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Introduction:

Black Boy is a memoir written by Richard Wright, published in 1945. He describes the components of his harsh childhood, especially during the black and white discrimination period. He also shares his experiences as a child who moved from house to house. The novel is known for its time period as well as the teenage hardships and upbringing the author went through. 

Plot:

When Richard was four years old and his grandmother was ill, he was playing near the window and accidentally set the curtains on fire. Because of this, the family became economically unstable, leading to abandonment by his father and the family’s poverty and hunger. When his mom tried to take care of Richard and his brother through jobs, it took a mental and physical toll on her part, especially since Richard got in all sorts of trouble: alcohol, stalking, etc. They went to live with her sister Maggie and her husband, who had abundant food supplies. However, Maggie’s husband died due to white businessmen’s jealousy, and Maggie left Richard’s mother with her lover. As his mother’s condition worsened, she sent Richard’s brother to Maggie and Richard to Uncle Clark. When he arrived at his uncle’s house, he couldn’t sleep in the attic after hearing that there was a young boy who had died in the attic. He was sent home and was forced to face Granny’s strict religious procedures. He was forced to go to the church school where Aunt Addie taught. One day, Aunt Addie punished Richard for eating walnuts in class when it was the boy in front of him. At home, when Aunt Addie tried to beat him up again, he defended himself with a knife. He eventually graduated in ninth grade as a valedictorian, giving a speech in front of the principal and the white audience. As he started social life outside of school, he faced racism. He faced criticism from white workers, which made him upset. He eventually decided to leave the North and moved to Memphis after stealing money and objects from various places. He had many jobs but struggled to find steady work during the Great Depression when he moved to Chicago and continued to face racism, segregation, and poverty. He was drawn to Communism for its promises to help the oppressed, and he joined the Party to support it through writing, but he left after facing conflict and violence, still holding on to his dream of becoming a writer.

Analysis:

The book covers the time period of the Great Depression, where the American economy was unstable and therefore was a harsh time for Americans due to loss of jobs and poverty. It also handled one of the biggest social issues of all time: racism. Throughout the book, it can be observed that Richard went through tough times, especially because of segregation and racism, as shown by the criticism that white workers gave him. Richard’s childhood is presented as a nightmare, especially from the perspective of children, since his father left his family with his grandmother and mother in a sick condition that couldn’t be easily improved. This made him move homes several times. He went to live with his aunt, Maggie, and uncle, and then started living with another aunt and uncle. He eventually started living with his mother and grandmother, along with Aunt Addie. The book represents fights with Aunt Addie as typical teenage puberty, as he shows his rebellious behavior towards her and his grandmother. However, it wasn’t ideal that she handled him the way she did because she had mistaken him for someone else. He also portrays productivity by how fast he graduated as a valedictorian. His eventual dream to become a writer, which he fulfilled, presents his willingness to share his life stories after facing conflicts, racism, and violence. 

Conclusion: 

Black Boy is a memoir by Richard Wright, published in 1945. The author talks about his childhood and the conflicts and hardships he had faced. His childhood was harsh as he went through his mom and grandmother’s sick condition, racism, religious difference, and much more. He also faced segregation even when he started his social life after graduating. He finally chose to have the dream of becoming a writer after facing the cruel reality of communism. The book presents themes of poverty, racism, and segregation. It also presents the author’s journey of his dream, eventually landing on becoming a writer to share his life stories.