Thesis: Because of the experiences Richard has encountered, he learns how to temporarily adjust his behavior around the oppressive whites in order to guarantee his own well-being.
Richard’s understanding of a “Negro's reality--of the white word” increased daily; between working for and with the whites. and the opinions of his own family, a greater fear of violence inflicted by the whites became more apparent within him, and he worried of being attacked (Wright 148). This fear stemmed from Richard’s behavior. Unlike the rest of his race, Richard didn’t conform to the stereotypes of the blacks in his society. Instead, he acted the same way toward the whites as he would to a person of any race.
When questioned if he stole by a white woman looking to hire him, Richard laughed, saying, “Lady, if I was a thief, I’d never tell anybody” (Wright 145). Such a response was seen as a mistake to the white woman, whose anger was apparent by her red face and response: “Now, look, we don’t want a sassy nigger around here” (Wright 146). His “sassy” behavior left him with a serving of …show more content…
After simply saying it was “eighteen past five,” and that it may be “a little slow or a little fast, but it’s not far wrong,” Uncle Tom called Richard an “impudent black rascal!” (Wright 157). Uncle Tom also found Richard to be sassy, just like the white woman he worked for prior did, although he did not mean to be disrespectful. Richard is threatened that Uncle Tom will “take [his] fist and ram it down [Richard’s] sassy throat” as a punishment for not being reverent, however, Richard protests the punishment and decides to use razor blades as a form of defense against Uncle Tom (Wright 157). In the process, Uncle Tom tells Richard that “[he’ll] end up in the gallows,” subtly implying that this type of rebellious, improper behavior will get him into trouble, or worse, killed. (Wright
Richard’s understanding of a “Negro's reality--of the white word” increased daily; between working for and with the whites. and the opinions of his own family, a greater fear of violence inflicted by the whites became more apparent within him, and he worried of being attacked (Wright 148). This fear stemmed from Richard’s behavior. Unlike the rest of his race, Richard didn’t conform to the stereotypes of the blacks in his society. Instead, he acted the same way toward the whites as he would to a person of any race.
When questioned if he stole by a white woman looking to hire him, Richard laughed, saying, “Lady, if I was a thief, I’d never tell anybody” (Wright 145). Such a response was seen as a mistake to the white woman, whose anger was apparent by her red face and response: “Now, look, we don’t want a sassy nigger around here” (Wright 146). His “sassy” behavior left him with a serving of …show more content…
After simply saying it was “eighteen past five,” and that it may be “a little slow or a little fast, but it’s not far wrong,” Uncle Tom called Richard an “impudent black rascal!” (Wright 157). Uncle Tom also found Richard to be sassy, just like the white woman he worked for prior did, although he did not mean to be disrespectful. Richard is threatened that Uncle Tom will “take [his] fist and ram it down [Richard’s] sassy throat” as a punishment for not being reverent, however, Richard protests the punishment and decides to use razor blades as a form of defense against Uncle Tom (Wright 157). In the process, Uncle Tom tells Richard that “[he’ll] end up in the gallows,” subtly implying that this type of rebellious, improper behavior will get him into trouble, or worse, killed. (Wright