Abuse In Richard Wright's Black Boy

Outcome of Abuse
Richard Wright provides us insight to the reality of the South’s customs post Civil War where abuse and racism has yet to diminish in the South. The memoir Black Boy, by Richard Wright, explores the theme of abuse that was prevalent throughout the Jim Crow South. Richard’s story begins when he was about four years old and continues to when he becomes an adult; he includes the most important details and incidents that greatly shaped his life and personality. Incidents that were most impactful on Richard often included abuse or consequently lead to abuse. Throughout his childhood, Richard faces various forms abuse which ironically benefit him in molding him into a young man who eventually escapes his oppressors.
A wedge

Richard “felt that [he] had been slapped out of the human race”(190) when he was oppressed by whites and there was nothing he could do about if he wanted to spare his life. These emotions allow Richard to realize that he must leave the South in order to become free of the abuse. Not only does Richard face mental abuse from whites, but also from his friends. Richard felt that “if [he] wanted to associate with [his friends] [he] would have to join” (151) the church. Richard realizes he can not be friends with his classmates if he does not share the same religious views as them. Therefore, there is the pressure that Richard must join the church in order to fit into society. Lastly, Richard experiences mental abuse when his mother was sick. Richard felt “the half-friendly world the [he] had known had turned cold and hostile” (86) allowing Richard to better understand the cruelty of the world. Although no one is to blame for the illness of Richard’s mother, Richard was abused because he now has to think of what he will do without his mother who was the rock in his life. Each of these incidents challenged Richard in a different way, but they all molded him into a stronger