OPPRESSION AND RACISM TOWARD BLACK AMERICAN IN “12 YEARS A SLAVE” MOVIE

Abstract

The study deals with those oppressions faced by Black American in “12 Years a
Slave” movie and what resistances they showed toward those oppressions. The
objectives of the study are to describe the oppressions faced by the two main
characters – Platt and Patsey and to explain the resistances they shown in “12
Years a Slave” Movie. This research focuses the study merely on oppression
faced by two main characters; they were Salomon Northup or Platt and Patsey.
This research was conducted by using descriptive qualitative design and limited
on two of main characters. The data analysis result was found five kinds of
oppression faced by black American in this film, those were: powerlessness,
exploitation, marginalization, culture imperialism and violence. The resistances
shown by American toward those oppressions were revolt, radicalism, asking for
help and religion or spirituality. The issue of racism with oppression had been the
crucial issue since long time ago which could not be denied that until nowadays
the issue of racism is still happening though without oppression. The stigma of
Black was being inferior and white was being superior had driven mind into the
destruction of race relationship between Black and White. However, in this film
we could see how badly the oppression faced by black American and how they
struggled for fighting toward those oppressions.