Black Boy

Truth, Powerful, Revealing

Want to know in depth detail about the life of a typical of an African American boy growing up in the 1920's? Well this is the book for you.

"Black Boy" is an autobiography of author Richard Wright, and his life growing up. Read as he goes in full detail of his harsh life at home vs. his everyday life trying to keep up and cope with the society.

Wright reveals the real action that would go on in a typical broken African American home. However, violence was not the only conflict he had to deal with. Because of his family's dedication to Religion, Wright had to assemble that in along with his behaviors-Wright always chose not to.

From stealing to getting a new job every week, Wright makes sure the reader does not want to put the book down. A definitely must read!

4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Truly enlightening "black boy" autobiography

In America today, it would be insulting to say, "Hey you, black boy!" to call an African-American child. So when I first read the title of this book, I knew it was going to be about racism. And one of the book's main theme turned out to be about it.

I read this book because it was my school requirement, and before I read it, I thought to myself, 'Ehh, just another book about racism.' Interestingly, this autobiography opened up my mind, changing my view drastically about the life of African-Americans during early 1900s. Before reading the book, I thought only rights, like voting, were denied to African-Americans. However, it was waaaaaaay more than that. Not only the rights were denied, the majority of white in America impacted African-Americans psychologically, discouraging them from rising up in status. Through out this book, the main character struggles through the segregated America to achieve what other few African-American tried during this period, equality. The author's diction is easier than I thought it would've been, and sometimes I stayed up till midnight reading this because it was simply attracting. I strongly recommend reading this autobiography to the young generation.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A Fascinating Read!

Black Boy is an autobiography about African-American writer Richard Wright's life in the early 1900's.

What I personally liked about this book was Wright's writing style. It's clear, but descriptive. I could understand the message in the text the first time I read it. Wright's words transport you into another world, while perceptively displaying his emotions.

I also loved the character Richard Wright himself. He is probably the most human character I have ever read before. Even when he is off killing small animals, you find your self sympathizing with him. His character is continually fascinating and honest.Black Boy is a very good read.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

An okay book

Black Boy was interesting, but it seemed to me that Richard would keep going backwards even when it appeared he was moving forward. For this reason the plot, to me, seemed to be very repetitive but with different characters. It was fun noticing the differences between Richard the character and Wright the author, I wouldn't really recommend this book but I'm sure there's plenty of other people that would.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Black Boy Book Review

Richard Wright, the author of Black Boy, Born September 4, 1908, on a Rucker's Plantation near Roxie, Mississippi. Richard was a son to Nathan and Ella Wright and an older brother to Alan. Both Richard and Alan raised by their mother, who struggled to put food on the table and pay bill's after the disappearance of their father. After Richard's mother became very ill they were forced to move, in order to receive help from other family members. Shortly later Richard had to find work to help support his family. After finding work Richard runs into a problem of racism and tries to separate himself from most other blacks by educating himself though reading lots of books and magazines.
Richard, my favorite character, and I have a few things in common. We both didn't really have much to eat growing up and were forced to find work at a young age to help support the family, meanwhile trying to educate and better ourselves though school and reading books. There are a lot of things Richard does as a child that a lot of people could relate to. For example, Richard almost burned down his mother and father's house by being curios about what would happen if he lit the bottom of some curtains on fire. His almost getting into fights also became a frequent occurrence.
There are a lot of really great stories in the book, but the one part that stands out for me is when Richard moves to Chicago trying to escape racism. Shortly after arriving in Chicago Richard needs to find a place to stay. While looking for a place he meets this really nice lady that offers him a room and some hot meals. After talking with this lady for a while, she realizes that Richard is a good person and introduces him to her daughter. They begin to talk about how the daughter wants to get married and that Richard would be a good man for her. Thinking it was a joke Richard continued with living in their home. One morning the daughter came to Richard and tried to seduce him. When he denied the girl got mad and stormed out the room. At this point Richard realized that the family was really crazy and decided that it would be best to move again. Overall the novel Black Boy is a great story. To me the story gets really boring towards the end of part 2 because of all the political and communist talk. If I were to change one thing in the novel, I would talk about his brother a little more and what life experience's he had though this time.
Black Boy is a great novel that touches the hearts of many people. I recommend this book to anyone who would like to read the struggle of blacks and the work they had to put up with in order to survive during this time.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

The Black Boy by Richard Wright is a powerful autobiography of R

The Black Boy by Richard Wright is a powerful autobiography of Richard’s young life. He faces long and challenging areas in his life in the south with the Jim Crow Laws. Richard is the narrator of the entire book relating to his life as a young child. The perspective is from a small child’s point of view growing up in the world as a black boy. During this story Richard starts off living with his mother, grandmother and brother in a small house. The house is then caught on fire by Richard forcing the family to move to Jackson. While in Jackson Richard’s mom got ill and was near death. In the beginning Richard was not aware of much that was going on in the world around him and had not realized that there was a problem with racial problems between the blacks and the whites. In the book Richard began to selling papers not realizing what the papers had inside of them. The text explains how a black man showed what he had been selling in this quote, “Well, the paper you’re selling preaches the Ku Klux Klan doctrines,” (131). Richard, as a young boy had not yet realized that he had been working for the white’s against the blacks. Richard only knew small parts of what had been going on, and that was that white’s particularly did not care for the blacks unless for work. Richard’s family was never happy with him and his beliefs. Because of that he was always being beaten by his family. In the text he explains how his Uncle Tom was very angry with him trying to beat him, “This day I’m going to give you a whipping some ought to have given you long ago,” (157). Richard grew up in a very unsupportive household. Throughout the years Richard lands a few part time jobs trying to make enough money to make it on his own. By the time graduation comes along he stole money making his way to the north. Richard was horrified with his crime, but he had to do it to make his life better. Richard makes it to Memphis where he started his life. His life does not change much, but leads him to a better life. In the end Richard realizes that he still wants to be a writer and flees to Chicago making his life better.

Great Novel

I was required to read this novel over the summer. At first, I was quite reluctant. However, as I began to read, I realized what an amazing peice of liturature Richard Wright's novel Black Boy truly was. This is an amazing and educating read; I recommend it to all.

Excellent read

I first read this as a young, impressionable black teenager. I thought this spoke to me in a way that was unimaginable. Cannot recommend this high enough.

HORRIBLE

this book is horribly boring and depressing. DO NOT READ IT! It sucks and is far from believable.

0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

The Wright Color

Richard Wright's Black Boy is a book that anybody interested in race and history should read. His story is one of a bitter fight for survival against all odds. The book goes through his life starting from a very young age and follows his life as he matures and becomes a man. This book isn't just like a camera documenting his actions. Wright goes deep into his younger self's mind and tries to explain his feelings and why he acted the way he did. Throughout his life, he encounters bigotry and racism which he also attempts to explain to help the reader understand what he was going through. Wright's writing style is very simply and easy to understand. The book is not a complex puzzle you need to solve while reading. Anybody can pick up this book and understand what he is going through without having to think hard and try to see what isn't there. There may be some unfamiliar words but nothing is too far fetched that you lose what is happening in the story. This book is something I feel that everybody should eventually read. His original stories and thoughts towards society during his childhood are one of a kind and reading how somebody could live through such a bitter life can make us rethink how we live our own lives.

Easily Understood and Detailed

"Black Boy" is not necessarily your typical book. It is the unique depiction of Richard Wright's childhood and early adulthood with detailed scenes. These scenes convey the life of an African American in the South, where discrimination towards African Americans was anything but unexpected. The more detailed, the more interesting it made the book seem because I knew all that was happening. Wright's writing style is very effective in conveying African American life back in his time. He makes certain, that the reader knows of the poverty his family and other African Americans lived through. His word choice is very elementary, thus the book is easily understood. One major theme in the book is conforming to the accepted way of behavior. Richard Wright does an effective job in portraying how he never truly succeeded in conforming to the accepted behavior of an African American towards a white. If one is looking for a detailed and easily understood book about an African American growing up in the south, "Black Boy" by Richard Wright, should be one's first choice.

Shocking, True, and Easy to Read!

This book is all about Richard Wrights experiences being black growing up in the south. I am a kid growing up in the north next to a big city and it is very cool to look at the differences between my life growing up and his growing in the south less then a hundred years after the civil war. As the actual story goes it is good. Throughout the story new problems keep developing and the story keeps a pretty quick pace. Its not one of those books where it'll bore you to death because something new keeps on happening to Richard. There are a lot of characters that I can relate to like my grandpa who I was scared of, or his mother who can be the only person that believes in you at times. There are also characters that I couldn't relate to like his religious crazy grandma or his aunt Addie who threatens to beat him in his sleep. In all I thought this was a well written book that was rather easy to read and each page held new thing's from new jobs to moving to new cities. A great book to pick up and read during your spring break!

An Courageous "Race"

The Obstacles of Racism

The book "Black Boy" by Richard Wright is an autobiography about the events that take place in Wright's life. This book takes you through the harshness Wright goes through at home and in everyday life. This book talks about how Wright dealt with his race in society and how he learned to fit in with it and live with it. Richard even starts to fight with other boys in school to fit in. Richard is dealing with all the hardships in his life like poverty, hunger, racism, and even just family issues. My favorite parts of the book was when Wright would describe how he dealt with certain situations like when his mother was basically telling him to fight other boys to learn how to stick up for himself. That takes a lot of courage! One of the big questions Richard asks throughout the book is why don't whiles accept blacks or why are they considered so different? This book takes you through all these issues and shows you how Richard deals with it while growing up. -A courageous and outstanding journey!

A Precious Journey

Flipping through the first few pages of Black Boy, I was surrounded by the Wright's vivid diction of his early stages of life in Jackson. His words painted moving scenes from one chapter to the next. Violence, shame, identity, and conformity were some of the many themes that popped out from the story.

What astonished me the most was how he and his family managed to endure poverty and hatred of racial discrimination. Hunger was ever present in their daily lives.

I realized how much effort he took to be the person he wanted to be, constantly hungry for knowledge. He took advantage of every opportunity available to teach himself to become a writer.

This story was readable, yet somewhat confusing because I found myself trying to focus on various aspects that Wright conveyed about race. But it will definitely leave a deep footprint for years to come.

Interesting life, not so interesting story

First of all, Richard Wright (the author and main character) had an interesting experience in his childhood but I don't think it made a very interesting or memorable book. I found it quite repetitive and stretched out at some parts and it was easy to lose attention to what you reading.
Although I didn't find the book interesting, Wright's writing style was effective. The way he was able to make the characters sound authentic by giving them their own vocabulary and speaking style. This style makes it easy to become attached to the characters and actually begin to feel bad for them when something bad happens (which is often).
Speaking of the characters in the book, they were well done but got very repetitive. I felt that throughout the book the characters barely changed and mostly maintained similar thoughts. Many things about Richard in the book become repetitive. He constantly whines about being hungry and always seems to be put down and never encouraged by adults.
Lastly, my biggest problem with the book was the plot/storyline. Nothing in the book ever seemed to change besides where he lived. It got boring when all that was happening was that Richard was moving from town to town and getting beat up and beating people up. Also, it just got depressing to read when constantly no one cared about Richard and his own family was beating him.
After reading the book, I would not recommend it to anyone looking for an exciting or quick read. This book can become quite uninteresting and the chapters in the book are too long and can become a nuisance to read.

Black Boy Is A Drunk 6 Year Old

Weird title for a review,huh? Well this title is referring to "Black Boy" by Richard Wright. In the novel, Richard must face his problems as he grows up to become a man. He faces violence, racism, and family problems. His father leaves him at a young age and he then has to take care of his mother as she becomes ill. In one of the scenes, Richard gets pressured into drinking at a bar and even though he is only 6, Richard gets drunk. This novel shows the sadness and anger of Richard's life. Drinking is harmful, I know that. But this novel shows the unique things that can happen to a person. If you want to read something unique and something outside of your comfort zone, read "Black Boy". You'll love it, I guarantee it.

March 25, 2010 This Black Boy is Not the Typical Stereotype

When I got the list of books that I had to read for my upcoming school year Black Boy By Richard Wright was not one of the books that stuck out to me. When it came time in the year to start reading it I fell in love with this story of an astounding mans life. From the very first page you feel sympathetic for Richard and his younger brother, Alan. Immediately you see how their parents raise them with a strong fist. As Richard grows up he is forced to deal with harsh parents, grandparents, teachers and white bosses but that never discourages him. His will power to keep moving forward and learning is truly inspirational. Richard Wright writes in a non-exaggerated way that clearly shows the harassment and persecution this man had to endure his whole life. His describes his situation with the perfect amount of detail so you are aware of his surroundings but it is not overbearing. It forces you to go through an emotional rollercoaster that I would ride any day!
For all you people who thinks this book would not apply to you, you could not be more wrong. I am a privileged white girl with caring parents and teachers and friend always there to help but I was still able to find more similarities to Richard than most would expect. During his childhood he struggled with fitting in when he changed from school to school, that is an emotion that anyone would feel. If they were going to a new school, job, or even a party. At his job he encounters abnormal coworkers, which any person can relate to. I guarantee that any person could pick up this book and find a least one commonality with their life. That is a huge reason it is such a great read! It also gives great topic discussions so it's perfect for a class, book club or simply bonding with a friend. Once you pick up this book you will not be able to put it down

--Who's up for some dead kittens??

This great image comes straight from Richard Wright's autobiography, "Black Boy". Richard might get influenced to strangle an innocent kitten to death, simply because he can't seem to find himself. He is influenced by the people around him, whether it is his strict dad, religious grandma, or his dying mother. Richard is constantly trying to please everyone, but realizes there is no way he can do this if he wants to please himself as well. While trying to figure himself out, he is also trying to figure out the big issue surrounding race in the south. He doesn't seem to understand the idea why whites don't approve blacks; he just simply accepts that as the norm. As any confused teen trying to discover themselves, Richard goes through his rebellious stage as well. Although he may seem tough on the outside, really he is just dealing with so many personal issues within his family that he has to be tough to feel in control of something.

--This book is as interesting as kayaking with the Pope in a cat filled pond in Antarctica...who wouldn't want to read about that?!

Captivating and Original

Black Boy is one of the most interesting books I have read about an African American's life. I found it interesting because the author did not try to hide anything. He was blatantly honest and didn't leave any details out. Which made the whole story a lot more interesting. Also, the writing style that Richard Wright uses is very simply and easy to understand. As a result, it is a really quick read and will teach you a lot of about what it was really like to be black during the time Richard Wright was living. This book is original because it includes personal stories about what made him the person he was. It has a really great plotline and it is easy to understand because the story goes in chronological order.

"I was a drunkard in my sixth year, before I had begun school."

The book is definitely interesting; it shows in great details the hardships of the author and also of any young African-American child growing in the 1920's. There are a lot of moments that would make any reader asking himself the question "Why?" which would be great for group discussions. The book has good description of the life in the South and how blacks were treated in the past. Also it provides the author's personal experiences while he was growing up. The interesting part about this book is that it is not a typical book about racism because the author really goes out of his way and makes the reader laugh when least expected. I would recommend this to everybody who wants to read a nice- written book that would make him think about topics like racism and poverty or just something fun and interesting to read.