THE RESPONSES OF THE BLACK AMERICANS AND THE WHITE AMERICANS TOWARD RACISM IN SOUTHERN UNTITED STATES OF AMERICA AS DEPICTED IN JOHN GRISHAM'S A TIME TO KILL (TANGGAPAN ORANG KULIT HITAM DAN ORANG KULIT PUTIH TERHADAP RASISME DI AMERIKA SERIKAT BAGIAN SELATAN SEPERTI YANG TERGAMBAR DALAM NOVEL A TIME TO KILL KARYA JOHN GRISHAM)

Abstract

A Time to Kill represents racial problems between the blacks and the whites in the United States of America especially in the South during 1960s until 1970s. Set in Ford County, Mississippi, where racism exists more strongly, the novel tells about the white racists who treat the blacks and the white sympathizers badly such as racial prejudice, segregation, discrimination, intimidation, and extermination. In this study, the problems are to describe the kinds of racism, and to know the responses of the blacks and the whites toward racism. The problems are analyzed by using Critical Race Theory proposed by Richard Delgado and Jean Stefancic. This theory is applicable to the topic discussion because it is a theory about human behavior and social process that is relevant to racial group categorization and racial stratification. The result of this study shows that the white racists practice racism against the blacks and the white sympahtizers. In responding racism, most of the blacks reject racism through demonstration to demand justice and equality. However, a few of them are apathetic because they feel that they have no power and chance to erase racism since the whites still dominate all aspects of life. Furthermore, the white racists agree to racism. Some of them join Ku Klux Klan to restore white supremacy. They feel afraid of the blacks taking over their domination. On the other hand, some of the white reject racism. They are known as the white sympathizers. They assimilate with the blacks and join civil rights movements to help the blacks to get their rights and freedom, and to make the blacks and the whites live in harmony. Moreover, this study is conducted to encourage the readers to appreciate people's rights and freedom in order to gain a harmonious life.