Black Boy Summary
Richard Wright

Everything you need to understand or teach Black Boy by Richard Wright.

Black Boy Summary & Study Guide
14 Student Essays
1 Encyclopedia Article
8 Literature Criticisms
1 Book Notes
...and more

30 Black Boy Lessons
20 Activities
180 Multiple Choice Questions
60 Short Essay Questions
20 Essay Questions
Pre-Made Tests and Quizzes
...and more

Black Boy Summary

Richard Wright begins the account of his life at age four, when, bored and restless, he accidentally sets his house on fire. His mother, both frightened and furious, beats him severely.

Richard’s father abandons the family, and from that point on, hunger is a constant factor in their lives as Richard’s mother struggles to provide for her family. Because she must work, Richard is left alone much of the...

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Black Boy Study Guide

Plot Summary

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Encyclopedia Articles (1)

Black Boy

3,994 words, approx. 14 pages

Black Boy by Richard Wright Bom in 1908, Richard Wright grew to adulthood in the American South at a time when legalized racial segregation and discrimination were firmly entrenched there. He exper... Read more

Richard Wright Biographies (6)

Richard (Nathaniel) Wright

14,077 words, approx. 47 pages

Any serious discussion of the development of black fiction in modern American literature must include Richard Wright . He was the first black novelist to describe the plight of the urban masses and t... Read more

Richard (Nathaniel) Wright

3,968 words, approx. 14 pages

Richard Wright was a preeminent African-American writer whose influence on the course of American literature has been widely recognized. As Irving Howe has said, "The day Native Son appeared, Americ... Read more

Richard Wright

859 words, approx. 3 pages

The works of Richard Wright (1908-1960), politically sophisticated and socially involved African American author, are notable for their passionate sincerity. He was perceptive about the universal prob... Read more

Richard Wright

6,051 words, approx. 21 pages

"Yes, the whites were as miserable as their black victims, I thought. If this country can't find its way to a human path, if it can't inform conduct with a deep sense of life, then all of us, black as... Read more

Richard Wright

14,873 words, approx. 50 pages

Biography EssayAny serious discussion of the development of black fiction in modern American literature must include Richard Wright. He was the first black novelist to describe the plight of the urban... Read more

Richard Wright

9,726 words, approx. 33 pages

Richard Wright was born September 4, 1908 in Adams County, Mississippi. "I was born too far back in the woods to hear the train whistle, and you could only hear the hoot owls holler."1In an effort to ... Read more

Essays & Analysis (22)

William L. Andrews

6,865 words, approx. 23 pages

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Joseph Bruchac

3,851 words, approx. 13 pages

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Jay Mechling

9,800 words, approx. 33 pages

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Critical Essay by Janice Thaddeus

6,535 words, approx. 22 pages

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Critical Essay by Horace A. Porter

6,045 words, approx. 21 pages

264 words, approx. 1 pages

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Critical Essay by R. L. Duffus

518 words, approx. 2 pages

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Critical Essay by Raymond Kennedy

413 words, approx. 2 pages

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Hunger in Richard Wright's Black Boy

1,175 words, approx. 4 pages

In the troubled world in which we live in, it is almost impossible not to find someone who is experiencing hunger in any one of its forms. Whether it is for food, for knowledge, or for love, hunger is... Read more

Richard Wright's Individuality Against Society

932 words, approx. 4 pages

Individuality is generally very dangerous to the oppressed group in a pre-individualistic society. In Black Boy, Richard Wright writes about his life growing up in the south during the days of the ... Read more

Richard Wright in "Black Boy"

301 words, approx. 2 pages

In the novel "Black Boy" Richard Wright makes very strong metaphors and observations. One such is in a short passage on page 169 he trys to explain how he was trying to break away from the stereotyp... Read more

The Theme of Loneliness in "Black Boy"

752 words, approx. 3 pages

In Richard Wright's autobiographical book, "Black Boy," the main character who also narrates the story is Richard himself. Because the book is written from this point of view, we find out a lot abou... Read more

Black Boy: Richard Wright's Hunger

846 words, approx. 3 pages

The novel Black Boy is written by Richard Wright. This work of non-fiction is also his autobiography. In this narrative, Richard describes his childhood in the South and the transition he makes to... Read more

The Problem of Race

1,272 words, approx. 5 pages

Words can not describe the jeopardy of one's future, when it rests in the hands of another. Slavery's end did not provide African Americans with freedom and prosperity; instead it brought on a period ... Read more

Themes in the Novel "Black Boy"

1,633 words, approx. 6 pages

Book review of Richard Wright's Black Boy, 1945 Introduction: "I have never seen any part of the world where it seemed to me the masses of Negro People would be better off than right here in these S... Read more

Black Boy by Richard Wright

694 words, approx. 3 pages

Black Boy Black Boy is an autobiography of Richard Wright's life. Throughout his life, Richard experienced many hardships and overcame many obstacles. Living in the south as a young African American... Read more

The Main Characters Actions in Gary Soto's "Behind Grandma's House" and Richard Wright's Black Boy

795 words, approx. 3 pages

Gary Soto's "Behind Grandma's House" and Richard Wright's Black Boy, presents two characters with an intense need for attention. The approval from their family, friends, and even strangers elicits def... Read more

The Life of Richard Nathaniel Wright

1,543 words, approx. 6 pages

In the contemporary age in which the human race lives, it is hard to appreciate ideas and ideals which are outdated and of which are never heard. Yet, the principality of this lies within the coming,... Read more

The Lack of Influence of Richard Wright

1,491 words, approx. 5 pages

When looking at the history of man one would find how enlightenment of the mind is achieved. Fight or flight instinct often paved the path to enlightenment. Richard Wright the author of his autob... Read more

Black Boy by Richard Wright

647 words, approx. 3 pages

Richard Wright is compelled by his thoughts and literary knowledge to challenge everyday Negro life during the early 20's. In "Black Boy", by Richard Wright, Richard writes about his life as a... Read more

Black Boy

2,010 words, approx. 7 pages

"Hunger stole upon me so slowly that at first I was not awsare of what hunger really meant. Hunger had always been more or less at my elbow when I played but now I began to wake up at night fto find h... Read more

Racial and Family Violence in "Black Boy"

750 words, approx. 3 pages

Analytical Essay In the book Black Boy, Richard Wright faces violence almost on an everyday basis. Whether it was from the Whites, bullies trying to steal his money, or even his parents, violence ... Read more

Free Book Notes (1)

Black Boy

13,298 words, approx. 45 pages

Black Boy Book Notes is a free study guide on Black Boy by Richard Wright. Browse the summary below:   Author Biography / Context of the Work   One-Page Plot Summary   Character D... Read more

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