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Examples Of Systemic Racism In Black Boy

766 Words4 Pages

Elias Dami
Mrs. Crimmel
Amer Lit 1
March 5th 2023

The Shackles of Systemic Racism

Black Boy by Richard Wright is a touching memoir that documents the journey of a young black man from the South to the North during the early 20th century, a time of great racial tension and inequality in the United States. Written in 1943, the book offers a first-hand account of the struggles and triumphs of black Americans during an unruly period in our nation's history. Pages 292 and 293 of Black Boy are particularly significant, as they offer a key passage that sheds light on Richard's development as a character. This passage demonstrates how even a proud and rebellious person like Richard can feel powerless due to systemic racism. Through the use of literary …show more content…

Richard's shame about his poverty and fear of punishment are evident in his thought process as he contemplates revealing the truth to the white man: "revealing something shameful" (Wright 292). This highlights how systemic racism forced Richard to conceal his reality and to keep quiet, for fear of the consequences. Richard was hungry and in need of the white man's offer, yet he could not accept it, as demonstrated by his thought, "I wanted it, but I couldn't look at it." (Wright 293). This exemplifies how systemic racism constrained Richard's ability to receive help and how it influenced the life he was forced to lead. Wright's delicate use of word choice underscores Richard's limitations due to systemic racism, which remains a pervasive theme throughout the …show more content…

Despite his pride and obnoxious demeanor, Richard is aware of the shameful reality of his hunger when the white man asks him, "Then why do you keep so thin?" (Wright 293). His fleeting thought of revealing his hunger is evidence of the internalized shame that systemic racism has inflicted on black people. Richard's response, "Well I suppose I am just that way naturally," shows his reluctance to admit his vulnerability to the white man (Wright 293). Additionally, Richard's suspicion of the white man's motives is evident in his thought, "I held very still. Was this a trap? He had mentioned a tabooed subject" (Wright 292). Through these dialogues, Wright highlights how systemic racism has instilled fear and distrust in the minds of black people towards any act of kindness from a white person. The use of these quotes emphasizes the impact of systemic racism on the black community and how it has normalized shame and suspicion towards any form of aid from those outside their

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