Introduction
Black Boy is one of the most prominent works of Richard Wright. The book is considered a fictional biography because the author, Wright, is both the narrator and the protagonist. The book covers his experiences throughout life, from childhood to adulthood, hence its classification as a biography. The fictional aspect is deduced from the style that he uses to write the book. A lot of creative and imaginative work is seen throughout the book, therefore bringing out the fictional aspect.
Main Viewpoints
The book contains two parts: Southern Night and The Horror and the Glory. The book’s first part covers his childhood life and experiences in the South. It highlights his relations with his family, education, and other relevant experiences from his childhood. The second part of the book covers his experiences as a youth.
Racism and Oppression
Throughout the book, there is a significant theme of racism and oppression. From a young age, he learns to hate white people simply because of how they treat him and other black people. He is called racial slurs by white children, and racial segregation also prevents him from getting a quality education. Additionally, his uncle Hoskins is killed by white men, therefore strengthening his dislike for white people. Racism also dictates the kinds of jobs he gets. All these experiences as a black person in a racist society greatly inform his viewpoints.
Poverty
Poverty also contributes to his viewpoint; to begin with, his attitude toward education is affected by poverty. He ends up leaving school to look for a job to support himself and his family since he fails to see the importance of education in his life. Additionally, as much as he loves reading, his accessibility to books is limited since he cannot afford to buy them. He cannot also pursue his passion to be a writer and struggles to learn and develop his writing skills due to poverty. Poverty, therefore, majorly contributes to developing his character and viewpoints.
Individuality and Autonomy
His viewpoints are also affected by his individuality and his sense of autonomy. He learns very early on to do things his way and not succumb to society’s pressures. This is seen throughout his interactions with his family, where he is perceived as a troublesome, stubborn, and disrespectful child because of his beliefs and autonomy. His curiosity about reading makes him look for exciting books, leading to his intellectual development. The book explains how his childhood and adulthood experiences helped him develop a sense of identity and autonomy, contributing significantly to his viewpoints.
Racial and Ethnic Insights and Importance
Throughout the book, Wright highlights the impacts of sociological norms, mainly racism and ethnicity. As a black man, he shows, through his experiences, the effects of racism and oppression on the black community. He shows how racism denies them the opportunity to participate fully in society (Moreau). This is seen when black people like him find it hard to obtain an education and decent jobs due to racism.
Additionally, he shows how racism creates a sense of fear and insecurity among oppressed groups. This is seen in the violence and hostility he and his people face. His experiences are essential since they help in understanding the dangers of social norms like racism by voicing the adverse effects that black people face due to social norms like racism.
Wright’s book also gives an insight into the effects of ethnicity, especially among the African-American ethnic group in the United States. He is taught to believe that values like education and hard work are fundamental. He is also taught not to question authority authority, including God and religion. His ethnicity also ingrains in his prejudices against other ethnic groups, including Jews and Native Americans. The book, therefore, helps us understand his struggle to reconcile his values with social norms and the black community’s setbacks in their struggle for equality.
Author’s Tone and Conclusions
The predominant tone throughout the book is reflective. Wright reflectively narrates his experiences, mainly focusing on what the experiences meant to him as a person. It is easy to identify his individuality and autonomy throughout his work through his reflective tone. This is seen from the very beginning when he reflects on the idea that his very mother could kill him (Wright 7). He also uses an angry tone to express his displeasure with the injustices faced by the black community. Additionally, he uses a tone of urgency when discussing the need to fight for equality and justice for his people.
His conclusions are informed by his beliefs, experiences, and ideologies, which he does not shy away from. He believes that racism has contributed a lot to his ideologies and affirms the need to end it. He also reconciles that some of his ethnic values hold strongly on him and affect his viewpoint on specific issues. He admits that education is an essential tool in society and voices the need for individuals to know how important it is to fight for equality and justice.
Importance of the Book on Racial and Ethnic Studies
“Black Boy” is crucial in racial and ethnic studies since it provides a case study that can be used to show the effects of racism and ethnicity. The book contains racial experiences faced by Wright that can be used to help learners understand just how far-reaching the effects of racism were. They would also be able to understand how ethnicity informs an individual’s reasoning. Wright highlights the need to fight for equality and justice. The book also criticizes political and social structures that encourage inequalities and limit individuals’ opportunities for personal growth and social progress. The book would, therefore, contribute a lot to racial and ethnic studies.
Main Themes and Class Ideas, Theories, and Concepts
The dominant theme in the book is oppression, while the evident concept is racial and ethnic stratification. The book also highlights how racism contributes to direct discrimination. Moreover, wright’s experiences in the South show how institutionalized racism limits the achievement of social and economic mobility for African Americans. A clear example is when he stops attending school because he cannot afford the required textbooks. He is also directly discriminated against when he is fired from his job because of being a black person. In General, Wright’s book gives a precious illustration of the effects of racial and ethnic stratification and its contribution to discrimination and other injustices.
Personal Evaluation of the Book
I like the book because I think it is a powerful and fantastic account given by Wright about his experiences as a black person in America. The book helps us understand the effects of oppression and racism on African – Americans in the United States. It, therefore, brings out the plight of black people quickly and efficiently. Wright also emphasizes being part of the change we want and persuades his readers to take action to help them absolve themselves of their situations. He helps us understand the importance of education and personal identity, making his work essential and relevant.
Assessment of the Quality of the Book: Well-Written or Poorly Written?
The book was very well written because Wright captured my interest from the beginning to the end. His integration of creative imagination while still explaining what he experienced made the book enjoyable. He did not also succumb to the need to give a “fairy tale” ending but a very realistic one (Elveli). He was true to his story, making his work even more authentic to him. He also used appropriate tones where necessary, making understanding his experiences more deeply easier. Therefore, I believe the book was carefully and beautifully crafted for these reasons.
Conclusion
In conclusion, “Black Boy” is a beautiful narration of the experiences of Richard Wright. These experiences highlight the impact of racism on black people in America, the influence of their ethnic values on their experiences, and the political steps that continue to be developed to fight for justice and equality. The book also highlights these political uprisings’ shortcomings while still emphasizing their importance. The book is, therefore, an educational tool on the plight of black people in America.
Works Cited
Elveli, Kaja Berg. Racial Identity in African American Literature: The Portrayal of Racial Identity in Richard Wright’s Book Black Boy and Native Son. MS thesis. 2020. Web.
Moreau, Sophia. Faces of Inequality: A Theory of Wrongful Discrimination. Oxford University Press, USA. 2020. Web.
Wright, Richard. Black Boy. New York: Harper&Row. 1966.