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Extra Credit Assignment: Black Boy, Part II

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Peter Guo 219 Mr. Beyer English 10 1/5/23 Extra Credit Assignment: Black Boy, Part II In "Black Boy," Richard Wright tells the story of his life growing up as a black child in the American South and his eventual move to the North. The first half of the book, which covers Wright's childhood and adolescence, is set in Mississippi and Tennessee, while the second half takes place in Chicago, Illinois after he escapes from the well-dreaded South. There are many key differences in both parts, including the setting, the way Richard portrays himself, and the way he portrays others. Despite the differences in setting and the ways in which Wright experiences his own race in each half of the book, there are also many similarities that run throughout …show more content…

The first half of the book is set in the rural South, where Wright experiences extreme poverty, racism, and violence. Wright is consistently abused, both by his family and his peers outside of his household. Even after his terrible beginnings, life doesn’t get much better, and he sees multiple people being abused and harassed by the harsh racism in the south. Things only get worse for Richard after he is forced to fight his friend because of white men. Richard ends up saving himself by obtaining a library card, which he can use to seek out knowledge to move to the north with. Unlike the first half of the book where Richard is struggling with himself and how to absorb the racism around him, the second half of the book is set in the urban North, where Wright encounters a different set of challenges and opportunities. In Chicago, Wright is able to find work and eventually become a successful writer, but he also struggles with isolation and the challenges of navigating a new city. Although things pick up and get much better from the beginning of the book, it doesn’t make things perfect as he has to start his whole life over with new …show more content…

He is constantly seeking knowledge and enlightenment, and this desire finally leads him to leave the South and seek a better life in the North. One of the most significant similarities between the two halves of "Black Boy" is the way that Wright portrays his own sense of identity. In both the South and the North, Wright is faced with challenges that are meant to limit his potential and his freedom. However, he refuses to be defined by these limitations and instead fights to assert his own identity and shape his own fate. determination and resilience are one of the most powerful and enduring themes of "Black Boy," and it is what ultimately allows Wright to overcome the challenges he faces and to create a better life for

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