Racism Exposed In Richard Wright's Native Son

A Polish-born rabbi by the name of Abraham Joshua Heschel once said, “Racism is man's gravest threat to man - the maximum of hatred for a minimum of reason.” Quite unfortunately, this nation was born upon an inkling of racism, an aura of superiority amongst a white-skinned population. This preference for utter prejudice and discrimination has held our “indestructible” nation’s hand and guided us into countless wars. As an individualistic society, America does not migrate toward collectivistic goals--goals that everybody can reap the benefits of, despite the pigment of one’s skin. Racism has been a prevalent issue since the birth of our nation, and continues to be a societal problem, though it has mutated. In comparison to Richard Wright’s publication

The restrictions that come hand in hand with racism towards the African-American population in this novel ensure tension between Bigger and his white counterparts. For instance, in the beginning of the novel, Bigger and his friend Gus are playing a game they call “White” and imitating what they think whites act like. Out of frustration and blatant realization, Bigger exclaims, “We black and they white. They got things and we ain’t. They do things and we can’t. It’s just like living in jail” (Wright 71). When it comes to opportunities, Bigger bears the weight of restriction--the result of racism--and cannot handle it. He struggles to comprehend the reasoning behind racism, which incites his violence and his sporadic eruptions of anger throughout the novel. Secondly, the rudimentary discrepancies between the white and black socio-economic are evident throughout this novel and easily comparable to the socio-economic realities of today. This is yet another racism factor that Bigger strives to understand, he questions “Why they make us live in one corner of the city? Why don’t they let us fly planes and run ships?” (74). Bigger’s dream of becoming a pilot has never been an actual possibility, due to the limitations that the whites’ racism has placed on him and his fellow African-Americans. Similar to the non-fictional world of 1940s America, blacks are barred from commonalities that whites are unquestionably blessed with, such as voting, partaking in dinner in whatever restaurant they choose, using any water fountain they wish, and more. Racism throughout Native Son parallels the plethora of racism prevalent in America in the 1940s, as well as today. The frustration that stems from being unable to entirely surpass racism often leads to acts of violence, such as Bigger’s instinct to “[take] a shoe and pounded the rat’s head, crushing it, cursing