Argumentative Essay On Black Boy

Brayden Berry

Mr. Anderson

English 1 Period 5

7 March 2023

Staying True no Matter the Cost

It is well known that when people are in unfortunate circumstances, they attempt to satisfy whoever is in power to try and better their situation. A quote from American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson states, “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” In the book “Black Boy” Richard Wright takes us along his journey of growing up in the South as an African American boy. He soon is faced with many demoralizing difficulties that leave him struggling to stay true to his roots. Through all these hardships, Richard learns that staying true to himself is what is most important, even when

During the time Richard is describing his attitude toward life, he says, “At the age of twelve I had an attitude towards life that was to endure, that was to make me seek those areas of living that would keep it alive, that was to make me skeptical of everything while seeking everything, tolerant of all and yet critical” (Wright 100). This shows how Richard is starting to discern that his life will be harder than some of his peers. He realizes that to survive he will have to subdue his feelings and curiosity. Even though he vasts for knowledge he knows that his curiosity could be his demise. While Richard talks about his interaction with his Uncle Tom, he says, “Every word and gesture I made seemed to provoke hostility. I had never been able to talk to others, and I had to guess at their meanings and motives” (Wright 143). The neglect and adversity Richard has gone through have taken a toll on him socially and mentally. It had just taken him a while to realize it. This makes Richard feel like an even bigger outsider than he already does and even though he seems to be unaffected, he most definitely is not. This proves that the adversity Richard faces causes him to realize that he will be no stranger to pain and

As Richard describes his building's elevator operator Shorty, he says, “Psychologically he was the most amazing specimen of the southern Negro I had ever met. Hardheaded, sensible, a reader of magazines and books, he was proud of his race and indignant about his wrongs. But in the presence of whites he would play the role of a clown of the most debased and degraded type” (Wright 227). Shorty is a prime example of a man who is not scared to lower his standards to suit the needs of others for his benefit but Richard is quite the opposite. Richard holds himself to higher standards than other “negro’s” in his community. He understands that if he wishes to be treated as equally as possible he has to lower his standards. Contrary to his self-respect. Therefore during the period Richard is explaining to Harrison why he does not want to fight him for money, he says, “But those white men will be looking at us, laughing at us” (Wright 241). Harrison understands his point, but he tells him that “They look at you and laugh at you every day, nig***” (Wright 241). This shows how badly Richard wants to believe that the white people in his community will view him as equal if he changes himself. Sadly, he is reminded by Harrison that in their society his actions are meaningless