What Is The Theme Of Manchild In The Promised Land By Claude Brown

“Manchild in the Promised Land” is an autobiography written by Claude Brown in 1965. The powerful, classic book documents the author’s experiences while growing up in Harlem. Claude Brown fictionalizes the re-narration of his life in a complicated story that is full of hope and survival. The narrator’s childhood was one that was filled with violence, drugs, and crimes of all types. In fact, Sonny, the narrator of the story, became a member of a gang that operated on the streets called the Buccaneers. The objective of this gang was to steal as much as they could and as often as it was possible. The gang goes about the streets of Harlem terrorizing people with guns and fists, committing robberies as often as possible. This paper presents

While at the school, Sonny manages to interact with several other boys who had also been arrested as juveniles. Sony also manages to meet Mr. Pepenek who worked as the school administrator (Brown 122). The administrator played a critical role in reshaping Sonny’s life. As much as he was not impressive physically, Mr. Pepenek commanded the respect of Sonny because of his knowledge, kindness, and polished demeanor. Sonny was so much used to violence that he realized for the first time in his life that power would also be attained from sources apart from the gun, gang, or fist (Brown 122). He understood that power would also be drawn from the educated, intelligent mind such as that of Mr. Pepenek. As much as much time elapses before Sonny is fit enough to emulate the actions of Mr. Pepenek, he does not forget the faith planted in him during this

Pepenek, Sonny realizes that he only needed himself to overpower the negativities he had experienced as a teenager. For instance, he understood that the logic behind Black empowerment in the society was to be educated. In chapter 17 of the novel, Sonny says a strong person must find extra strength in his attitude for himself and life in general of they have to avoid being engulfed in the vices of the community in which they live. Documentation of coming-of-age are among the most compelling autobiographies, nothing in existence is similar to rooting an individual to be the best of themselves, to be grown up despite the challenges in life. However, what makes the novel interesting is that it picks what a common historian would consider they knew about the history of the United States and frames it in a narrative of hope and survival. For instance, Sonny considered that the force of the Black Movements would only be greater if the Black community was educated enough to counter the