Richard Abcarian, Negro American Literature, Wadworth, California, 1970.

A fundamental commentary on African American literature, its roots, and importance in the canon. There is a significant discussion of Richard Wright's novel.

Gordon W. Allport, The Nature of Prejudice, Cambridge, 1954.

A fundamental source to understand the problem of prejudice and racism in general and concepts such as visibility and difference.

James Baldwin, "Many Thousands Gone," in Partisan Review, Vol. XVIII, 1955, pp. 665-80.

Baldwin argues that "protest" novels, like Native Son, do little to advance the cause of racial justice in America.

James Baldwin, Nobody Knows My Name, Dell, 1961.

Baldwin's essays about African Americans and Black literature. Some of them include references to his mentor, Richard Wright, whom he later rejected.

Russel Carl Brignans, "Richard Wright: An Introduction to The Man and His Works," University of Pittsburgh Press, 1970, p. 147.

Brignans posits that Bigger Thomas was a precursor of...