The Whipping is a short story written by Marita Bonner, a black woman in 1939. She is associated with ‘Harlem Renaissance’. It was an intellectual, social, and political movement of African Americans during the early twentieth century. During this time in history, blacks embarked upon a journey of self discovery and an effort to remakes their collective image.
The story took the background of one black family in Mississippi. With the main character is Lizabeth. She has a strong character. It stated in the text every time she thinks that her rights were not fulfilled, and then she decided to fight for it. But unfortunately, people discriminate her, not pay attention to her because she is black
Analysis
The story itself took period when the slavery of African-American culture flowered. Between 1910 and 1930, huge numbers of African Americans moved from the South to the North in search of jobs and personal freedom.
Black discrimination exists in America since long time ago. From verbal discrimination to lynching, black people were suffered. Great Depression in 1929-1940 made things worse for the black people. Black workers were normally the first to lose jobs at a business or on a farm. Often they were denied public works employment supposedly available to all needy citizens. Individuals were even threatened at relief centers when applying for work. In deep frustration many blacks called President Franklin D. Roosevelt's programs a "raw deal" instead
References: Burns, Amber: Marita Bonner: Writer and Teacher Faruk HT. 1988. Strukturalisme Genetik dan Epistemologi Sastra. Yogyakarta: P.D. Lukman. "Racial Discrimination in America During the 1920 's." 123HelpMe.com. 27 Dec 2011 . http:// en.wikipedia.org /wiki/Great_Migration_(African_American) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depression_(economics)