Richard Wright Poet, Writer, Journalist, and Social Critic “Men can starve from a lack of self- realization as much as they can from a lack of bread.”

Biography – Part 1 A “Black Boy” in the South Born Sept. 4, 1908 in Natchez, Mississippi Born Sept. 4, 1908 in Natchez, Mississippi Father was a tenant farmer; mother was a teacher who nurtured Richard’s love of books Father was a tenant farmer; mother was a teacher who nurtured Richard’s love of books Father couldn’t make a living from rented farm, so he moved his family to 2-room tenement in Memphis, TN Father couldn’t make a living from rented farm, so he moved his family to 2-room tenement in Memphis, TN When Wright was 6, marriage failed and he was shuttled between relatives in the South after his mother became ill When Wright was 6, marriage failed and he was shuttled between relatives in the South after his mother became ill It was during this period that Wright experienced severe poverty and hunger It was during this period that Wright experienced severe poverty and hunger Later reflected: “The image of my father became associated with the pangs of hunger.” Later reflected: “The image of my father became associated with the pangs of hunger.”

A “Black Boy” in the South – Cont’d. Sent to Arkansas to live with aunt and uncle where Richard developed a bond with his uncle Silas Hopkins, but Silas was lynched by a white mob; no arrests were ever made. Sent to Arkansas to live with aunt and uncle where Richard developed a bond with his uncle Silas Hopkins, but Silas was lynched by a white mob; no arrests were ever made. After Silas Hopkins's death, Wright moved in with his grandparents but did not get along with them because they were very strict and very religious. After Silas Hopkins's death, Wright moved in with his grandparents but did not get along with them because they were very strict and very religious. Despite the instability in his life, Wright was the valedictorian of his 9 th grade class; also had a story published (“The Voodoo of Hill’s Half-Acre”) Despite the instability in his life, Wright was the valedictorian of his 9 th grade class; also had a story published (“The Voodoo of Hill’s Half-Acre”) Despite this success, Wright dropped out of school in 10 th grade. Despite this success, Wright dropped out of school in 10 th grade.

A “Black Boy” in the South – Cont’d. At age 17, moved back to Memphis where a white co- worker loaned him his “whites-only” library card; this was an illegal act. At age 17, moved back to Memphis where a white co- worker loaned him his “whites-only” library card; this was an illegal act. Wright continued his own education, reading naturalist writers like Theodore Dreiser, Sherwood Anderson, and Sinclair Lewis. Wright continued his own education, reading naturalist writers like Theodore Dreiser, Sherwood Anderson, and Sinclair Lewis. In 1927, when he was 19, Wright boarded a train for Chicago, leaving the South forever. In 1927, when he was 19, Wright boarded a train for Chicago, leaving the South forever.

Biography Cont’d. Wright Becomes a Writer Wright and his mother and brother move into cramped tenement in Chicago’s “Black Belt” Wright and his mother and brother move into cramped tenement in Chicago’s “Black Belt” Wright tries to support his family as a busboy, dishwasher, porter and street sweeper Wright tries to support his family as a busboy, dishwasher, porter and street sweeper Apartment building in “Black Belt”

Effects of the “Black Belt” Even if apartments were available in other parts of the city, whites were not allowed to rent to blacks due to “restrictive covenants.” Even if apartments were available in other parts of the city, whites were not allowed to rent to blacks due to “restrictive covenants.” This drove up the rent prices in the black belt (supply and demand) so blacks were often paid more for a run-down apartment than a nicer one in a white area of town. This drove up the rent prices in the black belt (supply and demand) so blacks were often paid more for a run-down apartment than a nicer one in a white area of town. Also resulted in rigid racial segregation of neighborhoods Also resulted in rigid racial segregation of neighborhoods

Wright Becomes a Writer – Cont’d. Wright lands job in Post Office where he meets others, both black and white, who encourage his writing. Wright lands job in Post Office where he meets others, both black and white, who encourage his writing. Joins the John Reed Club – a revolutionary writers’ organization affiliated with the Communist Party Joins the John Reed Club – a revolutionary writers’ organization affiliated with the Communist Party Joins Communist Party because he feels they are interested in promoting racial and social equality Joins Communist Party because he feels they are interested in promoting racial and social equality Writes for The Daily Worker (communist paper) and for the Federal Writers’ Project (part of Depression-era New Deal) Writes for The Daily Worker (communist paper) and for the Federal Writers’ Project (part of Depression-era New Deal)

Wright Becomes a Writer – Cont’d. Native Son published in 1940; sells 250,000 copies in 6 months In 1941, publishes Twelve Million Black Voices; FBI begins to investigate him for sedition In 1944, breaks with the Communist Party because he is disillusioned by its rigidity, paranoia and its lack of understanding of black history and culture.

Wright Becomes a Writer – Other Works Uncle Tom’s Children (1938) Uncle Tom’s Children (1938) Black Boy (1945) – semi- biographical Black Boy (1945) – semi- biographical The Outsider (1953) The Outsider (1953) Black Power (1954) Black Power (1954) Long Dream (1958) Long Dream (1958) American Hunger (1977) American Hunger (1977) ….and many more ….and many more

Richard Wright – Ex-Patriate In 1946, visited France, where he was welcomed by the leading intellectuals In 1946, visited France, where he was welcomed by the leading intellectuals Returned to New York in 1947, planning to resume working there, but rampant racism and anti-radicalism drove him back to France. Returned to New York in 1947, planning to resume working there, but rampant racism and anti-radicalism drove him back to France. Became permanent exile in France where he was respected as a lecturer and made many TV and radio appearances Became permanent exile in France where he was respected as a lecturer and made many TV and radio appearances Became interested in existentialism and in Africa and colonialism; these ideas appear in subsequent work Became interested in existentialism and in Africa and colonialism; these ideas appear in subsequent work Visited Ghana in 1954 and wrote Black Power from a Pan-African perspective Visited Ghana in 1954 and wrote Black Power from a Pan-African perspective Died in Paris, France on Nov. 28, Died in Paris, France on Nov. 28, 1960.

Wright’s Important Contributions insisted on authentic African American voice insisted on authentic African American voice confronted race as an omnipresent factor in social relations in both the South and the North confronted race as an omnipresent factor in social relations in both the South and the North demonstrated that an African American writer could achieve international fame and stature demonstrated that an African American writer could achieve international fame and stature used literary naturalism to portray injustices of racism, economic exploitation, and imperialism used literary naturalism to portray injustices of racism, economic exploitation, and imperialism dared to be politically involved and socially active dared to be politically involved and socially active explored new philosophies and is considered America’s first existentialist writer explored new philosophies and is considered America’s first existentialist writer

Wright’s Important Contributions He turned his own torment and alienation into a voice calling for human solidarity He turned his own torment and alienation into a voice calling for human solidarity As James Baldwin said of him: “Wright’s unrelentingly bleak language was not merely of the Deep South or Chicago, but that of the human heart.” As James Baldwin said of him: “Wright’s unrelentingly bleak language was not merely of the Deep South or Chicago, but that of the human heart.”

Sign in Natchez, Mississippi

Native Son Background Setting – 1930s Chicago (during the Depression) Setting – 1930s Chicago (during the Depression) Bigger Thomas (main character) was born in Mississippi, moved to Chicago Bigger Thomas (main character) was born in Mississippi, moved to Chicago The “Black Belt”- an area of old, dilapidated housing that stretched 30 miles along State Street (12 th St to 79 th St; Wentworth to Cottage Grove); overcrowded and overpriced; by % of African Americans lived here The “Black Belt”- an area of old, dilapidated housing that stretched 30 miles along State Street (12 th St to 79 th St; Wentworth to Cottage Grove); overcrowded and overpriced; by % of African Americans lived here

Native Son Background Mary Dalton and Jan are “Reds” or Communists Mary Dalton and Jan are “Reds” or Communists American Communist Party founded in Chicago in 1919 American Communist Party founded in Chicago in 1919 Involved in union organizing of immigrants and African Americans Involved in union organizing of immigrants and African Americans Most effective during the Depression years Most effective during the Depression years Stalinism in the USSR and rabid anti-Communism in the US during Cold War end its influence Stalinism in the USSR and rabid anti-Communism in the US during Cold War end its influence

Native Son Background Scottsboro Boys – 9 black teenagers who were accused of raping 2 white girls (1931) Communist Party provided lawyers to handle their defense After 4 trials, charges against 5 of 9 were dropped

The Title – Native Son A “native son” is an individual that is the product of the specific environment he/she lives in. Bigger is a “native son” of American culture and the violence and racism that permeate it.

Key terms from Background Sedition- Sedition-Conduct or language inciting rebellion against the authority of a state Existentialism: A philosophy that emphasizes the uniqueness and isolation of the individual experience in a hostile or indifferent universe, regards human existence as unexplainable, and stresses freedom of choice and responsibility for the consequences of one's acts Pan-Africanism calls for African unity (both as a continent and as a people), nationalism, independence, political and economic cooperation, and historical and cultural awareness (especially for Afrocentric versus Eurocentric interpretations). Stalinism - the name given to the political and economic system which Joseph Stalin implemented in the Soviet Union between 1934 and It includes a command economy (state- owned), an extensive use of propaganda to establish a personality cult around an absolute dictator, and the use of the secret police to maintain social submission. Joseph Stalin Soviet Union propagandaabsolute dictator