Black Boy- Richard Wright

Black Boy is the auto-biography of Richard Wright who is also the author of the ground-breaking,  an critically acclaimed novel , "Native Son".  Wright tells the story of his rough-upbringing, his early age of being intelligent, and questions that not only involve his life but blacks, society, an even God.

Richard's father leaves the family while he is still young and prior to him leaving  his father would abuse him, his mother, and he often endured starvation a throughout his life.  His father eventually abandons his family and lives with another women and refuses to pay child support or even see his sons. his mother eventually take him to court and that does not work. Forces his mother to work extremely hard to raise her sons, and at times barely could get by. His mother eventually becomes very ill and is forced to move in with his grandmother, aunts, and uncles.

Because of his inquisitive nature , Richard constantly questions life, examines it, and is very introspective. At times he faces abuse, harassment from family members and is often labeled a misfit or troublemaker.  Due to his mother sickness he moves with uncle and his aunt whom he dislikes much.  He eventually learns how to read and becomes an avid reader and learns if he does not stand up for himself no one else will.  He begins working after leaving school, and constantly  deals with racism, prejudice, and discrimination. This continues until adulthood and goes on for the rest of his life. Wright often questions God and views Christianity as pointless mainly because how his family are Christians yet treat him horribly. There are times when Wright even hides the fact that he can read very well, write well, and is intelligent. His Principal even asks his to read a copy of speech that he had not written which greatly offends him before he graduates. In his eyes the man is bought and is trying to buy him out. Richard maintains his individualism and unique views and learns it is better to be yourself and lead your own life often than trying to be what everyone else wants you too. Wright  even witnesses how other blacks views negatively him at point is as hurtful.

When he joins the Communist he first sees them as people like him but learns that even the Communist party has their own unique agenda that is not a part of their  ideas presented him. He evens learns members can also  view him as a threat. While he eventually settles down and starts a family . Richard sees how black life, poverty, social injustice is a horrible thing that exists in the world.

Richard shows how many blacks are victims in a variety of ways, poverty and no resources causes them to drink, use narcotics, and lose themselves in whoring or  other activities that  can be detrimental. He even gets drunk severely before he was 9 years old and it was encouraged by his own community.  Wright illustrates how poverty, and social inequality is what  causes many issues in life. Like his gran father who was a war veteran who is illiterate so was unable to mitigate his veterans  check. Causing to be angry and gruff man. He even seems to show signs of Post Traumatic Stress.

From reading the book  I leaned how it is often the smart person is challenged by the ignorant and it  is often good to question and try to see life for what it is. From then you can handle obstacles much better.