Richard Wright: From Black Boy To World Citizen

Richard Wright: From Black Boy To World Citizen | Jennifer Jensen Wallach

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Good morning. Just took me 5 hours to work through this abbreviated but informative biography of Richard Wright, author of Native Son and Black Boy. He will be a 2023 theme for me. He was an independent spirit always. He grew up in the Jim Crowe south, became communist in Chicago & New York before moving to Paris. He never settled down, had numerous affairs, was watched by the CIA, and had some strange ideas at times. ⬇️⬇️

Graywacke He was also a hero of James Baldwin and other expat writers. I recognized many of his childhood stories, so maybe I read Black Boy in high school (?), it at least parts. 1y

AmyG I read Black Boy in high school, too. Blew my mind. I will never forget the “opening scene”. 1y

bnp I haven't read Wright, so I'm going to check out this biography. 1y

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batsy I've never read him and I must fix it. I love that you're having a year of Wright. 1y

Graywacke @AmyG i have some surprisingly strong memories of the stories, they were formative for me. But i don‘t remember the actual book or what the opening scene was. 1y

Graywacke @bnp this is good for the compressed info. Not amazing writing, but certainly adequate. It‘s a perfect, easy, first book on him. 1y

Graywacke @batsy 😂 my year of Wright! I‘m looking forward to his earlier famous works. After reading this, I‘m a little worried about reading his later stuff. 1y

AnnR @Graywacke It looks like you're back in the reading grove. I enjoyed reading your introduction to Wright and look forward to the continuation in 2023.
@Batsy LOL! You always know just the right thing to say in your comments. 🙂 😁 1y

vivastory I read this one last year & thought it was fantastic

The Man Who Lived Underground

(edited) 1y

Graywacke @Ann_Reads I was flat end of October , beginning of November. But seem roughly my normal self, reading-wise lately. And thanks. I‘m curious about RW. 1y

Graywacke @vivastory i don‘t know anything about The Man Who Lived Underground. It wasn‘t mentioned in the biography (well, probably it‘s listed in his posthumous works). Noting! 1y

Graywacke #RichardWright 1y

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Graywacke

Richard Wright: From Black Boy To World Citizen | Jennifer Jensen Wallach

Love libraries. I‘m planning to read Richard Wright‘s novels next year. These are some of the books my library has on him. I‘ve started the tagged book (center of the stack) because it‘s the easiest to read and it‘s all new and interesting info to me. Who know the 1930‘s American communists would provide Wright‘s first creative community? Or that in Chicago the communists were then 25% African American?

AnnR It sounds like you have your 2023 reading plan ready to go. 🙂 👍 I admire your organization and ambition, especially knowing I'd never be able to stick to a yearly reading plan. I'm just too much of a mood reader. I'll look forward to your thoughtful reviews knowing you'll find some hidden gem(s) I'll be interested in reading sometime. 1y

Graywacke @Ann_Reads Thanks. I like the plans. When I lose momentum and energy, I revert to the plan and find that a way to avoid decisions. Ironically I‘m rebelling by reading this book, which is not on my December plan. ☺️ I do have 2023 plan mostly worked out: Wharton, Richard Wright, Ellison‘s Invisible Man, Chaucer, Booker longlist books and some from my shelves. And #naturalitsy 1y

batsy What a great stack. That Left Bank one in particular looks interesting. Re: African-American communists, this was a mind-blowingly good read

Hammer and Hoe: Alabama Communists during the Great Depression

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Graywacke @batsy left bank is available on audio. I tried a sample yesterday and was mixed. But i picked up a copy after your comment and it‘s actually great ao far (i‘m 35 minutes in). Noting Hammer and Hoe! 1y

bnp @batsy Hammered and How made it into my to read list this year, good to know you liked it. 1y

bnp @Graywracke Will this be the first time for Ellison's Invisible Man? I've read it twice and found it more powerful the 2nd time around. 1y

Graywacke @bnp yes, it will be my first time with Ellison. 1y

AllDebooks I haven't come across Richard Wright before. He does sound like an intriguing character. I shall have to seek him out. (edited) 1y

Graywacke @AllDebooks I haven‘t read him yet. He was very influential, especially on authors Ralph Ellison and James Baldwin. He wrote mostly in the 1930‘s and 1940‘s and, from Paris, in the 1950‘s. 1y

Graywacke #RichardWright 1y

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