How Did Richard Wright Become An African-American Writer?

Richard Wright was a pioneer that paved the way for future African American writers. From a very young age Richard had a dream of becoming a writer and stayed dedicated to his education to ensure that his dream would become a reality. In 1925 Wright graduated as valedictorian from Smith Robertson Junior high School, but dropped out of high school in order to make enough to move from Memphis. Although Wright was no longer attending school he continued to read and pursue his dream of becoming a writer. Richard Wright represents determination because of his desire and will power to see his aspirations become a reality.
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary determination is defined as “Firm or fixed intention to achieve a desired end.”(Merriam)Richard
Wright is a perfect representation of this word because from a very young age he knew created a goal that he wanted to become a writer, and he worked extremely hard in order to achieve that goal. With the Jim Crow laws emerging in the south Richard Wright knew that moving north would be the only way to protect his dreams. As a result Wright made the decision to drop out of school and move to Chicago where he took up many odd jobs while continuing to read in his spare time. He joined the Federal Writers’ Project and later moved to New York to get a greater opportunity to get his work published. In 1938 his dream became a reality, after years of hard work Richard’s book Uncle Tom’s Children was finally published. Accomplishing his dream of becoming a writer not only allowed him to find his purpose in life but it gave him many benefits.
With its publication of Uncle Tom’s Children came awards and recognition; Wright ended up winning a Guggenheim Fellowship which allowed him to work on other literary pieces.
The following work Wright published Native Son, “became the first best seller from the pen of an African-American novelist”. (People’s World) His autobiography Black Boy gave society insight to what the life of an African American was like, and played a major role in many movements across the nation. Black Boy follows Wright through “Chicago black cultural Renaissance of the '30s, the Communist Party during the Depression, the witch-hunts of the McCarthy era and the American expatriate community in Paris in the '50s.”. (Richard Wright) It was this type of descriptive writing that made this an important and widely acclaimed piece of
literature.
Richard Wright played not only a major role in literature but in society too. He lived by the value that “words can be weapons against justice.”(Richard Wright) Wright gave society the truth, he showed how blacks truly acted, and discredited the white idea of a blacks. Wright showed that blacks were just as strong and noble as whites and that they should no longer be seen as a lower class of human beings. He worked for the WPA’s Federal Writers Project, but in 1946 he moved to France to escape the oppressive society of the U.S. Wright became involved with the anti-imperialist movement and continued to support the African-American movement. Richard Wright used his knowledge and ability to write to influence society and discredit myths about blacks.
Richard Wright has a resemblance to Gabriel Mistral because they were both pioneers in literature.
Richard Wright was a pioneer for African Americans literature, and Gabriel Mistral was a pioneer for Latin Americans in literature. She also became the first Latin American to win the Nobel Prize for literature. Although both are pioneers, they used their influence in different ways. Richard Wright used his influence to bring truth to society. He wanted to discredit black stereotypes and change society’s view of blacks. Gabriela Mitral used her influence to help educate the children in her society, and to bring attention to problems like women equality and
injustices.
Richard Wright contributed to human greatness through his work in literature and in society. Although he dropped out of high school, he continued to gain knowledge through reading many novels and pieces of literature. He used his experience and knowledge to educate society and influence many social movements with books like Black Boy. He wanted to show that everyone was created equal and that no race is better than another. Richard Wright taught me that if I set a goal for myself there is nothing that can stop me from achieving it. My determination will allow me to conquer any task placed in front of me and will allow me to accomplish whatever I set my mind to. It is determination like Richard possesses which helps people to become successful in the world.