Uncovering the History Behind Punching The Air Novel by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam

Abstract

This research analyzes the issue of racial injustice as depicted in Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam, a novel that highlights the discriminatory attitudes African Americans face in the criminal justice system. The story is based on the real-life experience of Yousef Salaam, a member of the Central Park Five, who was unjustly convicted as a teenager for a crime he never committed. By examining the relationship between Salaam's personal history and the narrative of Punching the Air, this study aims to reveal how fiction can reflect and reframe real events about racial inequality. Using Julia Kristeva's theory of intertextuality, this research identifies elements of transformation and adaptation in the novel and compares them to Salaam's true story. A descriptive qualitative approach is used to analyze the transposition of themes, plot structures, and character experiences from Salaam's life into the novel. The findings provide insights into how intertextuality shapes literary plot development, especially in works inspired by historical events.