Black Boy: A Record of Childhood and Youth

This book was required reading for a multicultural education course I took to receive my teaching certification. This literary text is rich in personal voice and magnifies the mental obstacles and fortitude endured by African Americans of this time. I recommend this book to anyone but also encourage its use in the high school classroom.

Mr. Wright's autobiography is a horrifying tale of what must have been the all-day every-day existence of the time. And we've not come that far from the time of his youth. There is so much more progress left to be made every in the world.

Another exposition on American History!!!

It should be added to our High School/College required reading lists!

Heartbreaking but a true reflection of life in America during the 20th century!

Amazingly well written account of a man growing up in the deep south, overcoming a myriad of obstacles. I was riveted from page one right through the end. Will likely read it again and again - it's that good!

Love this book. First read it in high school. I thought the imagery and language was great. never a dull moment in this book. Really puts you in the shoes of Richard Wright growing up in the Jim Crow Era.

Beautiful Mind, Beautiful Being. It's the best book I've ever read. Extraordinary descriptions of a beautiful mind. I've been there, or it made me feel like I was. Made me feel the pervertness of the malicious hate they encountered. I cried I laughed and I understood more of the repression and suppression African-Americans had to live with, without a choice.

Black Boy is a classic of American literature and should be read by all Americans. Richard Wright provides an insider view of being Black in America- a view that transcends time. The language is poetic. The protagonist is unique and universal.

Israel Aldana
After reading “Black Boy”, I would say it has the qualities of being considered a good memoir yet a bad one. I can say this was a bad memoir because Richard Wright expresses his life moments in an imperfect way. In “The Problems With Memoirs”, “The Things That Need Doing by Sean Manning”, speaks about how someone that makes the reader feel sympathy for them isn't a good memoirist and instead is a sadist. According to “The Things That Need Doing”, this makes Richard Wight a sadist because when he speaks about his mother being paralyzed, he makes the reader feel bad about him. This is because he is such a young child and also an emotional thing to go through. In another part of the book, Richard Wright is not being a sadist because he talks about his friend letting a white man kick him in the butt for a quarter. This specific part of the book may cause people to feel sympathy for his friend yet may be humorous or entertaining for others. William Zinsser is the author of “Inventing The Truth; The Art In Craft of Memoir” and he writes that a memoirist should show “no hunger for revenge” Richard Wright does not portray himself as wanting to have revenge on anyone. Another way in which Richard Wright is a bad memoir according to what Johanna Adorjan says is by making himself the most important character. Johanna Adorjan says “consider making yourself the least important character in it.” speaking about writing a memoir. “Black Boy” wouldn't be a book without the main character which is himself and this is what Johanna Adorjan says not to do. Therefore, this would be a good reason for “Black Boy” not to be a good memoir.

Eloquent and approachable, Black Boy takes the read on a vivid journey through Wright's early life. Interestingly, the book also serves as an analysis of the American race divide and it's chances to be remedies.

I had previously read this very important book and wanted a hard copy of my own for reference. The volume I purchased was as described and in good condition with some wear to the dust jacket. Otherwise, it was in excellent shape.