Depiction of African American Experience in The Works of Richard Wright

Richard Wright is one of the most prolific African American literary minds of the 20th century. Wright’s literature uniquely blends aspects of naturalism and idealism to convey important messages concerning the era’s social climate. Wright, who grew up in the south during the early 20th century, witnessed some of the most aggressive forms of discrimination and violence against African Americans. Consequently, a substantial portion of Wright’s literature focuses on both the social climate and economic conditions of the 20th century. Wright, through his literature, holds no realistic and vivid detail back; however, Wright has been critiqued for employing too much violence within his works. Moreover, Wright felt that literature should embody a sense of progress, equality, and intelligent structure. One of Wright’s most prominently explored concepts is that of the African American experience within the early to mid-20th century United States. Wright explores this concept through a psychological, sociological, economic, and vernacular based lens. Wright felt that it was important to illustrate all aspects of African American existence within the era. Correspondingly, Wright used authentic vernacular and delved deep into the psychological state of African Americans to highlight the impact of both social and societal influences. Wright not only wants the reader to understand the perspectives of the eras African Americans but also wants the reader to understand the struggle to fight against societal discrimination. Furthermore, Wright examines how social structures and norms of the era impacted the progress and equality of African Americans. Wright’s literature such as Black Boy, Native Son, 12 Million Black Voices, Lawd Today, and The Man Who Was Almost A Man are his vehicles to accomplish these objectives. In Richard Wright’s collection of literature, Wright offers a portrayal and examination of the African American experience through dialogue, character vernacular, and literary events.

Richard Wright in his literary works 12 Million Black Voices and Native Son highlights the sociology of the early 20th century African American experience. Wright passionately illustrates through imagery and dialogue the sociological relationship between early 20th-century society and African Americans:

It is like this: Wright in this excerpt not only illustrates the discriminatory social structure of the era but also illustrates a desire for equality and progress. During the period, African Americans had to carefully navigate the dense fields of discrimination and oppression. Lynching, beatings, forced submissiveness, intimidation, and marginalization are five of the repressive tactics that Wright highlights as counteractive to African American advancement. The aforementioned dialogue illustrates Wright’s viewpoint on the social caste system of the era. Through Wright's eyes, the “riding boss” is representative of the entities that repress African Americans. However, Wright demonstrates both the necessity for and desire of African Americans to rise above this system. Moreover, Wright again alludes to the Great Migration and its impact on sociological relations. African Americans desiring to both find and fight for a “better life” and more opportunity would not have been popular amongst the era’s mainstream southern society. Nevertheless, Wright illustrates the determination of African Americans to both find and promote equal opportunity during a time when doing so was not readily accepted.

Richard Wright in the novel “Native Son” further illustrates the sociological dynamics of the early 20th century African American experience. With the character Bigger Thomas, Wright again highlights a tense existence that plagued African Americans. For example, as Thomas and his associates are contemplating their station in the world and lack of opportunity given to African Americans. Thomas states “I just feel that way. Every time I get to thinking about me being black and they being white, me being here and they being there, I feel like something awful is going to happen to me”. Wright through Thomas’s dialogue highlights two deeply held fears that some African Americans held at the time. The first is a fear of harm due to race; the second is a “fear” of being discriminated against in a manner than inhibits future progression for an uncontrollable quality (race). Moreover, the early 20th century saw the strengthening of social structures that were built to maintain strict order and a racial caste system. To subvert this system would be causation for “the full wrath of an alien white world…turned loose upon them”. Through Thomas’s eyes, Caucasian Americans completely dominated society and from experience, challenges of this domination would be aggressively repelled. Furthermore, Wright in his literature highlights the fact that interactions with the “alien white world” had to be thought out carefully. One wrong word or action could bring conflict and harm to oneself. Wright’s overarching goal is to have the reader thoroughly understand the tense existence as an African American within early to mid-20th century America. Thomas and his associates wanted to challenge the “white world’s rule over them, a challenge which they yearned to make”. Additionally, Wright highlights the societal mechanisms and psychological impediments such as fear that plagued African Americans and impeded progressive developments. Furthermore, discriminatory practices and fear of retribution were realistic actualities that Wright included within his literature. These actualities are deeply embedded within Wright’s work as he gives a “playbook” of sorts to navigating society as an African American and highlights the necessity for change.

Within the short story The Man Who Was Almost A Man, Wright uses a unique blend of African American Vernacular English and Standard English. An example of Wright’s usage of African American Vernacular English (AAVE) is partially exemplified by the line “Ah tol yuh t get outta here!”. Yuh (you) is a prevalent word used by Wright in character interactions. Within The Man Who Was Almost A Man, Wright’s unique employment of vernacular is exemplified; interactions between African Americans tended to use AAVE while interactions between African Americans and Caucasian Americans used Standard English. Wright through select usage highlights the prevalence of AAVE within the African American language and community. Furthermore, it was not uncommon for early to mid-20th century African Americans, especially in the south, to speak to some degree a form of African American Vernacular English. African American Vernacular English possesses a unique vocabulary form exemplified by the word “Lawd” instead of Lord. Moreover, Wright’s use of vocabulary such as “lemme” or “Lawd” within Lawd Today is interesting as he criticized Author Zora Neale Huston for a similar usage of vocabulary. An Example of Hurston’s use of AAVE is in her novel Their Eyes Were Watching God were AAVE vocabulary is heavily present. Wright’s famous critique of Hurston was that she utilized AAVE in a manner that perpetuated negative stereotypes about African Americans. Moreover, Wright’s uses AAVE to give more of an authentic in-depth aspect and meaning to character conversation/interactions. Also, another proposition is that Wright was using this vocabulary to illustrate the necessity of moving away from AAVE to promote progression. However, Wright appears to use AAVE to give his literature an authentic depth that, at the same time, harbors a message of progress and equality.

Richard Wright, in his literary works Black Boy and Native Son, illustrates aspects of early to mid-20th century African American psychology. Wright in his memoir Black Boy states “I knew that I lived in a country in which the aspirations of black people were limited, marked off. Yet I felt that I had to go somewhere and do something to redeem my being alive”. This quote idealizes the concept that the African American psychological state of the period included two realizations. The first of which is a recognition of one’s current state within greater society. Wright in Black Boy highlights the submissive-like state that African Americans were regulated to within society. The second is the desire for equal opportunities and an appreciation of African American culture. This concept of reality versus desire, through Wright's literature, highlights the greater sociological quandary that existed. Interestingly, Wright in his novel Native Son offers another controversial yet illuminating portrayal of the psychological state of African Americans. Bigger Thomas, Wright’s main character, “killed by accident, not once did he feel the need to tell himself, that it had been an accident. He was black and he had been alone in the room where a white girl had been killed; therefore, he had killed her. That was what everyone would say, anyhow, no matter what he said”. Wright highlighted a concept that was prevalent during the time; the concept was that African American account was second grade to Caucasian American account. This concept was perpetuated by society and being psychologically imprinted within the mind of African Americans. Moreover, Wright also illustrates another psychological notion that some African Americans held; the notion was essential that any seemingly insignificant situations could be quickly used as justification for negative action. For instance, a perceived wrong look or slight could be used as justification for negative actions. Wright is highlighting the overarching realizations that during this era, African Americans had a tense relationship with Caucasian American society. Societal tension would not only birth feelings of uncertainty regarding the future in society but would also interestingly a desire for change. Moreover, Wright’s depiction of African Americans can be perceived as perpetuating damaging stereotypes. Interestingly, James Baldwin was critical of Wright for this very reason. Wright’s main character Bigger Thomas in Native Son not only can be seen as a demeaning representation of African Americans but also paints African Americans as unconsciously violent. This is interesting as Wright critiqued Zora Neale Hurston for inaccurately portraying African Americans. In totality, Wright’s underlying messages highlight a need for societal changes; however, it is debatable as to whether his delivery is optimal.

Richard Wright through his literary works highlights the economic oppression and conditions of early to mid-20th century African Americans. Wright in his introduction to the book Black Metropolis by St. Clair Drake states that “it is quite forgotten the reality of the passion and hunger millions of exploited workers and dissatisfied minorities; it is quite forgotten the reality of the impulses that made the men of western Europe rise and slay the feudal dragon; it is quite forgotten the reality of the hot laws of feeling that gave rise to rebellions against oppressive authority”. During the period, numerous African Americans relocated from the south to the north looking for better economic opportunities and social conditions. Wright in Black Boy, the aforementioned introduction, and Native Son highlights the burdensome social structures that hindered African American economic progression; also, Wright examines the socioeconomic impact of economic oppression. Examples of economic oppression are the denial of work opportunities and unfair exploitation due to discriminatory practice. However, Wright also highlights that these exploited and discriminated against workers also exhibit a passion for change that rivals the once-great desire of western European men to dismantle feudalism. Wright is taking note of a crucial period where the desire for equality, both socially and economically, was being promoted and encouraged within the African American community. Up until that point, both socially and economically, African Americans had lagged behind the rest of society due to discrimination. However, at the time, Wright denotes Chicago as a speck of hope where even “the most incisive and radial negro thought has come; there is an open and raw beauty about that seems to either to kill or endow one with the spirit of life”. With this quote, Wright conceptualizes the reasoning for the Great Migration where numerous African Americans migrated from south to north. Also, during the period, the Communist Party attempted to woo African Americans with politically left-leaning communist ideas. These ideas of equality and fighting against unfair economic structures were popular among numerous African American circles. Interestingly, for a short period of time, Wright had ties to both communist ideas and the party. However, as in Wright’s case, the party’s influence with African Americans slowly faded. In totality, Wright in his literature not only highlights the African American economic situation but also highlights that African Americans had a desire and were willing to fight for equality.

Richard Wright strategically examined the early-mid 20th century African American experience within the United States. Wright’s goal was not only to examine the African American experience but also illustrate the necessity for social and economic change. Moreover, there was definitely positive moments in the African American experience (Ex. Harlem Renaissance); however, Wright felt that one of the biggest threats to African Americans was unfair discrimination. Consequently, substantial portions of Wright’s literature are dedicated to this cause. Furthermore, Wright felt that the strategic usage of words could be immensely useful in his struggle to promote change. Wright, who is an exquisite literary mind, wanted to merge two distinct racial worlds into one. Philosophy, Psychology, economics, and sociology are among the important facets that Wright viewed society through. Wright envisions and hopes for a future in which all people are treated equally. This is why through literature Wright gives messages that he hopes the reader will understand. Wright’s literature spares no details concerning brutality and mistreatment; however, with this realism Wright hopes future generations will learn from the mistakes of the past. Consequently, Wright literature highlights reality, a need for change, and a lesson for future generations.