Violence in Black Boy Essay

Violence

As an author Richard Wright used his novel Black Boy to call upon citizens of the world to recognize the unjust exertions of force and power that were bestowed upon thousands of discriminated individuals. However the central focus of Wrights novel was to show how racisms insidious nature creates an environment in which violence between people is inevitable. It was within this environment that Richard endures three stages of his life including initiation, acceptance, and the consequential chain reaction of terrible events.

From the very beginning of the novel Wright is constrained into a world where violence encompasses his every move. In the very first chapter Richard is nearly beaten to death by his mother for setting the window curtains of his house on fire. Richard reflected upon this incident because it showed to the reader that violence was a way of life for African Americans for the entirety of their lives. From their Richard displays to the reader the character known as his father. To Richard his father represented nothing but the constant threat of punishment and through this peril Richard subsequently grew further away from his father. Wright then took this chance to preach to the reader that violence tears apart the very fibers that hold people together regardless of family or brotherhood. He also took the opportunity to display to the reader how violence can cause individuals to grow silent since Richard was forced to be silent during the day while his father slept. Following his troubles at home Richard soon finds himself living with his Grandmother. Within her household Richard is casually slapped constantly. However he is taught not to resist these slaps since they are an indication that he has done something wrong rather the beatings he used to receive from his father.

Accepting the role violence had to play within his life was a very daunting task to Richard. Although at school he is forced to fight in order to be accepted and instantaneously is immersed into his own violent struggle. Wright then goes on to display his violent power in order to gain respect. When Uncle Tom tries to beat him for disciplinary reasons, Richard pulls out a razor blade on him. This action was taken by Richard to show Tom that he could not be intimidated, and in the culture that Richard grew up in his reckless and dangerous mentality proved to Tom that he was therefore powerful. Tom grows very infuriated by this action, but also grows respectful towards Richard. This demonstration of violence nonetheless marked a turning point in Richards life because it showed him truly embracing violence as a force to use against others.

Following Richards choice to embrace violence into his life he begins to encounter a chain reaction of terrible events. When Richard and Harrison agree to fight themselves for money they end up humiliating themselves. For the two men are unable to fake a fight and are thus forced to actually injure one another due in part to the fear that the white viewers invoke on them. This fight in the end deeply ashamed Richard for it got him to realize that violence infects the black community in general, whether from within or from the white communitys imposed violence. When Richard grows up he moves to Chicago and joins the Communist movement. However he learns quickly that the police beat protesting Communists and Richard is forced to move from one outcast group to another, never truly escaping reality. This police brutality calls upon the lessons Richard learned as a child proving that violence did truly surround him and he could not escape it no matter where he ran. This realization that he could not escape violence was soon proven to Wright when he was forcefully thrown from the ranks of marching Communists during a parade. The individuals then proceeded to injure Richard in public even thought their movement espoused peace. From there Richard became completely convinced that the Communists were blinded by oppression and that he as an individual must build a bridge of words between himself and the outside world.

Black Boy was written to point out the deleterious effects of racism as it affects not only the relations between whites and blacks, but also relations among blacks themselves. However the most destructive effect of racism turns out to be violence. This catastrophic force is displayed through the eyes of Richard Wright in a stage of initiation, acceptance, and a consequential chain reaction of terrible events.