Richard's Loyalty In Black Boy

Richard isn’t accepted by his family for some unexpected reasons. In Black Boy by Richard Wright, Richard’s family has expectations for Richard that he doesn’t follow. Ever since Richard’s father left his family when Richard was young, Richard's mother became more strict. Richard’s mom didn’t have a stable job, so they always struggled with having money. Richard is more intelligent than the rest of his family in different ways and has to work hard at a very young age to earn his cash. Richard’s mother grew ill which was traumatizing for Richard since over time he grew extremely close with her. Since his mother was ill the rest of Richard’s family had to step in and help out. Richard’s rebellious attitude does not leave him ostracized from his

“Aunt Addie, her youngest child, had just finished the Seventh-Day Adventist religious school in Huntsville, Alabama” (Wright 104). Richard’s Aunt Addie was smart and had a very strong education. She taught a religious school that Richard attended for a while. She was favored by her mom, Richard’s grandmother, which caused him to be unaccepted because she would turn her mom against Richard. Richard’s aunt was educated so she had high expectations for Richard's education. “Already my personality was lopsided; my knowledge of feeling was far greater than my knowledge of fact. Though I was not aware of it, the next four years were to be the only opportunity for formal study in my life” (Wright 123). Even though Richard became academic he was more street smart. Richard faced the issues with society when he was very young, so he learned his ways around the streets. Since Richard was more street smart then educated it left him ostracized because Aunt Addie told her mom. RIchard being more street smart isn’t rebellious because it comes in handy for him. In addition to having a contrasting mindset than his family Richard was also ostracized because of his lack in