Richard Wright - Change the System

Richard's mature character is formed both by the kind of knowledge only gained through experience in the world and by the kind of knowledge only gained through reading books. With respect to Richard, does one of these types of knowledge seem more important than the other? Why or why not?

Richard Wright is a brilliant story of life of an unusual black American kid, which acts from the early childhood throughout the time of writing the particular story. This type of literature brings a rebellious spirit against the society and may probably become unaccepted by the majority of readers. It touches our most vulnerable feelings and justice in particular, because it is based on the real life – the life of the author, and it actually persuades reader with trustfulness and authenticity. It is a real peace of life, a life which can’t be taught in school, a life which hurts, and a human who wants to overcome his life and make it better for others – to open their eyes and start protesting against crimes, racism, injustice, lies, stereotypes, beliefs and actual leaving without taking care of others, without helping people around and understanding their real needs. Happiness is not about things – it is about our souls and deeds. And the more positive things we make, the happier we become, the more people we help, the better we feel. The more people we hurt, the harder to live, the more things we collect – the emptier feel.

The understanding of real life pleasure is really a hard thing to get in our world. We are taught to be individual and to gain everything by means of others, but not to do something really great by ourselves. People often think that pleasure comes after spending their money, having alcohols, drugs, watching TV, mistreating someone, make another person feel bad…. And to consume, consume and consume.

Richard Wright was the kid who had a horrible life because of being black. He had a hard-working father, who was obsessed by bringing money to family, but not being a father to his kids. Richard started to work instead of having the usual, normal childhood which is required for human being.

After getting a hard acquisition with the society, fighting with other kids near home, drinking alcohol in local bar and working for the people who did not respect him because of the color of his skin he started to think of his life and life in general. Life seemed to be a horror film. Injustice, harassment, misunderstanding, slavery and pain were hitting his mind all of the time.

It is difficult to imagine how a person who never saw anything except hunger, poverty and humble submission to whites, has aspiration and desire to live a better life, to do something good for the world and to become a person, not a slave. But the answer is here. Books opened a different view on the world for him. The first encounter with a book was in his childhood when Ella, a schoolteacher, whispered to Richard the plot of Bluebeard and His Seven Wives. That was the moment when he firstly received new emotions.