Compare And Contrast Wright And Walls

Two children living in different times and have different color of skin share the same struggle. Even though they are so far apart both Wright and Walls suffer as equally as the other. Both protagonists have to do things that they do not want to just too barely make it, and they have to overcome obstacles to achieve their dreams that ended up far greater than what they had expected. Both Wright and Walls use specific character traits to overcome their obstacles such as the traits of being independent, and having perseverance, and courage, and these character traits helped them throughout their life time, and greatly impacted them as they got older.
To begin with, both Wright and Walls share the same trait of independence, the ability to be
Wright goes out to get a job so that he does not have to worry about being hungry all the time; although he associates with kids that are practically bad apples, he is not fully like them, and is different from his odd group. Getting a job at such a young age should prove that he is not relying on a lot of people to prove for him no matter how badly the odds are stacked against him. Wright confirms this trait when he goes among the students and asks if they have any job that he could possibly take.(The next day at school I inquired among the students about jobs and was given the name of a white family who wanted a boy to do chores”)(Wright 145). As it is shows in this passage it is very easy to see how he does not need his mother, or father providing for him. He can take care of himself by getting a job. This trait later on makes Wright not only become self-reliant, but it allows for him not to get caught up with others allowing him to worry about himself and only him. His independence also shapes him as a whole, making him think differently and more logically then most of his peers. Walls as well uses her independence as means to get a job and provide for
This trait helps them keep on going no matter what happens along the way, for example Wright shows this trait when he tries to learn a trade in a white world. Wright, thinking that this may be his chance to shine and finally become something is abused by his fellow co-workers and is harshly treated. Wright had this to say when he was threatened by his co- workers as he turned to his boss and said “ I’m scared. I said.” They would kill me”)( Wrigh192). Although Richard gave it his best shot as to try and persist in a place where he did not belong he sadly declined the job and left. He had high hopes for his future and his job and he kept on fighting to go against his white co-workers, but in the end he was put down and failed to keep the job, or left his job. Walls on the other hand portrays her perseverance differently, for example while Wright’s perseverance is within his work life and also basic life, her perseverance is within her school. She is almost done with college even though she is not as financially stable she manages to get the money thanks to the help of her parents. Although Walls was comfortably living in an apartment building with a job as a journalist she still managed to get her education. She could have just kept on living comfortably, but instead she chose to get an education even though the odds were stacked against her. Walls’ shows this when she says (” I