This paper introduces and discusses some of Richard Wright’s social themes (e.g., racism) in his short stories, focusing specifically on Black Boy, and Native Son.
The following paper examines the way in which Wright’s work filled a gap in African-American literature. The writer discusses Wright’s power of slave narratives in his collection of four long stories about racial violence in the South. Although many of his themes are difficult or uncomfortable to read, his work is still studied for its power and emotional intensity.
Richard Wright was born in Mississippi in 1908 and died in 1960. During his rather brief lifetime, he completed several novels, and books of poems, all dealing with black issues and ideas. Two of his most famous works are Black Boy, and Native Son, which this paper will discuss.
While Wright may not have faced many of the problems his slave grandparents did, he still had many hurdles before America accepted him as a writer. Wright nevertheless was faced with daunting barriers to literary achievement: racism, poverty, family problems, religion, and a modest formal education (Felgar 1). Wright lived for a time in Chicago, where he set Native Son, and when he died in 1960, he was living in Paris. He worked for a time as a postal worker before he began writing in the 1930s. His work was acclaimed, but he still found racism in the United States, which is why he moved his family to France (Hancuff).
While Wright may not have faced many of the problems his slave grandparents did, he still had many hurdles before America accepted him as a writer. Wright nevertheless was faced with daunting barriers to literary achievement: racism, poverty, family problems, religion, and a modest formal education (Felgar 1). Wright lived for a time in Chicago, where he set Native Son, and when he died in 1960, he was living in Paris. He worked for a time as a postal worker before he began writing in the 1930s. His work was acclaimed, but he still found racism in the United States, which is why he moved his family to France (Hancuff).