Product Description

At four years of age, Richard Wright set fire to his home; at five his father deserted the family; by six Richard was - temporarily - an alcoholic. Moved from home to home, from brick tenement to orphanage, he had had, by the age of twelve, only one year's formal education. It was in saloons, railroad yards and streets that he learned the facts about life under white subjection, about fear, hunger and hatred. Gradually he learned to play Jim Crow in order to survive in a world of white hostility, secretly satisfying his craving for books and knowledge until the time came when he could follow his dream of justice and opportunity in the north.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #55704 in Books
• Published on: 2000-09-15
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 272 pages

About the Author
Richard Wright was born near Natchez, Mississippi, in 1908. As a child he lived in Memphis, Tennessee, then in an orphanage, and with various relatives. He left home at fifteen and returned to Memphis for two years to work, and in 1934 went to Chicago, where in 1935, he began to work on the Federal Writers' Project. He published Uncle Tom's Children in 1938 and was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in the following year. After the Second World War, he went to live in Paris with his wife and daughters, remaining there until his death in 1960.

Customer Reviews

Evocative and thought-provoking read...
Richard Wright's 'Black Boy' tells of Wright's childhood through to youth in early 1900s south America and his bitter struggle against abject poverty, the racial hatred of white people, a religion forced upon him that offered him neither solace nor faith and a family who didn't understand him. A powerful and raw autobiography that evokes every emotion from great sadness, fear and anger to love, compassion, trust and even humour. Tremendously well written - one of those books you'll find you won't be able to stop reading once you start - all the more moving for being a true and triumphant account of one boy's life.

The best autobiography I have ever read
Richard Wright's story of his life reads like a novel. Wright tells of the hardships he faced growing up in a racist society (South of the USA early 20th century). Although this is a very serious book, it has many humorous moments in it that lighten the mood. The work gives great insight into what it was like to be African American during the era Wright grew up in. This book is a must read.

Interesting read
Following the life of Richard and his family. Richard is different from the rest of the family because he doesn't beleive in God, and boy does he pay for it. What I liked about Richard is that he stuck to his own views and made something of his life. This book would insirped anyone.