1. The day Native Son appeared, American culture was changed forever…it made impossible a repetition of old lies. -Irving Howe

2. Of course I had an unhappy childhood. The happy childhood is hardly worth your while.

3. Wright background Born Mississippi 1908 Father leaves Abusive mother, grandmother, whites Valedictorian of Middle school Drops out after 8th grade Moves North Life in Natchez, Mississippi

4. Wright background (contd) Dead end jobs –Janitor –Post office Federal Writers project Communist Party - 1933 Expatriate Wrote Uncle Toms Children - Popular success

5. Goals for Native Son Published in 1940 Book of the Month Club 3 weeks sold 215,000 Based on a story of a real man New version published 1993 To write a book so hard and so deep that white America will have to face it w/out the consolation of tears.

6. On Bigger Thomas Anti-hero Shows society its savagery Searches for a desire to live –Despite a hostile environment –Despite white rejection of ever effort toward self realization

7. Wrights Philosophy All Native Sons victims of white caste ideology WHITE Black Exist in HATE, SHAME and FEAR Treated as less than human - escape into excess

8. Escapes Into Excess Excess of : Violence Sex Drugs/alcohol Religion Black persons condition in America traced directly to treatment by whites