Racism in Richard Wrights Black Boy Essay -- Wright Black Boy Essays

Racism in Wrights shadowy Boy The theme of Richard Wrights autobiography Black Boy is racism. Wright grew up in the turbid South the Jim Crow South of the early twentieth century. From an early age Richard Wright was aware of two races, the black and the white. Yet he never understood the dealing between the two races. The fact that he didnt understand but was always trying to, got him into trouble many times. When in Memphis, Wright reluctantly assumed the role community dictated for him, the role of a black boy. He became a black boy for the sole purpose of survival, to make enough money to eventually go along North where he could be himself. As an innocent child Wright sees no difference between the blacks and the whites. Yet he is aware of the existence of a difference. My gran who was as white as any white person, had never looked white to me. (Wright pg. 31). This statement shows his confusion about blacks and whites. When, as a child Wr ight learned of a white man musical rhythming a black boy he believed that the white man was allowed to beat the black child. Wright did not think that whites had the right to beat blacks because of their race. Instead he assumed that the white man was the black boys father. When Wright learned that this was not true, and that the boy was beaten because of his race, he was un able to rationalize it. Even as he got older he didnt see the color of people. In one instance Richard and a friend are standing outside a bring out when some white people pass by, Richard doesnt move to accomodate the white people because he simple didnt notice that they were white. ... ...ter. It has enlightened me. Before reading this book I could not have imagined the horrific truths of only a short while ago, in a place not so far away. Everyone could gain something from this book, for me it demonstrates that the gay race was not, and is not as civilized as it appears. Works Cited an d Consulted Appiah, K. A. and Henry Louis Gates, Jr., eds. Richard Wright Critical Perspectives Past and Present. New York Amistad Press, 1993. Skerrett, Joseph T., Jr. Wright and the Making of Black Boy. in Richard Wrights Black Boy Modern Critical Interpretations. New York Chelsea House, 1988. Stepto, Robert. Literacy and Ascent Black Boy. Appiah, 226-254. Thaddeus, Janice. The Metamorphosis of Black Boy. Appiah 272-284. Wright, Richard. Black Boy. New York Harper, 1944.