Black Boy

Is Richard a bad boy?

I don't believe that Richard is a bad boy. While many may say that the four-letter words Richard wrote all over the windows of his neiborhood (25) is a bad act, Richard himself is not bad. He is simply easily impressionable. He is in essence, the product of his environment. Richard's ability to absorb his surroundings and accept them as ok is shown when he speaks about his father, "And did not all fathers, like my father, have the right to beat their children?" (23). Richard tells us he was led to believe that it was a paternal right to beat your child simply through his own family experience. Richard, once again with the four-letter words, found others saying those words and came to the conclusion that they were appropriate. He is only the product of his environment.

Another instance where Richard shows himself to be a result of his environment, rather than being bad, is when he gets drunk at the saloon. Once again, Richard has accepted that anyone older than him will never err. Having seen his father become terribly drunk (10) and watching the local saloons patrons at work, Richard is unable to understand why it is wrong. He describes is initial experience with alcohol, "As I would pass each man, I would take a sip from an offered glass. Soon I was drunk" (21). Richard is not a bad boy at all. He is simply the unlucky product of a poor environment.
Wright, Richard. Black Boy. New York: Perenniel Classics, 1998.

Opening Post

Hi!
This is my literary blog. I will be posting weekly for most of the year. I can't think of anything else to say so here is my blog.