Nurin Keshwani Black Boy Essay Due: 10/6/16
“When in doubt, seek advice to help you out” is a phrase heard in life to change undesirable outcomes. Whether sought voluntarily or not, advice acts as a guide to help a person avoid frustration. Ironically, when followed correctly without a positive result, it can also be the cause of disappointment and fear. In the memoir Black Boy by Richard Wright, the main character Richard is constantly frustrated with the way he is treated in society. He is unable to understand how to change both his behavior and treatment because he cannot identify what is incorrect. Through Richard’s encounters while working in the optical company, he learns that even after following Griggs’ advice, by putting his …show more content…
Crane. After quitting, Richard goes back to the office to collect his last paycheck. His boss Mr. Crane is a northerner who is sympathetic with his situation, but does little to actually help him. He is an example of the understanding whites that are still subtly racist. While being compassionate by apologizing and giving Richard cash, Mr. Crane is attempting to compensate for his failure to subdue the racism. Instead of firing Pease and Reynolds because of their wrong doings, he simply tells Richard that life is hard in the South, even for himself. This statement shows lack of understanding on Mr. Crane’s part as his skin color ensures he only experiences a fraction of the anguish that Richard does. While Mr. Crane is upset about being ridiculed for sympathizing with the blacks, Richard is realizing he “would never learn to operate those machines as long as those two white men” (Wright 192) were there. He is finally seeing the disparity between the opportunity for each race and it scared him. When asked who bothered him, Richard could not speak. He felt as if “the whole of [his] being [was] violated” (Wright 192) with the help of his fear. This understanding of the world around him had instilled fear in him which helped his betray the one thing he wanted to stay true to: himself. His inability to speak had compromised his values of equality and his ideal world had been
“When in doubt, seek advice to help you out” is a phrase heard in life to change undesirable outcomes. Whether sought voluntarily or not, advice acts as a guide to help a person avoid frustration. Ironically, when followed correctly without a positive result, it can also be the cause of disappointment and fear. In the memoir Black Boy by Richard Wright, the main character Richard is constantly frustrated with the way he is treated in society. He is unable to understand how to change both his behavior and treatment because he cannot identify what is incorrect. Through Richard’s encounters while working in the optical company, he learns that even after following Griggs’ advice, by putting his …show more content…
Crane. After quitting, Richard goes back to the office to collect his last paycheck. His boss Mr. Crane is a northerner who is sympathetic with his situation, but does little to actually help him. He is an example of the understanding whites that are still subtly racist. While being compassionate by apologizing and giving Richard cash, Mr. Crane is attempting to compensate for his failure to subdue the racism. Instead of firing Pease and Reynolds because of their wrong doings, he simply tells Richard that life is hard in the South, even for himself. This statement shows lack of understanding on Mr. Crane’s part as his skin color ensures he only experiences a fraction of the anguish that Richard does. While Mr. Crane is upset about being ridiculed for sympathizing with the blacks, Richard is realizing he “would never learn to operate those machines as long as those two white men” (Wright 192) were there. He is finally seeing the disparity between the opportunity for each race and it scared him. When asked who bothered him, Richard could not speak. He felt as if “the whole of [his] being [was] violated” (Wright 192) with the help of his fear. This understanding of the world around him had instilled fear in him which helped his betray the one thing he wanted to stay true to: himself. His inability to speak had compromised his values of equality and his ideal world had been