Racial discrimination reflected trough the characters in Luis Valdez`s Los Vendidos - USD Repository

RACIAL DISCRIMINATION REFLECTED THROUGH THE CHARACTERS IN LUIS

  VALDEZ’S LOS VENDIDOS AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

  Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra in English Letters

  By ELFRIDA S. PUTRIE Student Number: 084214116 ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA 2012

  

RACIAL DISCRIMINATION REFLECTED THROUGH THE

CHARACTERS IN LUIS VALDEZ’S LOS VENDIDOS

AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

  Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra in English Letters

  By

ELFRIDA S. PUTRIE

  Student Number: 084214116

  

ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME

DEPARTEMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS

FACULTY OF LETTERS

PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI

PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI

  WHAT FIFTY SAID When I was young my teachers were the old. I gave up fire for form till I was cold. I suffered like a metal being cast. I went to school to age to learn the past. Now when I am old my teachers are the young. What can't be molded must be cracked and sprung. I strain at lessons fit to start a suture. I got to school to youth to learn the future. -Robert Frost- Reality is a product of our dreams, decisions, and actions- Anonymous

  I dedicated this thesis to My beloved Mom and Dad For All the Love and Support Given to Me

PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI

  

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  I am so joyful that finally I can pass my study in Sanata Dharma University. I can go through these years in Sanata Dharma because of the support people surround me. First of all, I want to send my deepest gratitude to Jesus Christ for His blessing and guidance to me every time. Because of His kindness I finally finish my study.

  I also want to show my gratitude to Ni Luh Putu Rosiandani, S.S., M. Hum. as my advisor who is patient while teaching me. I thank for her time, books and knowledge that she gave me. It is also because of her corrections and advice that this thesis can get better. I also send my gratitude to Maria Ananta Tri Suryandari, S.S., M.Ed. for her corrections, advice, and support for me. I also want to thank to my academic advisor, Linda Valentina Budiman, S.S., M.Hum.

  My next gratitude goes to my family, my mom, dad and also my younger sister and little brother. They are the most important persons in my life. Because of their supports and love, I can finish this thesis.

  I want to give a bunch of thanks to all of my friends in Sanata Dharma University from English Letters 2008 for Daniel, Topan, and Ajeng who gave many suggestions for me. I also thank to Rania, Yeyen, Momon, Vita, Acen, Lando, Cella, Teteh, Blesta, Rinrin, Save, Diana, for our unforgettable moments we spent together. Thanks to Metodius Helfi for lending me his printer, it helped me so much, and for his support for me. experiences with them. For ‘GREASE’ team, Miss Dewi, Miss Linda, Miss Tata, Ce Cita and Mbak Dela, thanks for letting me joined this incredible play performance.

  And last but not least, I give my gratitude to mbak Anna Marsiana for her support and opportunities given to me to learn many things. Thank you! Elfrida S. Putrie

  

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE ........................................................................................... i

APPROVAL PAGE ................................................................................. ii

ACCEPTANCE PAGE ............................................................................ iii

MOTTO PAGE ........................................................................................ iv

DEDICATION PAGE ............................................................................. v

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................... vi

TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................ viii

ABSTRACT .............................................................................................. x

ABSTRAK ................................................................................................ xi

  

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION .......................................................... 1

A. Background of the Study .......................................................... 1 B. Problem Formulations ............................................................... 4 C. Objectives of the Study ............................................................. 5 D. Definition of Terms ................................................................... 5

CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL REVIEW ......................................... 7

A. Review of Related Studies ........................................................ 7 B. Review of Related Theory ........................................................ 9

  1. Theories of Character and Characterization .................. 9

  2. Theories of Racial Discrimination ................................ 11

  C. Review on Discrimination Experienced by Mexican American 15

  D. Theoretical Framework ............................................................. 19

  

CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY ...................................................... 21

A. Object of the Study ................................................................... 21 B. Approach of the Study .............................................................. 23 C. Method of the Study .................................................................. 24

CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS ................................................................... 26

A. Description of Characters ......................................................... 26

  1. Farmworker ................................................................... 26

  2. Johnny Pachuco ............................................................ 30

  3. Revolucionario .............................................................. 33

  4. Mexican American ........................................................ 36

  5. Secretary ....................................................................... 39

  6. Honest Sancho .............................................................. 41

  B. Type of Racial Discrimination .................................................. 43

  1. Situational Pressures ...................................................... 45

  2. Group Gains ................................................................... 50

  

BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................... 59

APPENDIX ............................................................................................... 61

  Summary of Luis Valdez’s Los Vendidos ......................................... 61

  

ABSTRACT

  ELFRIDA S. PUTRIE. RACIAL DISCRIMINATION REFLECTED

THROUGH THE CHARACTERS IN LUIS VALDEZ’S LOS VENDIDOS.

Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2012.

  Discrimination toward minority group still happens in many countries. The discrimination which usually occurs is racial discrimination. Racial discrimination is the attitude of oppressing someone because of the different race. In Los

  

Vendidos , Farmworker, Johnny Pachuco, and Revolucionario are the characters

  that experienced racial discrimination. They are discriminated by white people because they represent the Mexican characteristics.

  In order to see what happens to them, there are two main objectives to achieve in this research. First is to find out all the characteristics of the characters by looking at their characterizations. Since this study is focused on the types of discrimination, the second is to identify the types of discrimination which can be seen through their characteristics.

  Since this analysis is going to explain the types of racial discrimination which is experienced by Mexican people, it is going to apply the socio cultural- historical approach and the theory of racial discrimination. In this analysis, all the characters, Farmworker, Johnny Pachuco, Revolucionario, Mexican American, Secretary, and Honest Sancho are the objects. The characteristics of them will be used to see the types of discrimination.

  The result of this analysis shows that Farmworker, Johnny Pachuco, and Revolucionario are described as typical Mexican people. Farmworker is less educated, strong, and durable. Johnny Pachuco reveals the typical Mexican gangster who always bring knife, consumes drugs, and steals. Meanwhile, Revolucionario is described as a strong, courageous, and tough. The different description is about Eric Garcia, the Mexican American. He is well educated, can speak English fluently, and polite. Although he is a Mexican, but he has characteristics as a white people. Furthermore, Secretary is a Mexican American girl that chooses to be more like white people, and decide to discriminate Mexican people. Secretary experienced the first type of discrimination, it is situational pressure. The pressure from the powerful one makes her discriminate Mexican people. The second theory is group gains, it happens when the majority groups took advantages from the minority. The minority is forced to do the hardest and lowest job. Farmworker shows that he is experienced this type of discrimination.

  The last theory is institutional discrimination. The discrimination occurs when the members of minority group lack of ability and do not qualify to do some job. Farmworker and Johnny are experienced this type of discrimination.

  ABSTRAK

  ELFRIDA S. PUTRIE. RACIAL DISCRIMINATION REFLECTED

THROUGH THE CHARACTERS IN LUIS VALDEZ’S LOS VENDIDOS.

Yogyakarta: Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2012.

  Diskriminasi terhadap kelompok minoritas masih terjadi di banyak negara. Diskriminasi yang biasanya terjadi adalah diskriminasi ras. Diskriminasi ras adalah suatu tindakan yang menekan seseorang karena ras yang berbeda. Dalam naskah Los Vendidos, Farmworker, Johnny Pachuco, dan Revolucionario adalah karakter yang mengalami diskriminasi ras. Mereka didiskriminasi oleh bangsa Amerika karena mereka menggambarkan karakteristik orang Meksiko.

  Untuk melihat apa yang terjadi terhadap mereka, ada dua tujuan utama dalam penelitian ini. Yang pertama adalah mencari karakteristik semua karakter dengan melihat penokohannya. Karena penilitian ini difokuskan pada tipe diskriminasi, tujuan yang kedua adalah mengidentifikasi jenis- jenis diskriminasi yang dapat dilihat dari karakteristik mereka.

  Karena analisis ini ingin menjelaskan jenis- jenis diskriminasi ras yang dialami oleh orang Meksiko, maka analisis ini akan menggunakan pendekatan sosial, kebudayaan, dan sejarah dan teori diskriminasi ras. Dalam analisis ini, semua karakter, Farmworker, Johnny Pachuco, Revolucionario, Mexican American, Secretary, dan Honest Sancho adalah objek. Karakteristik mereka akan digunakan untuk dapat melihat jenis diskriminasinya.

  Hasil dari analisis ini menunjukkan bahwa Farmworker, Johnny Pachuco, dan Revolucionario digambarkan sebagai ciri khas orang Meksiko. Farmworker adalah pria yang kurang berpendidikan, kuat, dan bisa bekerja dalam waktu yang lama. Johnny Pachuco mengungkap ciri khas penjahat Meksiko yang selalu membawa pisau, mengkonsumsi obat- obatan, dan mencuri. Sedangkan Revolucionario digambarkan sebagai pria yang kuat, pemberani, dan tangguh. Penggambaran karakter yang berbeda tentang Eric Garcia, campuran Meksiko dan Amerika. Dia berpendidikan, dapat berbicara bahasa Inggris dengan lancar, dan sopan. Walaupun dia adalah seorang Meksiko, tetapi dia memiliki sifat orang kulit putih. Selanjutnya, Secretary adalah gadis campuran Meksiko dan Amerika yang memilih untuk menjadi orang kulit putih dan memutuskan untuk mendiskriminasi Farmworker, Johnny, and Revolucionario. Secretary mengalami jenis diskriminasi yang pertama, yaitu situational pressure. Tekanan dari orang yang lebih berkuasa membuatnya harus mendiskriminasi orang Meksiko. Teori yang kedua adalah teori group gains, diskriminasi terjadi ketika kelompok mayoritas mengambil keuntungan dari kelompok minoritas. Kelompok minoritas dipaksa untuk melakukan pekerjaan kasar dan rendah. Farmworker memperlihatkan bahwa ia

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION A. Background of the Study Every human being in this world has differences and similarities because God

  created human different one to another. For example in characteristics, races, sex, appearances, and so on. Each human has their uniqueness, especially with races. The problem of race in the modern world is essentially a social problem because it involves the relations of peoples, not merely as individuals in their interpersonal relations, but people as members of groups, which are differentiated because of both physical characteristic and cultural differences (Frazier, 1957:31). Races are

  

distinguished from this individual’s viewpoint. The only properties that count are the

immediately visible ones: skin color, body hair, facial configuration (Todorov in

Back, 2000:64). McLemore also stated that races are sharply distinguishable from

skin color, head shape, eye form, hair texture, and so on are biologically inherited

(1980:83).

  In dealing with those differences, people have their own perspective. It can be positive and negative. It is a positive perspective if everyone can accept the differences and live peacefully with another human being. On the other hand it is negative if people cannot accept the differences and try to oppress each other. This attitude is often called as discrimination. Discrimination means treating some people differently than others or favoring one social group over another based on prejudice (Hanes, 2007: 29). On the other words, discrimination is the unfair treatment of people simply because they are different from the dominant group in the society.

  Discrimination is the most common form of prejudicial expression. Based on the book Prejudice in the Modern World by Richard Hanes, prejudice is a negative attitude, emotion, or behavior toward individual based on prejudgment about those individuals with no prior knowledge or experience. Prejudice itself is actually far more than simply a negative attitude. It often involves action such as discrimination or violence. Actually, discrimination is not the same as prejudice; discrimination is an action or behavior whereas prejudice is an attitude. Prejudice can encourage discrimination and then discrimination may cause the prejudice. Hanes in Prejudice stated that,

  in the Modern World

  For example, discrimination driven by prejudice can lead to a group receiving fewer opportunities for education, jobs, and career advancement. These barriers to self improvement result in low morale and the development of few skills among members of the disadvantaged group. These results of discrimination can cause further prejudice and discrimination. It becomes a vicious, endless cycle (2007:69-70) Discrimination and prejudice are certainly related and often found existing simultaneously within in a group or individual. Discrimination may take many forms.

  Extreme forms of discrimination include genocide, the deliberate killing off of a racial, religious, political, or cultural group (Hanes, 2007:72). It can be said from this quotation that discrimination also can cause the fatal result.

  In this case of Mexican citizen is no exception. In the book Race and Culture , Frazier stated that the race and culture frontiers which have in the Modern World

grown up in Latin America may be divided into two groups: Mexico and Central

America. In Mexico, racial mixture was so common that more than 90% of the

25.000.000 present inhabitants are of Spanish- Indian ancestry. The racial pattern

becomes more complex in the other countries because of the presence of large

numbers of Negroes, imported from West Indies (1957: 14-15). From this quotation it

can be seen that many groups of different races dominated the number of citizen. rd

  According to Race Relations 3 , the Mexican Americans are a most

Edition

diverse ethnic group. On one hand, they are an indigenous people who were

overpowered by white settlers and similar to the Native Americans (Kitano 1985:

157). Their immigration from Mexico to the United States makes them one of the

largest immigrant groups. Their immigration has included the temporary worker, the

legal immigrant, and unknown number of illegal or can be mentioned as the

undocumented. The Mexican Americans are a large and complex ethnic group, yet in

the minds of the majority, there remains a simple stereotype of lazy, stoic peasant, or

its opposite, a ruthless, and cruel bandito. From the quotation above we can

understand that the stereotypes of Mexican American people are unpleasant people,

and most of them are criminal.

  For this research the writer takes a play by Luis Valdez, Los Vendidos. Los Vendidos is a play about the condition of Mexican American from at first the Mexican came in the early 1910. In this brief play Valdez clearly explores white’s stereotypical images of Mexicans while also exposing those who willingly play stereotypical roles. Los Vendidos means "those who sold out". Valdez did not agree with some people in his own culture selling out and forgetting their values and heritage and conforming to white society. (www.docshare.com)

  This study is going to analyze the types of discrimination in the play Los , which experienced by the characters. Valdez used stereotypical models of

  Vendidos

  Mexicans to make the secretary of Governor Regan, think that the odd behaviors of the models were appropriate. The models were: The Farm Worker. Johnny is a big city thug. The Revolucionario starts and participates in revolutions and other things of that nature; the last is Mexican-American. This play showed how Mexican people who lived in United States were discriminated by Mexican American.

  This is interesting to be analyzed because this play contains many forms of discrimination among Mexican in America. The writer attempts to analyze the stereotypical characters in this play then reveal the types of racial discrimination faced by Mexican American.

B. Problem Formulation

  In order to have a thorough analysis, there are two main problems that will be

  1. How are the characters in this play described?

  2. How are racial discriminations revealed through the characters? C.

   Objectives of the Study

  The first objective is to find and explain how the characters in Los Vendidos are described. The second objective is to reveal the type of the racial discrimination in Mexico reflected in the play seen through each character.

D. Definition of Term

  In order to avoid misunderstanding and to make discussion clearer about the term racial discrimination, the writer gives some explanation that can be used as the references.

1. Racial Discrimination

  Racial discrimination is treating some people differently than others or favoring one social group over another based on prejudice (Hanes, 2007:29). The term racial discrimination shall mean any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, color, descent, or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public lifeon March

  th 27 2012).

  According to Racial and Ethnic Relations in America second Edition, discrimination is an unfavorable action toward people because they are members of a particular racial or ethnic group (McLemore, 1980: 108). The term discrimination refers to an overt action. Discrimination, similarly, is used by some to refer only to certain forms of negative actions. Frequently, for instance, it refers only to negative actions that spring from prejudice.

2. Mexican- American

  The Mexican American can count a great variety of Native Americans that is many Indian groups who once lived in Mexico and the American Southwest. Another major component is European, for Mexican Americans are also descended from the Spaniards who came to this hemisphere during the early periods of exploration, conquest, and settlement (Samora, 2008: 5). From this quotation, it can be concluded that Mexican American is a mixture of diverse people. The Indian itself is also a mixture of many groups, and so does the

  Americans who are the mixtures of many people around the world. The mixing of people who makes Mexican American exist.

CHAPTER II THEORETICAL REVIEW A. Review of Related Studies Visage (2002), in his research, stated that Los Vendidos focused on the Latino

  stereotypes. It focused on how the stereotypes effects on society. His research focused on the characters that create stereotype of Mexican-American. Further, in his article titled Los Vendidos: Using Stereotypes to end racism, he stated that

  The individual “models” appear to have their own identities within the Mexican race and each identity stands for a stereotype society generally holds of Mexicans. For instance, the farm worker "goes back to Mexico and doesn't

  return... until next Spring," and doesn't speak English.

  The revolucionario was romantic, rode horses, and started revolutions like in the movies. The Mexican American was educated and “Mexican but American.” In the end, however, the characters were stripped of stereotypical features and seemed to be of one people, all speaking Spanish and working together. The characteristics attached to the labels were fabricated by society

  th accessed on June 12 2011).

  This quotation implies that, each character in Los Vendidos hold the stereotype of Mexican people, for example Farmworker is described as a person who cannot speak English, Revolucionario is a romantic guy and Mexican American who is educated person. This research highlights the stereotype or label that is given to the Mexican people by the society.

  Another research on Los Vendidos also had been done by Michaela Abele in 2006. In her research titled Education with a Smile on its Face- An Analysis of Comic Elements in Luis Valdez’s Los Vendidos. She stated that the play actually created a comic sense but it has ironical aspects. The purpose of making it into comic is to take awareness of people in thinking about moral value in society. Therefore, her research focused on the ironical aspects in the play. It is stated as follows

  Taking into account that “people pay no attention to moralizers,” Robert Harris therefore considers irony to be “the only fruitful method” to reveal hypocrisy and flaws in society, as suggested in his article “The Purpose and Method of Satire.” Harris’s opinion appears to be reflected in Valdez’s acto Los Vendidos, in which he frequently uses irony as well as other kinds of comic elements in order to entertainingly educate his audience and to provoke changes. Initially, the comic nature of Los Vendidos is revealed by its ironical

  th

  aspectsccessed on June 12 2011) The third study is taken from Jorg Vogelmann (2006). He had done a research about the comedic elements of Los Vendidos. His research titled Elements of Comedy

  

in Luis Valdez’s Acto Los Vendidos as Techniques for Communication and

Mobilisation. This research focused on comedic elements. This element is used to

  deliver the political messages. Moreover, it is stated in the following quotation.

  The thesis that Valdez’s play Los Vendidos consists of various comedic patterns to enable a thrilling, entertaining and effective communication between the author and his Chicano audience to sustainably deliver Valdez’s political messages can be seen when analyzing his probably most famous acto and the types of comedy he uses. Los Vendidos can be assigned to classifications like low, realistic or satiric comedy. This, indeed, shows how strongly Valdez relies on comedic-satiric techniques to politically communicate with and mobilise his Chicano fellow countrymen

  

th

accessed on June 12 2011).

  As the three studies mentioned above, this study has different objective. It is going to analyze the form of racial discrimination depicted through the characters in .

  Los Vendidos

B. Review of Related Theories

  In this part, there are two theories that are going to be used to answer the problems that have been formulated. The first theory is theory of character and characterization to see the intrinsic element of the play, the second is theory of racial discrimination to analyze the form of racial discrimination.

1. Theories of Character and Characterization

  Character is the main element in a literary work. According to M.H Abrams, ,

  A Glossary of Literary Terms ninth Edition

  “Characters are the persons represented in a dramatic or narrative work, who are interpreted by the reader as possessing particular moral, intellectual, and emotional qualities by inferences from what the person say and their distinctive ways of saying it -the dialogue- and from what they do –the action” (2009: 42). This quotation shows that the character is the one who plays an important role in the story. Based on How To Analyze Drama by Reaske, there are six devices to characterize the characters.

  a.

  The Appearance of the Character “In the prologue or in the stage directions the playwright often describes the character in the physical sense” (Reaske, 1966: 46). This quotation shows that the appearance or what the character looks like is one of the ways to show the characteristic of the character. b.

  Asides and Soliloquies The characters can also be described by his or her dialogue to the audience.

  “All of the further characterization is of course established through dialogue. We learn about the characters as they speak. To understand the characters best when they speak in short asides or in longer soliloquies” (1946: 46). To characterize what kind of person the character is by showing the character’s speech or mind that is addressing to the audience or it is only the character’s inner thought which is delivered when he or she is alone.

  c.

  Dialogue between Characters “Not only does the language of the character speaking alone characterize him, but his language when speaking to others also sheds a great deal of light on his personality” (1966: 47). The conversation between the characters also can show the characteristics of the characters.

  d.

  Hidden Narration “One of the devices of the characterization frequently employed is having one character in a play narrate something about another character” (1966: 47). From this quotation, it can be seen that the playwright indirectly shows the characterization of one character from another character’s description.

  e.

  Language “Not only must we pay close attention to the kind of words which the character uses, but also we must be careful to remember how the character speaks” and the attitude while the character pronounces dialogue is also the important thing to characterize.

  f.

  Character in Action The last device is about the character’s act. This is to show the reaction that the characters give on a certain situation.

2. Theory of Racial Discrimination

  There are many kinds of races in the world. According to McLemore races are subspecies of mankind (1980: 79). It can be said that race is the mankind’s categorization which has certain distinctive physical traits. The difference of race in some place can be a serious problem if a person cannot deal with another who has different race.

  “The problem of race and culture contacts in the modern world is essentially a social problem because it involves the relations of peoples, not merely as individuals in their interpersonal relations, but people as members of groups, which are differentiated because of both physical characteristics and cultural differences” (Frazier, 1957:31). This statement implies that racial problem occurs due to the people’s relation as a member of group, the differences of physical appearance between the individuals and the cultural differences. Hanes in the book Prejudice in the Modern World stated that, discrimination means one group enjoys an undue or undeserved advantage over another group possessing the same qualifications based on arbitrary, or random, standards, or criteria (2007: 26). It means that discrimination is an attitude of one group that oppresses another group unreasonably and can cause the disadvantage to another group.

  “Discrimination is an unfavorable action toward people because they are members of particular racial or ethnic group. Discrimination, similarly, is used by some to refer only to certain forms of negative actions. For instance, it refers only to negative actions that spring from prejudice” (McLemore, 1980: 108). From this quotation it can be concluded that discrimination is an unpleasant action toward people because they have different race or ethnic. Prejudice can lead people to discriminate. Prejudice is an unfavorable attitude toward people because they are members of a particular racial or ethnic group (McLemore, 1980: 108).

  Hanes also stated that prejudice is far more than simply a negative attitude. It often involves actions such as discrimination (2007: 26). It is understood that discrimination may occur because of the existence of prejudice. Prejudice refers to an attitude, feeling, or opinion. To determine how prejudiced he or she is, can be known by the extent of people accept stereotyping (McLemore, 1980: 111). According to Hanes, stereotyping is an oversimplified prejudgment of others using physical or behavioral characteristics, usually exaggerated, that supposedly apply to every member of that group (Hanes, 2007: xxxiv). This quotation implies that stereotype is an over prejudgment because of his or her physical or behavioral and apply to every member of the group.

  Then it can be understood that discrimination is caused by the existence of prejudice, and to find out the level of prejudice of someone can be seen from how discrimination, prejudice, and stereotyping are really tight. These are the idea that people can be motivated to act in different ways and their actions are an indication of the way they think or believe something.

  McLemore also stated three theories of the type of discrimination (1980: 126- 138), they are: 1.

  The Situational Pressures This theory gives very important ideas, whether people discriminate or not may depend more on the characteristics and demands of the social situation (1980:

  127). From this quotation it can be said that the discrimination may occur in some social situation or related to the society. “In fact people discriminate under some conditions. The specific social pressures is arising in particular situations and in many instances, this is to outweigh personal prejudice as a cause of discrimination” (1980:127). This quotation explains clearly that this type of discrimination occurs in certain situation and causes by a pressure from the superior person in the instances. It is not true that a person discriminates the other because he or she wants to, but there are always pressures from somebody that leads a person to discriminate.

2. The Group Gains

  The conflict between groups for the control of land and jobs, led to relatively fixed social arrangements in which the members of the more powerful groups enjoyed greater privileges than those in the less powerful groups (1980: 130). To illustrate, if minority- group workers are forced into the hardest, dirtiest, lowest quotation, the more powerful groups get more advantages from the powerless one. It also can be said the minority get different treatment.

3. Institutional Discrimination

  Institutional discrimination in employment arises because the members of a minority lack some ability or qualification intentionally denied them in the past (McLemore, 1980:137). This statement shows that discrimination occurs when the minority group did not get the fair treatment in their past in some institution that affected in the future, they unqualified to have job and always be discriminated every single time. When an institution has requirements that the employer should have formal education such as high school or diploma, the automatic result is to exclude those who do not have the requirements. If people have been subject to discrimination in the schools, then they are less likely to have graduated and therefore to be less qualified for a job that requires a diploma (McLemore, 1980: 137).

  Based on International Encyclopedia of Ethics, institutional discrimination includes segregation between race, redlining by financial institution, and the continuous practice of low paying job experienced by the minority groups (Roth, 1995: 232). According to John K. Roth, discrimination is a differential treatment based on physical and social affiliation. It has negative impact on just and moral behavior (1995:231). In the United States, various groups have experienced various forms of discrimination, including racial discrimination. Discrimination is not limited to individuals.

C. Review on Discrimination Experienced by Mexican American

  The interaction of Mexicans and Americans started when Mexicans had begun to immigrate to the United States in large numbers, approximately leads over 680.000 Mexican citizens, as early 1910. The Mexican Revolution and the unsettled economic condition were some factors that led Mexican came to United States; they came to the United States looked for the jobs. Based on the World War II and Mexican American

  Civil Rights

  , Observers have estimated that approximately 3.5 million persons of Mexican descent lived in the US. Like other immigrant groups, most had embarked on the challenging journey to the US for material reasons – to earn enough to return to their native land and start a new life or to make a better life for themselves in the new country (Castillo, 2008: 8). There was a need for the assistance in United States government and also a need for labor especially in cotton farming and agriculture. The Mexicans were experienced in farming, ranching, and mining. It was going through the next twenty years.

  Based on World War II and Mexican American Civil Right, “Color prejudices were common throughout the United States, but Mexicans settled in areas where racial prejudice was deeply rooted and particularly strong” (Castillo, 2008: 11). The Mexicans were natural targets of the race based discrimination that victimized American Indians, African Americans, and Asians.

  Poverty was generally the lot of unskilled, especially migratory, labor in the US. Economic problems for Mexican- Americans were compounded by the disposition of Anglos to see them as part of a permanent underclass and to discriminate against them accordingly. The fact that they were mostly assumptions concerning their supposed innate inferiority. It was easy to stereotype them as unclean, unmotivated, slow, dishonest, able to live on less, and do not fit to associate with whites (2008: 11). The economic problems faced by Mexican American were because they the most submerged and destitute group in the US. Many of them were employed in the

  “lowest paid and least desirable jobs and also plagued by illiteracy, juvenile delinquency, criminality, and disease (Castillo, 2008: 8). Therefore the Americans see them as an underclass citizen and can be discriminated right away.

  The Mexican American people not only being discriminated but also they were accused as a criminal.

  Their second class status was signed in encounters with police, border officers, and other officials who adopted attitudes that ranged from disrespectful to humiliate. Police brutality was often visited upon Mexican Americans accused of crimes (Castillo, 2008: 14).

  From the quotation above, it can be said that the second class status of Mexican American citizen makes them mostly accused of crimes. The most obvious reminders of the demarcation of social status by race were announcement posted on restaurants and other places generally open to the public indicating that persons of Mexican descent would not be served (Castillo, 2008: 14). Movie theaters often segregated their Mexican American customers. The use of public toilet was also frequently denied to people identified as “Mexican” and they were banned from or assigned special times for their use of public parks, swimming pools, and other recreational facilities. A sign like “We Serve WHITE’S only NO SPANISH or MEXICANS” appeared in many public facilities in the Southwest during 1930s-

  1940s (Castillo, 2008: 13). The impact of such conditions was obvious Mexican Americans could not use those services to which they were entitled and were daily reminded of their inferior status. In 1940, conditions and prospects for Mexican Americans remained much the same. Mexican Americans remained largely rural, disproportionately illiterate, mostly very poor, physically isolated from their American neighbors, and deprived of the full potential of life in the US (2008: 14).

  From the side of educational, up to now education has not provided Mexican Americans with ladder to success. Segregation, isolation, inappropriate curricula, and poor teaching are partially the problem they faced (Kitano, 1985: 170). Mexican American children on average received fewer months of instruction during the school year than the Anglo, and fewer years of schooling overall. Indeed, according to an official survey done during the war, 42 percent of Mexican American children of school age received no education at all (2008: 12).

  During the US participation in World War I (1914-1918) in Europe, thousands of Mexican served in the military under the Americans flag. They took advantage during the wartime; they found employment as highly skilled laborers in construction and industry (Hanes, 2007:425). Many immigrants formed organization and labor union to combat prejudice and discrimination.

  On the World War II, Mexican American also gave contributions to United States. Similar to World War I, the manufacturing industry opened new job opportunities for Mexican Americans who were not in military service. Agricultural United States and Mexico established a bracero program or labor program. This program allowed braceros or laborers to legally enter the United States for seasonal work on farms. Almost five million workers from Mexico joined this program, even though the working conditions were obviously harsh and low paying job (Hanes, 2007: 428).

  Not only working in the industries, probably about 500.000 Mexican Americans men joined the armed service during the war. They volunteered for many reasons. Some wanted to escape poverty and discrimination; some did because of pride, sense of manhood, family loyalty, duty, and patriotism (Castillo, 2008: 50).

  For many others citizen, the war experienced strengthened an identity that had been shaped by family and community one that had struggled against discrimination for generations (Castillo, 2008: 57). The condition of the war was very violent for them and their contributions might lead to have psychological trauma because many people loss their life. Not only had the war given effects on Mexican American’s identity, the suffering, poverty, and discrimination that existed before and after the war. And, those who were able to survive physically and psychology were undoubtedly change by their experienced (Castillo, 2008: 54). The emergence of

  

pachuco that shocked many Mexican American people was one of the examples of

  how the youth try to find identity. They were considered to represent sexuality and violence by American people (Castillo, 2008: 69).

  “During the aftermath of the infamous Zoot- Suit Riots, pachucas became scapegoats in both Mexican and the Anglo press, where they were accused of being pot- smoking prostitutes who were cultural traitors (Castillo, 2008: 69).”

  Zoot- Suit Riots was the incidents done by some Mexican Americans teenagers. They wore absurdly long coats with padded shoulder, porkpie hats completed by a feather in the back, watch chains so long they almost touched the ground, and peg- top trousers tapering to narrow cuffs (Kitano, 1985: 161).

  “The threat of the pachucos was much exaggerated. The pachucos used to stand in front of the Cornet Theater, but they were harmless, they never hurt anybody, they just wanted to be the little tough guy, show off their clothing and the way they did their hairdo, no one was afraid of them, there was no incident of violence or killings (Castillo, 2008: 69).” Mexican American people later remembered their youthful experiences with racism and discrimination as an integral part of shaping their identity with memories of discrimination and humiliations and with the desire to overcome or reconcile (Castillo, 2008: 58). Most of them had grown up to expect hard work, poverty, hunger, and rejection, they learned to survive.

D. Theoretical Framework

  The first problem in this study understands the characteristics of the six characters, Farmworker, Johnny Pachuco, Revolucionario, Mexican American, Honest Sancho, and Secretary through their characterization. The theory of characterization by Reaske is used to explain their characteristics. These characteristics lead to answer the first question in problem formulation.

  After finding out the characteristics of those six characters, this study applies the theory of discrimination which is divided into three types, the situational pressures, the group gains, and institutional discrimination. Observing the type of discrimination using the theory of discrimination by McLemore will answer the second problem in the problem formulation.

CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY A. Object of the Study This paper deals with one of Luiz Valdes’s plays entitled Los Vendidos. This

  play consists of only one act. This play was taken from The Harcourt Brace Anthology of Drama the third edition by W.B. Worthen. The play was first performed in 1965. Valdez established El Teatro Campesino (the Farm Workers’ Theater) and it was awarded an Emmy in 1972. This theater specialized in doing short, improvised, satirical skits called actos. The idea of making the theater is because he had seen a strikes of farm workers and a boycott against grape owner which organized by Cesar Chavez in Delano, California.

  When the secretary first gets to the lot, Sancho, the model dealer, introduces her to each model. First is the Farm Worker Model, as a hard worker and an economical machine. The secretary does not want him because he doesn't speak English and has tendencies to strike. Sancho then introduces her to Johnny, which immediately pulls out a switchblade and swings at the secretary. Sancho shows her that this model knows how to be arrested while slightly resisting. This model isn't as economical as the first, but he is still fairly cheap to operate. The problem comes when the secretary finds out that this model does drugs and steals the secretary's purse. It is because of these things that the secretary decides that this is not an Sancho moves on to the Revolucionario, which used to act in movies and do commercials for TV. This model is more economical than the second but it is rather because he eats raw horsemeat and drinks tequila; however this makes it a better lover. The problem with this model is that he was come from Mexico and the secretary wants a model from America. Finally, Sancho introduces the Mexican- American model. This model is charming, intelligent, patriotic, but very expensive to purchase and to maintain. It is expensive to purchase because it takes two Pachuchos, a Farm Worker, and three white-raced models, to make it. It is expensive to maintain, because it runs on dry martinis, bread, and mom's apple pie. This model delivers political speeches and is very refined.