Black Boy Chapter Summary & Analysis - Chapter 9 Summary

Chapter 9 Summary

Richard continues to witness the realities of life for blacks in the south as he finds work in a variety of settings. A close encounter with a truckload of drunken whites nearly costs him his life. Richard friend attempts to help him learn how to successfully navigate the racist world they live in. While Richard considers the advice his friend offers as tantamount to behaving like a slave, he promises to give it a try.

A job with a northern optometrist offers Richard a chance to put his friend's advice to the test and to learn a new trade. Yet again, whites destroy Richard's opportunity by running him off from the job.

Chapter 9 Analysis

As Richard grows older the possibilities of violence increase for him as they did for any black male in the south. As we witness, whites were not above creating situations in which a black would be forced to...
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