Wright, Richard: 1908-1960

Black Boy, 1945 - Thematic Parallels: Racism

Racism is the belief that a person’s race or ethnicity determines their abilities, behavior, or worth, often leading to prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism toward people of other races.
Wright, Richard: Black Boy, 1945
The novel is a powerful exploration of race, oppression, and the struggle for personal and intellectual freedom in early 20th-century America.
The following books are thematically simliar. They lend themselves well to being read in groups, compared with one another, or used to teach a similar topic over an extended period with a class:
- Angelou, Maya: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, 1969, ~290pp
  This is an autobiographical work exploring the struggles of growing up black and female in America, dealing with racism and identity.
  - Both works are autobiographical explorations of race, oppression, and personal growth in the American South. They share themes of racism, identity formation, trauma, and the search for self-expression, and both highlight the importance of resilience and voice in the face of societal challenges. The main difference is stylistic: Angelou’s is more lyrical and introspective, Wright’s more raw and confrontational.
- Hansberry, Lorraine: A Raisin in the Sun, 1959, ~150pp
  This play depicts a Black family’s struggles with housing discrimination and dreams in 1950s Chicago.
  - While "A Raisin in the Sun" dramatizes the collective experience of a family in Chicago and "Black Boy" offers a personal narrative of Wright’s youth in the South, both works examine the intersection of racism, poverty, and the pursuit of personal dreams.
- Morrison, Toni: The Bluest Eye, 1970, ~170pp
  This is a novel about slavery’s lasting impact on identity and community.
  - Both works explore the psychological and social impacts of racism, poverty, and alienation, particularly in the lives of Black Americans. They emphasize formative experiences, critique oppressive societal norms, and use literary techniques to make personal experiences resonate with broader social realities.
- Shange, Ntozake: Betsey Brown, 1985, ~220pp
  This is a novel about the African-American experience during the civil rights era.
  - While "Black Boy" is an autobiographical memoir and "Betsey Brown" is a lyrical coming-of-age novel, both works explore how racism, family, and society shape the identities of young African Americans. They emphasize resilience, self-expression, and the struggle to define oneself against oppressive social forces.
List of general discussion questions on Racism (pdf)
List of essay prompts on Racism (pdf)