The aim of this study is to find out the intertextuality of Langston Hughes’ poem "Negro" and Maya Angelou’s "Equality" about Racial Discrimination in the past and the life of African-Americans. This study is intended to depicted of Racial Discrimination which as reflected in Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou's poem. The study is going to explain about Racial Discrimination study to draw how the African-American treated unwell, including the social conflict and the descent of the greatest difficulty in Americans culture. This study interested in the intertextual study of the poems and the kind of discrimination experiences by African-American in USA is describes in their poems.
This study employs qualitative research. In analyzing the data, the study uses descriptive qualitative technique. The technique is used to describe the element of the poetry and make some understanding towards the poetry through sentences, stanza, and lines. There are two types of data The primary data are main source which are taken from the poem of Langston Hughes’ “Negro” and Maya Angelou’s “Equality”. The content such as sentences, stanza, and line as the source can be taken as proof. The secondary data are supporting data which are taken from some data such as international journals, articles, thesis, essays, sites, magazines online related to the theory that used in the topic of the study.
The result of this study are; 1) Langston Hughes’ “Negro” is one of the example of that which written in early twentyth century, Hughes describes himself and his race as who suffered discrimination in several different ways from several different people in several different places. By doing this Hughes shows himself, one black man, as the entire black race throughout history. 2) “Equality” is also one of the poems by Maya Angelou. This poem also convey about discrimination act and based on the experience of the author. The author’s desire to be equal with White with all kinds of equality such as gender, race, age and etc. In both of the poetry, Hughes and Angelou tells a community of African-American who treat unfairly because of racism. 3) It is found there is an intertextuality in a form of emphasis between Hughes’ “Negro” and Angelou’s “Equality” in some points; they are the content, background, point of view, and repetition.
Key Words: African-Americans, Racial Discrimination, Intertextuality