AN ANALYSIS OF BLACK AMERICAN’S SOCIAL PROBLEMS AS
REFLECTED IN SONNY’S BLUES BY JAMES BALDWIN
A THESIS
BY
ROMINA TINAMBUNAN
REG. NO. 100705021
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
FACULTY OF CULTURAL STUDIES
UNIVERSITY OF SUMATERA UTARA
MEDAN 2014
1 Universitas Sumatera Utara
AN ANALYSIS OF BLACK AMERICAN’S SOCIAL PROBLEMS AS
REFLECTED IN SONNY’S BLUES BY JAMES BALDWIN
A THESIS
BY
ROMINA TINAMBUNAN
REG. NO. 100705021
SUPERVISOR
CO-SUPERVISOR
(Dra. Martha Pardede, M.S )
(Drs. Parlindungan Purba, M.Hum)
NIP. 19521229 197903 2 001
NIP. 19630216 198903 1 003
Submitted to Faculty of Cultural Studies University of Sumatera Utara Medan
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of SarjanaSastra from
Departmen of English
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
FACULTY OF CULTURAL STUDIES
UNIVERSITY OF SUMATERA UTARA
MEDAN 2014
2 Universitas Sumatera Utara
Approved by the Department of English, Faculty of Cultural Studies University
of Sumatera Utara (USU) Medan as thesis for The Sarjana Sastra Examination.
Head,
( Dr. H. Muhizar Muchtar, MS )
NIP. 19541117 198003 1 002
Secretary,
(Rahmadsyah Rangkuti, MA. PhD)
NIP. 19750209 200812 1 002
3 Universitas Sumatera Utara
Accepted by the Board of Examiners in partial fulfillment of requirements for
the degree of Sarjana Sastra from the Department of English, Faculty of
Cultural Studies University of Sumatera Utara, Medan.
The examination is held in Department of English Faculty of Cultural Studies
University of Sumatera Utara on Saturday April, 19 2014
Dean of Faculty Cultural Studies
University of Sumatera Utara
Dr. H. Syahron Lubis, MA
NIP. 19511013 197603 1 001
Board of Examiners
(Signature)
Dr. H. Muhizar Muchtar, MS
(
)
Rahmadsyah Rangkuti, MA. PhD
(
)
Dra. Redita Lubis, Dip. Appl. Ling,M.Hum.
(
)
Dra. Martha Pardede, M.S
(
)
Dr. Siti Norma Nasution, M.Hum
(
)
4 Universitas Sumatera Utara
AUTHOR’S DECLARATION
I ROMINA TINAMBUNAN DECLARES THAT I AM THE SOLE AUTHOR
OF THIS THESIS EXCEPT WHERE REFERENCE IS MADE IN THE TEXT
OF THIS THESIS. THIS THESIS CONTAINS NO MATERIAL PUBLISHED
ELSEWHERE OR EXTRACTED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FROM A
THESIS BY WHICH I HAVE QUALIFIED FOR, OR AWARDED ANOTHER
DEGREE. NO OTHER PERSON’S WORK HAS BEEN USED WITHOUT
DUE ACKNOWLEDGE IN THE MAIN TEXT OF THIS THESIS. THIS
THESIS HAS NOT BEEN SUBMITTED FOR THE AWARD OF ANOTHER
DEGREE IN ANY TERTIARY EDUCATION.
Signed :
Date
: 19th April 2014
i Universitas Sumatera Utara
COPYRIGHT DECLARATION
NAME
: ROMINA TINAMBUNAN
TITLE OF THESIS : AN ANALYSIS OF BLACK AMERICAN’S SOCIAL
PROBLEMS AS REFLECTED IN SONNY’S BLUES BY
JAMES BALDWIN
QUALIFICATION : S-1/SARJANA SASTRA
DEPARTMENT
: ENGLISH
I AM WILLING THAT MY THESIS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR
REPRODUCTION AT THE DISCRETION OF THE LIBRARIAN OF
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH, FACULTY OF CULTURAL STUDIES,
UNIVERSITY OF SUMATERA UTARA ON THE UNDERSTANDING THAT
USERS ARE MADE AWARE OF THEIR OBLIGATION UNDER THE LAW
OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA.
Signed
:
Date
: 19th April 2014
ii Universitas Sumatera Utara
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First of all, I would like to thank and praise to the Almighty God, Jesus Christ
for His blessing and mercy so that I can complete this thesis as one of the
requirements to get Scholar Certificate in English Department, Faculty of Cultural
Studies, University of Sumatera Utara.
From the beginning of my study until completing this thesis, I have got much
help, guide and direct or indirect supports from many parties. On this occasion, I
would like to express my sincere gratitude to those parting namely:
1. The Dean of Cultural Studies, University of Sumatera Utara, Dr. H. Syahron
Lubis, MA who has authority in my academic years of learning.
2. Dr. H. Muhizar Muchtar, MS the Head of English Department who has helped
me with her leadership to finish my study and for Mr Rahmadsyah Rangkuti,
MA. PhD as the secretary of faculty.
3. Dra. Martha Pardede, M.S., as my supervisor and Drs. Parlindungan Purba,
M.Hum, my co-supervisor, thank you for all the time, guidance, suggestions,
effort, knowledge and corrections that is given to me in doing this thesis so I
can complete it well. They have given me so much knowledge and made me
find so much pleasure in doing this thesis. I would also thank all my lectures
of Faculty Letters, University of Sumatera Utara
4. My hearties and deepest gratitude is due to my beloved parents, B.
Tinambunan and L. Hasugian, who always give me love, care, support and
their patience to help me in the life. Thank you for your offering prayers to
God for my success in my life
iii Universitas Sumatera Utara
5. My huge thanks for my beloved brother Marhon Sarmono Tinambunan ST
without you I will not be like this, all your support, your struggle I will always
remember. I also want to say thanks alot to my sister N. R Tinambunan,
Sarihon Tinambunan, who always give me love, affection and care. To my
beloved brother E. Tinambunan and Pirhot Tinambunan thanks for your
support. I love you all.
6. My brother, my sister and my friends in my Small Group Gema juita Simaremare, Uli Artha Simanungkalit, Kristin Novia and Grace Sibarani who always
give me love and care, and also for K’Dortama, B’Bona and K’Ida.
7. My special thank to all my friends who always give me spirit and advice and
have become my best friends from my first day to the time when I finish my
study at Faculty of Letters especially for NERO...
8. I would like to thank to my friends in Coordinate of UKM KMK USU UP FIB
University of Sumatera Utara, thanks for many precious experiences that I can
get with you all and thank’s for all your pray sista and brother. I will
remember you all.
Finally I realize that this thesis is still far from being perfect and I welcome
constructive criticism and suggestion.
Medan, 19 April 2014
The writer
Romina Tinambunan
No. Reg: 100705021
iv Universitas Sumatera Utara
ABSTRACT
The thesis is entitled ‘An Analysis of Black American’s Social Problems as reflected
in Sonny’s Blues By James Baldwin.’ This thesis is an analysis of social problems
which are faced by Black American who live in America, especially the people who
live in Harlem and the impact of those social problems. The social problems which
are discussed in this thesis are race discrimination, poverty, alcholism, criminality,
and drug addict. The purposes of this thesis are to analyze and to provide that the life
of Sony’s family in Sonny’s Blues short story is the symbol of Black American’s
social problem. The method that is applied is descriptive qualitative method and the
theory that is applied is sociology of literature. Based on this research, there is found
that the life of Sonny in Sonny’s Blues is the symbol of social problems which are
faced by Black American, especially the people who live in Harlem.
Keywords: Social problem, Sonny’s Blues, James Baldwin
v Universitas Sumatera Utara
ABSTRAK
Judul skripsi ini adalah An Analysis of Black American’s Social Problems as
reflected in Sonny’s Blues By James Baldwin. Skripsi ini menganalisis tentang
masalah-masalah sosial yang dihadapi oleh orang-orang kulit hitam yang tinggal di
Amerika, khususnya mereka yang tinggal di Harlem serta dampak dari masalah
sosial tersebut. Masalah sosial yang dibahas dalam skripsi ini mencakup diskriminasi
sosial, kemiskinan, alkoholisme, kriminalitas dan kecanduan narkoba. Adapun tujuan
dari penulisan skripsi ini adalah untuk menganalisa dan membuktikan bahwa
kehidupan keluarga Sonny dalam cerita pendek Sonny’s Blues adalah perlambangan
masalah-masalah sosial yang dihadapi oleh orang hitam di Amerika terkhusus orangorang yang tinggal di Harlem. Metode yang digunakan dalam penulisan skripsi ini
adalah metode deskriptif kualitatif dan teori yang digunakan adalah teori sosiologi
sastra. Dari pembahasan ini ditemukan bahwa memang benar kehidupan keluarga
Sonny dalam cerita pendek Sonny’s Blues adalah perlambangan dari masalahmasalah sosial yang dihadapi oleh kulit hitam yang hidup di Amerika khususnya
orang-orang yang tinggal di Harlem.
Kata Kunci: Masalah sosial, Sonny’s Blues, James Baldwin
vi Universitas Sumatera Utara
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGES
AUTHOR’S DECLARATION................................................................... i
COPYRIGHT DECLARATION ............................................................... ii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS........................................................................ iii
ABSTRACT ................................................................................................. v
ABSTRAK ................................................................................................... vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS............................................................................ vii
CHAPTER I:
INTRODUCTION
1.1 ............................................................................................... Backgrou
nd of the Study. ................................................................................ 1
1.2 ............................................................................................... Problems
of the Study ...................................................................................... 5
1.3 ............................................................................................... Objective
of the Study ...................................................................................... 6
1.4 ............................................................................................... Scope of
the Study ………………………………………….. ....................... 6
1.5 ............................................................................................... Significan
ce of the Study.................................................................................. 6
CHAPTER II:
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 Literature and Society ...................................................................... 7
2.2
Social Problems ...................................................................... 11
2.2.1 ...................................................................................... Race
Discrimination..................................................................... 14
2.2.2 ...................................................................................... Poverty .......... 15
2.2.3 ...................................................................................... Alcoholis
m ......................................................................................... 18
2.2.4 ...................................................................................... Criminalit
y........................................................................................... 21
2.2.5 ...................................................................................... Drugs
Addiction............................................................................. 22
vii Universitas Sumatera Utara
2.3 Review of related Studies ................................................................ 24
CHAPTER III:
3.1
METHOD OF RESEARCH
Research Design ..................................................................... 26
3.2 Data Collecting ................................................................................ 27
3.3 Data Selecting Procedure ................................................................. 29
3.4 Data Analysis ................................................................................... 29
CHAPTER IV:
WHITE PEOPLE AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN
HISTORY
4.1 White People History ....................................................................... 30
4.2 African-American History ............................................................... 31
4.3 The American Civil War, Emancipation and Reconstruction.......... 36
CHAPTER V:
ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS
5.1 ............................................................................................... Harlem
As a Symbol of the Social Condition (trap) ..................................... 38
5.2 ............................................................................................... Race
Discrimination.................................................................................. 40
5.3 ............................................................................................... Poverty .......... 43
5.4 ............................................................................................... Alcoholis
m ...................................................................................................... 45
5.5 ............................................................................................... Criminalit
y........................................................................................................ 47
5.6 ............................................................................................... Drugs
Addiction.......................................................................................... 49
CHAPTER VI:
6.1
CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION
Conclusion .............................................................................. 56
6.2 Suggestion ........................................................................................ 57
viii Universitas Sumatera Utara
REFERENCES ............................................................................................ 58
APPENDICES
APPENDIX 1: James Baldwin’s Biography and Works ......................... ix
APPENDIX 2: Summary of the Short Story ............................................ xiii
ix Universitas Sumatera Utara