Exploring family and community support in Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam's punching the Air

This study explores how family and community support fulfill the psychological needs of the main character, Amal Shahid, in the novel Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam. The novel portrays the experience of a Black teenager who faces legal injustice, racial discrimination, and emotional struggle during his time in a juvenile prison. Therefore, the central research questions addressed are: What types of support are provided by Amal’s family and community in the novel? and How does the support influence Amal’s emotional condition during his time in juvenile prison. A qualitative-descriptive approach is applied, focusing on narrative analysis of literary texts. The analysis includes the interactions between Amal and supporting characters, such as family, lawyers, schoolmates, and figures in prison, to examine how support he receives affect his emotional condition. The theoretical framework used includes New Criticism, to examine intrinsic elements such as characters, characterization and conflicts. The theoretical framework is further strengthened by psychoanalysis, focusing on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, especially the third level which emphasizes love and belonging. Data is collected through close reading of narratives, dialogues, and character descriptions. The results indicated that the support Amal receives plays a crucial role in fulfilling his need for connection, recognition, and emotional stability. This emotional foundation contributes to his inner resilience, helping him maintain hope and self-worth despite the oppressive circumstances. Ultimately, the novel illustrates how the fulfillment of basic psychological needs can empower individuals to survive injustice and emotional adversity.