Topics for Further Study
Read a novel by Ann Petty or another author from the "Wright School," such as Chester Himes, Willard Savoy, or Philip B. Kaye, and compare it with Black Boy. When considering Petty's The Street, explore the differences in gender perspectives and the urban Black experience in post-World War II American cities.
How does choosing between reading Black Boy or American Hunger affect one's understanding of Wright's critical perspective on America? Does Black Boy portray America more leniently since Wright ultimately finds a better life in the North?
Investigate the Jim Crow laws and compare that historical context to current race relations. Are we living in a more tolerant and equal society today? Discuss contemporary issues such as California's challenges to Affirmative Action, states declaring English as the official language, and the uneven distribution of minorities impacting busing, services, insurance, healthcare, or other areas.
Consider Wright's observations about initially resisting, then ultimately conforming to, Jim Crow customs. Are there roles we assume based on gender, class, or racial perceptions influenced by television sitcoms? Additionally, what perceptions does the media instill regarding behavior (consider the differences between shows like Cops and a network's ten o'clock news program)?
Locate images from the WWII era and afterward; obtain a library book featuring posters that encouraged wartime support and later domestic life. After reviewing these images, reflect on how Wright depicts the same period. For instance, the few white women he meets in "American Hunger" do not align with the poster imagery. Contemplate the goal of "urban realism" in the context of these posters and Wright's efforts to write for the people.
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