RICHARD WRIGHT

1908-1960

Biography

Life began in poverty Father abandoned family at five By 12, Wright’s mother could not support

family Raised by various relations

Learned to survive on bitter ghetto streets Had to borrow a white man’s library card to

read Fled to South at 20, explored Marxism

Joined Communist party for 12 years Exiled himself to Paris for last 14 years

of his life

Writing

exposed American racism to a large white audience

Achieved first real recognition from Native Son Victimized black man accidentally kills a

white woman, then murders again to avoid betrayal Never wrote another novel that equaled its

success Struggled to understand the historical

and cultural place of African Americans in modern life Travelled to Africa, recorded observations in

Black Power and White Man, Listen!