Do not recommend this book

[Jesse]

According to Zinsser’s and Genslinger’s review on what a good memoir is, I think that the book Black Boy by Richard Wright is okay memoir but generally not a very good memoir because his life is an mediocre life for most black Americans during that period of time. This memoir does not create meaning by imposing order on events as Zinsser states for a good memoir, yet he only talks about his life and calls for the reader’s and wants them to pity him. Richard Wright does not write something in which we could learn or something that is not really ordinary, instead, he writes about how his family is poor and doesn’t have enough food for him to eat during the time when blacks and whites were still in segregation. That is an ordinary life of a black person, it’s not as if he was the only black person who experiences this and we could learn something from this. It’s nothing noteworthy or an unusual experience that we never heard of before. All of the black people during that time all experience segregation, poor, hunger. An example from the book that even shows that Richard Wright is not the only person who is experiencing all of these tragedies or feelings is when he talks about the kids at the orphan homes. The orphan homes are poor, the some of the orphans living in the orphan homes do not have enough to eat, and furthermore, they don’t even have a family or an actual thing to care for in life. Richard’s Black Boy book doesn’t really tell what is so significant about being this poor or hungry, he doesn’t tell us readers what is so important about his life that we should all know of, in other words, learn of and take that knowledge and be able to understand more about the people of his race, ethnicity, or families and people who are similar like him. His memoir also doesn’t really show the other side of life and perspective; he doesn’t show how the poorer people or the orphans in the orphanage may see his life. He only constantly talks about the bad and tragic things that happened in his life, the things that he doesn’t have that he needs, yet he doesn’t talk about how the orphans in the orphanage may see that his life is luxurious, being able to at least have some food, some safe and trustable environment to sleep in, and some family to at least live with and know that they will care for you. In Richard’s memoir, he mostly writes about the sad events, he doesn’t portray to the readers what he sees on the good side of life. According to Genzlinger’s review on writing a good memoir though, a good memoir consists of perspective and perceptiveness about life. The only things from Richard Wright’s Black Boy that makes a good memoir according to Genslinger’s review is that you can say that he is a brilliant writer for he is able to use strong rhetorical appeals (ethos and pathos). He was also a good writer in the communist party; he also grew up to be a writer writing many books including this one. Looking at a big picture overall, this memoir may be a memoir that is useless, a waste of time according to Zinsser and Genzlinger. If I were to rate this book on if the book was a good memoir on a scale of five, I would give this book a rating of 2, due to its lack of things that is needed for a good memoir, but it was still a great story and we were able to feel as if we were part of Richard Wright’s life all throughout the whole story.

[Gregory]

Jesse,

You have a right to your opinon. Imagine being an African American who had lived in that era. People of our generation take things for granted sometimes in today's society. African Americans back then didn't have the resources to deal with Institutionalized Racism other than the Black Church which has been a very helpful outlet.

Wright wanted to write this book because he didn't want what he had experienced as a child to poison his children. He had to leave America because Black Boy was a success and Wright had to protect his family from death threats. He was tired of the Racism and not considered a human being. Can you blame him? Wright was addressing America about the consequences of Racism that white people of that era didn't want to hear because what Wright had said was the truth. I am sorry that you don't like the book, my parents who are now deceased had similar experiences like Mr. Wright.

Every thing that Wright had mentioned in Black Boy still happens in America today despite the so-called "post racial society" that we live in. What Wright is telling future generations, especially our generation is to not forget the past. My suggestion is that you read the book with an open mind and understand where the author is coming from.

If you had lived in that era, you would feel the same as Richard Wright.

[A.D.]

Hi Jesse

I haven’t read Zinsser’s and Genslinger’s review on what a good memoir is so I can’t comment on whether Black Boy conforms to the criteria they set. But I loved this book and disagree when you say that Wright didn’t impose order on the events of his life. The events he related were not random. He imposed order on experiences he did not understand as a child and teenager and ordered them in his narrative in a way in which showed not only the hardships that blacks suffered, but how they dealt with it e.g. members of his family and community tried to crush his spirit because they saw it as being the only way for him to survive. I also disagree when you say he did not write something we can learn from. At that time, the media and literature was dominated by whites, and they wrote the history of that era. Without memoirs like Richard Wright’s and the slave narratives that came before this, people of that time and people like me, would not have direct accounts of slavery and of what life was like for many blacks after slavery. When you also say that he only spoke of negative experiences, most of his life was a struggle, but the point of narrating the negative experiences was in order to highlight the fact that he triumphed over those experiences and became successful. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and believe it is a very important and powerful book.

[Angie]

I think perhaps the most dangerous thing we can do as readers is base our opinions upon the reactions of others. Certainly literature is a wonderful venue for social dialogue and debate, but all too often the books criticized by literature grinches today, become the "edgy" and most meaningful books of tomorrow. "Ceremony" by Leslie Marmon Silko for example doesn't have chapters or breaks... by the standards of a "good novel" that makes it a "bad novel." It has been called one of the most important works of Native literature in American history.

As for "Black Boy," I think you would enjoy it a lot more if you were able to quiet your opinions and judgments, and really LISTEN to him. If he was telling you the things he underwent in the context of his deathbed, or you as his confident in a dark room, I have a feeling it would impact you more deeply. The amount of pain he felt in his lifetime is incredible, and the thing is... he doesn't whine about it... he describes it vividly. That is the beauty of a good book... that it allows a certain sort of intimacy only found in rare other moments in life. But just as you can be cold while someone pours out their heart to you in a dark bar, you can be cold as you reads someone's story. The smallest most "mediocre" things can become a great source of beauty and understanding if allowed to be so. The question is: are you willing to be that vulnerable as a reader?

[Quinesia]

What sad a person are you to not see that we can learn from everyone's experience. Everyone's life has value and lessons. Were you looking for truth or philosophical pontificating? You won't find the latter in someone who lived a life like his!

[Maelanie]

Trouble is that "YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH". Maybe you should read a lesser known work of Richard's, White Man Listen ... ignorance is no excuse ... Forgiveness, generosity, kindness are virtues that are a must, but they are meaningless without TEMPERANCE. I choose to 'under respond' to this insult of a GREAT AFRICAN AMERICAN author.

[Cyan]

The American Black endured economic and social hardships since his arrival here in the US on the slave ships, and frankly, I don't see his situation improving at all in this land.

However, you do reach a vigilant conclusion on the topic of Wright's memoir as borderline Gothic and overall pessimistic. I would most certainly enjoy reading a book by a Black in Dixieland recounting the positives of that life (Life for Blacks in the US was comparatively the best in the world compared to life throughout Africa and most of Europe.)

Wright's difficulty to gaze upon the sunny side of life definitely contributed to his early death if you ask me.

[A.D.]

Cyan wrote: "The American Black endured economic and social hardships since his arrival here in the US on the slave ships, and frankly, I don't see his situation improving at all in this land.

However, you do..."

Hi Cyan

Without links to your sources, it's really difficult to agree with anything you've said. The first statement, that you don't see the economic and social hardships of blacks improving in America, I don't see how you can say that when African American's have gone from being slaves to the point where we have black CEO's and a black president. As for Wright's memoir being pessimistic - he had a hard life. He suffered grinding poverty and racism, not to mention other challenges. You can't expect him to give you a positive memoir regarding his life when his experiences were negative. I also don't believe that life for Blacks in the US was better than those of Blacks in Africa and most of Europe.

[Maelanie]

A.D. wrote: "Cyan wrote: "The American Black endured economic and social hardships since his arrival here in the US on the slave ships, and frankly, I don't see his situation improving at all in this land.

Ho..."

Not all Blacks came here; most were already here! Read a history book that your teacher didn't give you; FOR GOD's SAKE. It is difficult to have had sight and then go blind; but to have never had sight is unimaginable. For the few who are riding the wave of privilege; the few flashes in the pan of Blacks that have had success may seem enormous, but when you peel the scab away from your eyes and look at the big picture; without the smoke screen of guilt and ego; one might realize what an insult it is to prattle on to African Americans that "you have a Black president now, so get over it". How many years has this country had presidents?, and because we have had one Black president, President Barack Obama (say his name and repect his title) in a few centuries we should feel the playing field has been leveled?! Ahhh ...! what a sweet perfume ignorance, naivetee and privilege doth exude. So sweet as to numb the brain (like an anesthetic), removing all possiblity of a truly fresh thought; how it does diminish intelligence; how it does seem to lead them like children, like mindless sheep. Oh, if only they would just once think for themsleves, and not blindly follow the conditioning of centuries past/present established by utter idiots.

SEPARATISM (of any kind: religion, race, country, politics, sex and all the rest of it) IS STUPID, AND THOSE WHO SUPPORT IT ARE ABSENT OF INTELLIGENCE! For millenia mankind has been hateful, angry, hostile, violent with endless wars. Don't you see that, its obvious!! None of these things that separate us has worked. Why not think differently, TOGETHER AS ONE, and maybe we might save humanity from its inhumane self? Why not just be virtuous rather than trying to become virtuous, why not be compassionate, why not (and I am afraid to use this word as it has been so perverted, but) why not LOVE ALL HUMAN BEINGS, ALL LIFE ON OUR BEAUTIFUL PLANET?

Please for GOD's SAKE, before its too late!

[A.D.]

Hi Maelanie

I agree with your last point about eradicating separatism of any kind and loving all human beings. Although we can all work toward it in our own little way, we still have a long way to go.

I don't believe that just becaues we have a black president racism and descrimination no longer exit. I'm just saying we've made extraordinary progress. A black president would not have been possible 50 years ago, maybe not even 20 years ago. So we've made progress but we still have a long way to go.

[Maelanie]

Quite right ... I must have replied to you by mistake ... lol this was meant for someone else .... my apologies

[Maelanie]

Jesse wrote: "According to Zinsser’s and Genslinger’s review on what a good memoir is, I think that the book Black Boy by Richard Wright is okay memoir but generally not a very good memoir because his life is an..."

It seems you are looking for sensation, visceral entertainment. It is unfortunate that regular life just is not enough for humans. Because it is beautiful in its simplicity and uncertainty. His life is "regular" as you say, but isn't that the beauty of the book? We are all the same; psychologically. The superficial individual differences are so unimportant, and our attachment to them absurd and self-centered. We are one, and until we get that the society we have created will remain confused and in chaos. We all want security, for ourselves and our families, we want to love and be loved, we all have sorrows, pain, with fleeting moments of joy. This is true for the billionaire, the scientist, the proletariat, the man/woman in abject poverty, the ignorant and uneducated. Surely you have observed this. We are all hateful, angry, hostile, violent and we have endless wars, its obvious! The cause of all this tragedy is the separatism: you have your religion, another has his, you have your politics, another has hers, you have your ideals, and another has his, on and on and on. And this divisiveness occurs between lovers, and married couples, between neighbors, and co-workers, and between countries. WE must act quickly to save our lovely planet, or I fear it may be too late. Let go of what separates you from Black Boy and embrace how you and he are psychologically the same. Compassion is in dire need if we are to save ourselves; compassion and love are sorely missing from your statements.

WE ARE ONE!

[Maelanie]

Cyan wrote: "The American Black endured economic and social hardships since his arrival here in the US on the slave ships, and frankly, I don't see his situation improving at all in this land.

However, you do..."

Sigh ... until we lose and arm we will always find that an amputee should suck it up and move on ... until you lose your sight we will always find that the blind can just get a 'seeing eye dog' and move on

It is difficult to have had sight and then go blind; but to have never had sight is unimaginable. For the few who are riding the wave of privilege; the few flashes in the pan of Blacks that have had success may seem enormous, but when you peel the scab away from your eyes and look at the big picture; without the smoke screen of guilt and ego; one might realize what an insult it is to prattle on to African Americans that "you have it good now, and here in America, so get over it". Ahhh ...! what a sweet perfume ignorance, naivete and privilege doth exude. So sweet as to numb the brain (like an anesthetic), removing all possibility of a truly fresh thought; how it does diminish intelligence; how it does seem to lead them like children, like mindless sheep. Oh, if only they would just once think for themsleves, and not blindly follow the conditioning of centuries past/present established by utter idiots. You should for one day, week, month year live the life of a Black woman on planet Earth; and then you might understand. But to ask one who is on the outside looking in, is like asking cold steel to feel, or to bleed it is utterly absurd.
It seems compassion is lacking in you. You only see the superficial difference between you and other humans (Blacks); and not that we are all the same psychologically. Only the intelligence, born of compassion/love can see this truth.


SEPARATISM (of any kind: religion, race, country, politics, sex and all the rest of it) IS STUPID, AND THOSE WHO SUPPORT IT ARE ABSENT OF INTELLIGENCE! For millenia mankind has been hateful, angry, hostile, violent with endless wars. Don't you see that, its obvious!! None of these things that separate us has worked. Why not think differently, TOGETHER AS ONE, and maybe we might save humanity from its inhumane self? Why not just BE virtuous rather than trying to become virtuous, why not be compassionate, why not (and I am afraid to use this word as it has been so perverted,but here goes) why not LOVE all human beings and all life on our beautiful planet?!

Please for GOD's SAKE, before its too late!

[A.D.]

Maelanie wrote: "Quite right ... I must have replied to you by mistake ... lol this was meant for someone else .... my apologies"

No probs, Maelanie.

[Maelanie]

Cyan wrote: "The American Black endured economic and social hardships since his arrival here in the US on the slave ships, and frankly, I don't see his situation improving at all in this land.

However, you do..."



Not all Blacks came here; many were already here! Read a history book that your teacher didn't give you; FOR GOD's SAKE. It is difficult to have had sight and then go blind; but to have never had sight is unimaginable. For the few who are riding the wave of privilege; the few flashes in the pan of Blacks that have had success may seem enormous, but when you peel the scab away from your eyes and look at the big picture; without the smoke screen of guilt and ego; one might realize what an insult it is to prattle on to African Americans that "you have a Black president now, so get over it". How many years has this country had presidents?, and because we have had one Black president, President Barack Obama (say his name and repect his title) in a few centuries we should feel the playing field has been leveled?! Ahhh ...! what a sweet perfume ignorance, naivetee and privilege doth exude. So sweet as to numb the brain (like an anesthetic), removing all possiblity of a truly fresh thought; how it does diminish intelligence; how it does seem to lead them like children, like mindless sheep. Oh, if only they would just once think for themsleves, and not blindly follow the conditioning of centuries past/present established by utter idiots.

SEPARATISM (of any kind: religion, race, country, politics, sex and all the rest of it) IS STUPID, AND THOSE WHO SUPPORT IT ARE ABSENT OF INTELLIGENCE! For millenia mankind has been hateful, angry, hostile, violent with endless wars. Don't you see that, its obvious!! None of these things that separate us has worked. Why not think differently, TOGETHER AS ONE, and maybe we might save humanity from its inhumane self? Why not just be virtuous rather than trying to become virtuous, why not be compassionate, why not (and I am afraid to use this word as it has been so perverted, but) why not LOVE ALL HUMAN BEINGS, ALL LIFE ON OUR BEAUTIFUL PLANET?

Please for GOD's SAKE, before its too late!

[Maelanie]

Angie wrote: "I think perhaps the most dangerous thing we can do as readers is base our opinions upon the reactions of others. Certainly literature is a wonderful venue for social dialogue and debate, but all t..."

Your thoughts here are true enough, but beautiful in that they are honest in an unpretentious way. Very eloquently put Angie, brava!

[R.]

I believe the beginner of this discussion believes life is only worth reading for those painting grandeur. As a society, we often say walk in my shoes and then decide upon my actions. Black Boy allows us to mentally walk in his shoes. The memoir allows us to see his life growing up and how it shaped him, which is the whole point of a memoir.

[A.D.]

R. wrote: "I believe the beginner of this discussion believes life is only worth reading for those painting grandeur. As a society, we often say walk in my shoes and then decide upon my actions. Black Boy all..."

I agree.