Native Son

Very good book. Really went through a lot of important topics in a very compelling way.

No doubt a book to be read by all. Although a work of fiction it does strike at the heart of the suffrage by African Americans in the inner cities, circa 1940 Chicago. Once one reflects on the huge positive changes that have occurred since this time in America we should see a clear path to continued change. We have had a African American President, two Attorneys' General on and on. As for the story, Bigger Thomas was described accurately, by the author, on page 235. "Maybe he would have to go to his end just as he was, dumb driven." Had Bigger been White, Red, Brown or Yellow, man or woman, anyone with this type of "dumb" it would be predictable that his life would end in tragedy. My only criticism was that the author supported, that only a Communist lawyer would help a man Black of Color. In real life no minorities are leaving America for any country of Communism. Nor does China, Russia or Venezuela trying to get African Americans to emigrate to their countries. However, the "Red" characters were believable and I noted their feigned concern for Bigger. Jan, didn't give a damn about Bigger. Communist only care about their agenda and nothing else. Please don't make the mistake I made when ordering this great book. I bought Bloom's Modern Critical Interpretations thinking it was Native Son. I started to read it for curiosity. I just can't stand what some pseudo lectual thinks about what the author meant. Read the book for your self and write a review that is your own.

Native Son is truly an eye-opener to the extreme effects of racism in the early 1900’s. Although slavery ended long before this book was written, racism did not. Even nowadays, many people believe that along with slavery, discrimination and prejudice ended along with it. Richard Wright’s novel uncovers the truth behind the life of a black person in 1930 Chicago. All throughout the novel, the word “blind” is used several times. Mrs. Dalton is literally blind, but almost everyone is figuratively blind. They are so caught up in their own daily struggles that they are blind to the rest of the world around them. When Bigger is eating breakfast with his family the day after he kills Mary, he ponders on the thought that “…a lot of people were like Mrs. Dalton, blind…” (Wright 107). He first notices the blindness in his little brother, Buddy, but quickly sees it in his mother and sister as well. None of these people are actually blind, but blind to the world around them. They all lived in a cycle, and nothing but the cycle mattered to them. This blindness comes into play again when Mary says that she wants to know how black people live. She thinks that black people “…must live like we live. They’re human.” (Wright 70). Mary is so blind to the fact that black people live in a hellhole while she lives in a mansion. She cannot put herself in the shoes of black people since she has never even seen it. Native Son also emphasizes the idea that generalization of a race leads to terrible consequences. The white race in the book generalized black people as being apes and non-human creatures. The black race on the other hand thought of the white people as being arrogant, filthy rich, and prejudiced jerks. Neither of these was correct at all. A white man that contradicts this prejudice is Boris Max, and a black man that contradicts his prejudice is Bigger. Bigger is not a terrifying ape; he is a man that killed on accident and experienced hardships because of disgusting white people. Generalizations are rarely correct, and Richard Wright proves that in his book. This novel truly gives an insider’s view on what racism actually is. Racism is not only about lynchings and violent murders. It is about prejudice and how it destroys a society. Native Son could not be a more perfect example of racism and its effects.

I first read "Native Son" as a teen some 20+ years ago. It was after reading "Black Boy" that I decided to reread "Native Son". It was about half way through "Native Son" that I realized I hadn't actually read the entire book. In fact, I only read about a quarter of it!! For years I thought I'd read "Native Son" because I convinced myself I had (possibly because, in my youth, having read more than 100 pages of a book constituted "reading" the book for me). I can only think that I claimed to have read it to appease my mother or a teacher and I claimed it so long that I began to believe it!! The reviews here on this site are plenty to give you an idea of its depth and excellence. My review is about the contrast between my teen reading and my adult reading. I remember believing that the main character, Bigger Thomas, was brilliant. An ordinary young Black man had gone into the White World, committed an unspeakable crime and gotten away with it by acting like an ordinary young Black man (or so I saw it). That is to say: I thought Bigger's humble, deferential, monosyllabic speech towards White people was all an act. I thought he purposely turned on such an act to allow him to get away with things that they figured were not within his capabilities or his skill set. I thought Bigger was absolutely brilliant. A marionette pulling the strings of White America based upon their prejudices and preconceived notions. Fast-forward 20+ years and I see Bigger through different eyes (partially because I've read the entire book and partially because my comprehension has evolved and developed). At times he was brilliant and at times he was stone cold stupid. At times he would use the shuffling negro act to his advantage and at other times he would let his ego push him too far. It was all part of the enigma that was Bigger Thomas. Wright created a helluva character. As an African-American male I was reading about Bigger and loathing him with every fiber of my being because he was the poorest representation of Black men. I couldn't help but think, "This Bigger Thomas is confirming the wicked stuff that White people believe about us! He's a walking affirmation of their stereotypes!" But the fact is... Bigger Thomases exist. They are largely products of their environments. We may not like them, we may have the foulest names to describe them, but they still exist. So, whereas I hated Bigger for the decisions he made and the life he lived, I can't say that Richard Wright didn't give me a jolt. He threw Bigger Thomas in our faces and said, "deal with him." I'm sure every reader deals with Bigger in his/her own way. Some may hate him as I did, some may pity him, some may applaud him and much of that may divide down racial lines or socio-economic lines; in any case we as readers had to deal with Bigger Thomas.

A must read for everyone in America. Wright is an extraordinary author and this is a beautifully written tragic tale-reality. Although this is fiction, it mirrors the sad truth of race relations in America in the past. Unfortunately, this truth remains today.

WOW. Ya’ll this book was extremely heavy. As in, I needed a mental break from reading for a few days heavy. Given the current todays climate, it was down right heartbreaking & too triggering to the core. Bigger Thomas is a 20 year old Black man living in Chicago in the 1930s. He accidentally kills a white woman (it was truly an accident) & the caucasians try to say that it was a planned rape & murder. Ima be straight up- Bigger was not a likable man which made this book very confusing for me. He was emotionally manipulative, physically abusive & just plain NASTY. The way that he spoke to his family & friends was disgusting. However, he still didn’t deserve the treatment the YTs gave him. What made my heart pound & pulled me to tears were 2 things. 1) they kept calling this MAN a boy. 2) the way the newspapers portrayed him was despicable. I wept because nothing changed except the year. Black people are still belittled & demonized in the media. You know what, another thing that pissed me off was the white savior complex shown throughout this book. The parents of the family Bigger drove for boasted how much they help the Black communities & oh does Bigger know about the NAACP & oh wow they’re such great people because they give “helpless Blacks” opportunities to better themselves. SO TIRING!!!! you “help” out Black communities & yet still change them double the rent, but that’s for another rant🙄 There was no happy ending. That shouldn’t be a surprise. I recommend this book because it has to be read, especially by Black people. But please, only if you’re in the mental space to read it.

As much as I would like to rate native son higher I just had a hard time getting through the book! Not because of the Grammer, but because of how much it was dragged out. I highly recommend this novel as long as you're in for the long haul!

part one fantastic—part two not so much

Re-read this heartbreaking novel after a couple of decades. Couldn't be more poignant or relevant than it is in today's world.

Met my expectation . Made me sympathize and had me think hard

Alles in Ordnung. Leider durch die Post streich here in Deutschland, konnte es nicht punktlich geliefert warden aber war eine schoene Ueberraschung nach unsere kurz Urlaub. Vielen Dank. Ich bin dabei es zu lessen.

This is definitely a classic. It should be compulsory reading at school or university. Really makes you think about how racism can make people feel who feel that they are valueless can turn towards crime and violence given the circumstances. I know things have changed a bit for the better now but peoples opportunities and aspirations are still shaped by their environment. Not an easy read but not a book I will forget.

Excelente obra de la literatura. Wright escribe imágenes, descripción muy realista de la realidad vivida en la América de la segregación racial. Totalmente recomendado!