RACIAL DISCRIMINATION OF AFRICANS AMERICAN REFLECTED IN I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS NOVEL BY MAYA ANGELOU

This study is a racism criticism that concerns on Racial Discrimination in society in African American of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings novel (1997) by Maya Angelou’s. This novel was analyzed using Sociology of literature by Alan Swingewood(1972) and Discrimination theory by Benjamin Bowling (2002). The aims of this study were to investigate and describe the form of racial discrimination occurred. The method used was descriptive qualitative since the data were in the form of sentences and dialogues based on the racial discrimination found in the novel. The result of this study showed that there were three racial discrimination which were focused in social aspect in the novel. They were racial discrimination in employment, in which three data in the form of sentences were found, racial discrimination in public service, in which two data in the form of sentence and dialogue were found and racial discrimination in Age, in which six data in the form of sentences and dialogues were found. Those result showed how cruel the white people were in the form of racial discrimination who experienced by black people and being a victims of abuse. There are many different treatments in getting equality in social aspect which people should live by socializing each other, but instead limit themselves to other only for personal gain. The portrayal in the novel is quite interesting as this story vividly described how difficult being Black people and how difficult to enjoy their life at that time. Keyword: Sociology of Literature, Racism, Discriminatio