“ He had said to kill the kitten and I would kill it! I knew that he had not really meant for me to kill the kitten, but my deep hate of him urged me to toward a literal acceptance of his words”(Page 11) This shows that Richard is clever because he out smarted his dad by using his dad’s own words against him

1. Richard is at home with his brother and they’re told to sit quietly in a room. 2. Richard starts playing with the fire place and sets the house on fire. 3. His family moves to a tenement in Memphis. 4. His Dad tells Richard to kill a cat (but not literally) then Richard kills the cat. 5. Richard's mom scares Richard and makes him burry the cat.

“ The “white” man did not whip the “black” boy. He beat the “black” boy.” (24) The reason why this shows innocence is because he doesn’t understand the reason why the man and boy are determined by color. Richard’s father

Richard’s mother tells “white” man “black” boy story. Richard writes profanities on neighbor’s windows. Their mother takes them to the orphan home. Richard’s father leaves him and his family. He revisits father 25 years later on the plantation he works on.

Chapter 2 “ That night I won the right to the streets of Memphis” This quote shows that Richard learned how to stick up for himself.

Mother’s harsh Words When Richard killed the kitten, his mother made him bury the kitten and pray at the kittens grave. This teaches him respect and to make him pay for slaying the kitten Richard is hungry all the time. This is bad but he also learns to take what he needs and not indulge in the food. Richards dad didn’t come home so he had to learn how to raise himself without a father. Richards mother made him buy groceries from the store over and over again because he came home with no groceries and no money because he was getting jumped by hoodlums. So he went back again and stood up for himself and got the groceries back to his house. He was drunk because he was pressured into it, he is only 7 years old.

“I want to know.” (47) This shows Richards curiosity. He will not stop asking his mother questions, specifically about race. A picture of the book his experiences are listed in by Zandon Grant & Miki Raggi

Richard and his mother are on their way to Arkansas to see his uncle Hoskins and aunt Maggie, and Richard keeps asking lots of questions For the first time, Richard can eat all that he want, but still hides food Uncle Hoskins is shot for no apparent reason Richard and his family move to another town (again) Richard and his brother are left alone most of the day and he begins to become more aware of the racial issues around him ( realizes that black don’t like jews)

“Why did I always appear so dumb when I was called upon to perform something in a crowd” Richard Feels a lack of confidence when he is in school because its his first time going.

Prostitution is going on in Richard’s neighborhood. The land lady gets mad at Richard for scaring away her customers. The land lady and Richard’s mother get into an argument and they get kicked out. His “Uncle” would bring gifts every morning. People began questioning Richard’s family. Richard bought a dog named Betsy which shortly died after.

“ Please tell me what you’re reading”(Wright 38) “ But I wanna know now” (Wright 38) The fact that even though Richard has never had a full, consecutive year of schooling he still looks at the world with curiosity and wants to know everything about the world shows that he is more curious then his educational history would make you believe.

Richard moves to his grandmothers Richard tells his grandmother to kiss his behind Richard hides under the bed to avoid Granny’s beating Ella gets kicked out of Granny’s house because of Richard Richard repeatedly asks his mom if Granny is white

“It made me want to drive coldly to the heart of every question and lay it open to the core of suffering I knew I would find there”. This shows his genuine curiosity to the way the world works and why bad things should happen and since he has experienced such bad things he is wondering If there is any good in life.

Mr. Burden tells Richard his boy died in Richards bed Richard does not sleep in his room for a while because he is afraid of his room because of Mr. Burdens son Richard wants to go home to Jackson so he can be with his mother Richard curses when he drops the water pail and it spills on him and Aunt Jody whips him as a result of his mistake of cursing Richards mother tells him she wishes she would just die rather than continue to suffer

“I could no talk; I could not explain how much I valued my code of solidarity”(108) This quote shows the loyalty Richard holds and how he worries about others that are not fully apart of his life. African American school in 1920’s

Richard lied about who left the walnut shells on the floor His aunt tried to beat him Richard pulled a knife on his aunt His grandfather threatened to beat him for talking back Richard prayed but soon regretted it Grandmother and mom forced him to go to church

Ryan Burke & Angelina Colon

Richard separates himself from white in order to fit in with his new black friends. He starts a new school and gets in an argument with another student and wants to prove himself to the new students. Richard ends up getting in and with two boys and throws brickbats at them. Goes to church with his grandma even though he is not interested. Richard’s mother has a stroke which causes her to be paralyzed on one side.

“There were hours when hunger would make one weak, would make me sway while walking, would make my heart give a sudden wild spurt of beating that would shake my body and make me breathless; but the happiness of being free would lift me beyond my hunger, would enable me to discipline the sensations of my body to the extent that I could temporarily forget” (127). Hopeful Richard shows how hopeful he is for a better life. He is not focused on his hunger, he looks forward for the happiness that is soon to come for him.

On his first day, he gets in a fight to prove to the other kids that he can stand up for him self Richard gets a job where he sells newspapers While selling newspapers, he is oblivious to the fact that they are for the KKK He starts to become studious and excels in his school work Bad Decisions

“Now I was truly dead to Granny and Aunt Audie, but my mother smiled when I told her that I had defied them. She rose and hobbled to me on her paralytic legs and kissed me.” ( ) This clearly demonstrates how Richard is willing to fight back against his family. Also his mom is pleased with this, because that is what she believes is the right thing to do.

Grandma falls down the stairs after arguing with Richard. Richard pulls out another knife as his aunt threats him again. Grandpa dies and his funeral takes place. Grandpa never received disability pension which makes the family unstable. Richard says he is getting a job and is going to try to move out of his home. Old People Going Down… I’m yelling Timber (They Should Get Life Alert)