The Struggle in Black Boy to Find a Figure of Manhood to Emulate

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The Struggle in Black Boy to Find a Figure of Manhood to Emulate

Black Boy is an autobiography about Richard Wright’s life, and his struggle for freedom. Throughout this book, Richard strives to find a model of manhood to emulate, but ultimately fails.

Richard fails in finding manhood to emulate in his father. In the beginning of the book Richard’s father leaves his mother for another woman, making life for Richard’s family even more so difficult. “ After all, my hate for my father was not so great and urgent as my hate for the orphan home,” says Richard. When his father left, Richard and his brother were put into an orphan home, in order for their mother to work. When Richard, his mother, and his brother go to try to get money from Richard’s father, all he offers is a nickel to Richard which Richard refuses. Richard said that many years after, the picture of his father and the other woman by the fire, “ would surge up in my imagination so vivid and strong that I felt I could reach out and touch it.” Richard was unable to find manhood to emulate through his father.

Richard also is unable to find manhood to emulate through his Uncle Tom. Richard’s Uncle Tom and his family come to live with Richard. One morning when Richard was sleeping, his Uncle Tom asks him what time it is. Richard mumbles eighteen past five, and his uncle asks if that is right. Richard again mumbles, yes, and then curls back down into his pillow. Then he says, “ If it’s a little slow or fast, it’s not far wrong.” Then Uncle Tom says back with an angry voice, “ What on earth do you mean boy?” Richard finds himself very confused at this, not understanding what is going on. Richard asks what is wrong with what he said, and his Uncle tel...

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...man throw an empty bottle at Richard’s head, causing hom to fly backwards into the road. Then one of the men say, “‘Nigger, ain’t you learned no better sense’n that yet? ‘ ain’t you learned to say sir to a white man yet.”’ Bad things happen when a black man or boy forgets their place in society.

Richard ultimately fails at finding manhood to emulate. Uncle Hoskins, and Uncle Tom try to teach Richard to realize his place in society as a “ black boy.” The time that Richard Wright lived was a time in which a black man could not address a white man without saying sir, or even look a white man in the eye without him being offended. In Black Boy, Richard makes you feel like you lived during that time, and makes you feel like your in his place. Richard was a strong boy, and stood up for what he believed in, and sometimes forgot his place in society as a “black boy.”

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