moment of Civil
War (Oberle 17). Finally, during the Civil War, the Northern declared a victory in
the Civil War which involved the Northern and Southern (Bergeron, Hewitt and
Lawrence xvi). By the victory of the Northern, the Southern should admit for the
Northern side which at the time was called as the Union.
However, the Whites in the Southern still treat Blacks like a second nation.
It means that Whites become the dominant nation and become a nation who hold
social control in the Southern. Thus, although Blacks in the Southern are
considered as free Blacks, they still have to accept everything which is treated by
the Whites in the Southern. It means that the Blacks in the Southern already have
a common life like generally most people, but they are just restricted by some
laws which become the basis of their action in their social life in the Southern.
The acceptance of Blacks to the domination of the Whites is an early form of the
successful practice of hegemony of Whites. The practice of hegemony begins with
a phase of domination, where Whites give concessions to Blacks to enjoy their life
in the Southern with a wide range of facilities that was given by the Whites.
Along with the stories in this novel, the acceptance of Blacks to the
domination of Whites can be identified by the expression and narration of the
author. Expression and narration could not be separated from the expression of
I r s y a d i 39
Southern. As in the novel, Grant Wiggins is an elementary school teacher for
Blacks. The school building which is taken to be a place of Black children is a
church which is located at the quarter nearby the cotton plantation.
My classroom was the church. My classes ranged from primer to sixth grade, my pupils from six years old to thirteen and fourteen. My desk was a table, used as a collection table by the church on Sundays, and also used for the service of the Holy Sacrament on the fourth Sunday of each month. (Gaines 29)
There was a Blackboard on the back wall, and another on the right side wall. Behind my desk was the pulpit and the altar. (Gaines 29)
In the expression, Grant Wiggins illustrates some of the classes in the
church. The classes consist of first to six grade of elementary school. The classes
are full of children with a range of 6 years to 13 and 14 years old. In the
classroom, benches which are used are the tables used in the church in every
Sunday, and also used as a facility of the Holy Sacrament which is held on the
fourth Sunday of each month. The church which is used as a place where Black
children study, is a Black church which is regularly exploited as facility of Black
religious activity.
My students’ desks were the benches upon which their parents and grandparents sat during church meeting. (Gaines 29)
The condition and facility in the classroom create an impression which is
not convenient for Grant Wiggins as a teacher at the school church. Facility as a
support in the process of learning is the most important thing which must be
available in each institution. The condition of classrooms and the location of the
