Representing Systemic Racism: Institutional Injustice and Authorial Critique in Kathryn Stockett’s The Help

Abstract

This research analysed the existence of systemic racism in Kathryn Stockett’s novel The Help. The objective of this research is to uncover how systemic racism is represented in the novel, and analyse how the author's critical position towards the issue as reflected in the content of the novel. This research also aims to add insight into how literature can shape people's understanding of issues surrounding racism, as well as contribute to discussions relating to power, identity and race. This research was conducted by applying a qualitative method. The data were divided into primary data and secondary data. Primary data is obtained from Stockett's novel The Help (2009) published by Penguin Books. In addition, secondary data in this research are supporting data taken from some books, journals, websites, and thesis related to systemic racism. There are two goals of the research, where the first goal is to analyze how systemic racism is represented and to analyze the author's critical position in The Help. This research using Stuart Hall’s representation theory as the basic theory and applying systemic racism theory by Feagin to identify how racial oppression is portrayed in the novel. The purpose of this analysis is to examine how Stockett critically represents systemic racism through the depiction of institutional injustice in The Help, and to explore how the narrative reflects the author's position in addressing racial inequality embedded within American society. This research is suggested to make society more aware and conscious, furthering the discussion about race as a means of achieving justice and the fight to maintain equality in the United States.