Violence In Richard Wright's Black Boy

Richard Wright is known to be one of the most influential African American writers of the 20th century. He was well known for his sometimes controversial essays and short stories. Much of his work dealt with racial themes and is said to have paved the way for many other African American writers in the fight against racism in the 1900s. One of Wright’s essays “The Living Ethics of Jim Crow” (1937), demonstrates the conditioning of African Americans through the acceptance of disenfranchisement and inferiority through a personal look in Richard Wright’s life. This conditioning is brought through childhood upbringings, the stigmas placed by society, and the internal acceptance of those stigmas through reoccurring experiences.

To begin, Richard causes problems for himself at his job because he is so full of pride. When the

In short, things happened that resulted in a change of home and environment. Exposed to a young lady by the name of Ella, he learned the influence between the written words that morphed obscure and abstract thoughts into a series of clips that became one long, detailed, movie. His “imagination [was] blazed” (39) and his interest in the story of Bluebeard and His Seven Wives clutched desperately onto his senses as she read aloud. Despite the book being “the Devil’s work” (39), at least to his grandmother anyway, Richard found that he “hungered for the sharp, frightening, breathtaking, almost painful excitement that the story” (40) offered him. He stole books and attempted to read them despite not knowing more than a handful of words. Although the words alone had no value to Richard, the words became a “gateway to a forbidden and enchanting land” (40). Series of magazines and books later, Richard himself got to give meaning to inked characters by writing a short story himself. His classmates asked in awe if he really wrote it himself in which he replies with a simple yes. Having written a piece of literature himself, Richard knew how influential the written word could be, especially if it was the word of

Wright wanted to learn more about the world around him rather than going home to his disappointed family. He was eager to “wander” and be introduced to all of the social aspects that he was hidden from as a child. In order to gain more courage he planned to “watch” and “ask” about the topics he did not have direct exposure to. Wright used this example in order to show that Richard needed to be directly involved in an experience in order to fully have courage about a situation.

The harsh supremacist conditions of the Jim Crow South painted a portrait of America’s failed attempt at creating a society that was “separate but equal.” The socioeconomic deprivations faced by African Americans was deeply enrooted in the lack of opportunities provided to the average family living in that era. “Black Boy,” a memoir written in 1945 by Richard Wright explores his life as a young child, coming of age amid racial inequality and deviating circumstances. His discussion of family explores the roles and outcomes that a family has on a black boy growing up in the South. Wright argues that the lack of financial, intellectual, and spiritual support from his family growing up in the Jim Crow South, molded him into the stubbornly independent

Wright. The sheriff and county attorney reflect these values as well, but with their elevated status in the community, it makes their remarks even more impactful, which can be seen in the way the women act around the men. As the scene starts, the women stay close to the door rather than huddling around the fire with men, showing that they are uncomfortable to even be near them. The women stick together because they are support for each other. When the men verbal attack them with comments and bites at their gender, the women instinctively huddle together, which is seen after Hales remark when “The two women move a little closer together,” (942). They despise the men, but what can they do but stand together, silently showing solidarity with each other. It is also worth noting that the entire play takes place in what would have been seen as a woman’s sphere in the home at the time, the kitchen. The kitchen in this house is in complete disarray, with unfinished furnishings sitting front and center in the scene. This is a reflection of the relationship that occured within the home, which is absolutely lost on the men, as they see nothing but a mess and, “kitchen things,” (942). The irony in this case is that as the men walk from room to room, from the house to the barn, back and forth, they are trying to find a motive. What they can’t see, however, is that

Standing up to someone is very important as well as difficult. It can be really scary to fight back. However, in the end it is always to best solution. In Richard Wright’s novel Black Boy, Richard suffers from physical, emotional, and mental hunger. Richard was physically starving.

Richard Wright operates haunting imagery, vehement symbolism, figurative language, and tranquil diction to denote the narrator's sadness for the victim and the malice towards the perpetrators of the crime.

were important in 1945, such as social injustice , social norms, and counter culture, which were a vital part of making Wright the person he was. The main character, Richard Wright was frequently abused and told what to do by the whites. Richard is trying to understand why everyone isn’t equal. His family isn’t supportive of him, “not acting his color”. Richard’s father isn’t a huge role in his life, only at a young age. Multiple series of violent events made Richard the person he portrayed to be. External forces made Richard try to fit social norms, while also trying to be himself. Since the book was written in the Jim Crow era, a lot of racist moments are discussed. Wright uses many literary and historical devices to show the struggles he went through when it came to racism , social norms, and counterculture. but ultimately he uses characterization, conflict, and figurative language to show the effects of external forces and factors.

When he bumps to Cora while working at the Cafe he is shocked of how little of a deal it is to her. “But I was aware that she was a white girl and that her body was pressed closely against mine, an incident that has never happened to be before in my life …… But she was not conscious of my blackness.” (Wright 270) Richard begins to realize that in the North it is very acceptable for whites and blacks to interact, Richard just cannot seem to let himself be okay with it. This is because of the fact that he has always had to act a certain way and because of his new location his morals and ways are now all of a sudden

Everyone has a unique childhood growing up, however, some experiences can be shared among groups of people for various reasons. Richard Wright, author of the autobiography Black Boy, details his childhood and the struggles that he faced growing up as an African American in the South during the Jim Crow laws. Through his personal experiences with White people and the discouragement, derived from race, Richard communicates the racial inequality and need for an improved relationship between African Americans and White people.

. In the book Black Boy, by Richard Wright, we explore many themes as we read coming of age story from the point of view of an African-American boy in the earlier 20th century. This is a time with a lot of oppression and lifestyles and practices that would seem strange to us today. Wright, however, is not the usual boy with a usual view of the world. Richard Wright uses his oppression to value himself; instead of taking the knowledge handed to him, he challenges ideas of race, justice, and religion and gains wisdom.

Growing up through hate, violence and loneliness is life changing. In Black Boy Richard Wright tells about his life growing up with racial inequality,being poor and living with his family. Richard Wright demonstrates his experience and understanding of the black community in the early 1900’s by incorporating examples of its disjointedness, low standards of living and violence. Richard Wright uses his experience and understanding to display that black population was disjointed. The suffering that Richard’s mom endures changes richard.

Wright presents his mother as cruel and violent, sharply contrasting the typical, caring qualities exhibited by mothers. When Wright, a curious 4-year-old, accidentally sets the house on fire, he decides to hide under the burning house in order to escape the wrath of his mother. Once Wright is recovered, his mother ‘’ lashes [him] so hard and long that [he] loses consciousness.’’ (Wright, 7). She beat him so harshly that ‘’a doctor was called… and he ordered that [Richard] be kept abed… that [his] very life depended on it.’’ (Wright, 7). Wright uses this shocking and intrusive imagery to imprint a negative view of his mother upon the reader. Wright furthers this image of women through his portrayal of his Aunt Addie. Addie’s fixation upon the public’s perception of her becomes evident in the classroom, where being Wright’s teacher, she seems to favour her good reputation over her relationship with her nephew. Because she teaches in Christian school and Wright does not follow this faith, Addie ‘’[is] determined that every student should know that [he] [is] a sinner of whom she did not approve, and that [he] [is] not to be granted consideration of any kind.’’ (Wright, 104). In an attempt to fulfil this goal and enhance her reputation, Addie falsely accuses him of being a troublemaker and subsequently, in front of the other pupils, ‘’[lashes] [him] across [his] bare legs until welts [rise].’’ (Wright, 106). By

He is often treated with hostility from family members regardless of their familiarity to him. He feels the need to always be prepared for situations he wishes not to be in. During Richards adolescent years, while Uncle Tom is living with him, Richard feels apprehensive toward Uncle Tom, feeling threatened by him. One morning, Uncle Tom asks Richard the time, to which Richard replies the time and states, ‘“ If its a little slow or fast, it’s not far wrong’”(157). Uncle Tom finds this as sass and decides to beat some ‘sense’ into Richard. Richard is prepared, and with two razor blades in his hands he announces to Uncle Tom, “‘Now listen, Uncle Tom, you’re not going to whip me. You’re a stranger to me. You don’t support me. I don’t live with you’”(159). Richard continues to say, “‘If you touch me, i’ll cut you! Maybe i’ll get cut too, but i’ll cut you, so help me God!’”(159). Richard is very tough for his age and by displaying his knowledge of what he thinks is right or wrong he is persecuted by all to whom that is not the norm. Richard, because of his becoming independent at such a young age is able to have ideas for himself that are otherwise not allowed for children his