Hooper Turner

Born September 4,1908 in Roxie, Mississippi Wright joined the Communist Party in 1933 Known for association with Jackson, Mississippi His literature mostly was about racial themes Best known black author of his time Best known literature: Uncle Tom's Children, Native Son, Black Boy, The Outsider Wright died on November 28, 1960 in Paris, France

Published in 1961 in the compilation Eight Men by Richard Wright. A black teenager named Dave, works on a farm and wants respect so he decides he wants to buy a gun After convincing his mother he to lend him the money to buy a gun he does so on the condition that he gives it to her right after he buys it He does not return the gun to her and takes it to work the next day He is sent on the mule named Jenny that he accidently shoots.

Dave returns to Mr. Hawkins(his boss) and tries to lie about the dead mule. When the mules body is found it is obvious that it was a bullet. Mr. Hawkins tells Dave that he is in dept to him now taking money from his pay. Dave is then asked by his father what he did with the gun and he lies to him and says he threw it into a creek. In the middle of the night, Dave goes to retrieve his gun where he forces himself to shoot like a man. He then hears a train and runs and jumps on one of the cars and rides off into the night.

The struggle of the Individual Journey from boyhood to manhood Racism- Black worker for white farm owner The power and respect that a gun can give

Published in 1961, like The Man Who Was Almost a Man in Wrights compilation entitled Eight Men. The Story begins by introducing a black family returning home after a flood with a cow. When the family makes their way home, they see the bad damage to their home. Though the families house is nearly destroyed they stay optimistic and find everything that did not get destroyed and are thankful. Soon the father of the family (Tom) realizes he has must start from scratch to pay his employer, Mr. Burgess who is a white man

Tom and his wife start to think of a way to run away so Tom would not have to pay Mr. Burgess but Tom decides he cannot just run from his problems. Soon after Tom sees Mr. Burgess driving down towards his house. When he arrives he tells Tom about two other men who owed him money tried to run but were caught by the police. Mr. Burgess expresses his respect for Tom for not running Mr. Burgess reminds Tom that he still owes him money but Tom stands up to him even though he is a white man to try to work something out with him Mr. Burgess agrees to talk about the situation with Tom

The power of natural disasters such as the flood. Perseverance to survive Black workers under white employers The struggle of the individual

Both stories told in 3 rd person Both about black workers under white employers Both in Wrights compilation Eight Men Similar themes of Racism Theme of the struggle of the individual

The Man Who Was Almost a Man focuses more on the struggle of the individual with Dave. Unlike in The Man Who Saw the Flood which focuses on Tom and his family. Dave in The Man Who Was Almost a Man is dishonest and lies a lot to get out of trouble. This is unlike Tom in the The Man Who Saw the Flood who is honest even though he knows he owes Mr. Burgess money.

"Richard Wright (author)." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 24 May "The Man Who Was Almost a Man." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 24 May Richard Wright, Writing and IdentityJoseph T. Skerrett, Jr. Callao No. 7 (Oct., 1979), pp Published by: The Johns Hopkins University PressStable farmer.jpg

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