Native Sonby Richard Wright
Original publication date: 1940
This week is banned books week in the United States. All week I will be highlighting banned, challenged, and censored books I own and have read.
Publisher description:
Right from the start, Bigger Thomas had been headed for jail. It could have been for assault or petty larceny; by chance, it was for murder and rape. Native Son tells the story of this young black man caught in a downward spiral after he kills a young white woman in a brief moment of panic. Set in Chicago in the 1930s, Richard Wright’s novel is just as powerful today as when it was written — in its reflection of poverty and hopelessness, and what it means to be black in America.
Status:Challenged in the United States (citation).
Reason for challenge in the U.S.: Challenged by parents in both schools and libraries for profanity, sexual content, and violence (citation)
My thoughts: Hmm, I’m starting to see a trend here. Gifted author writes gritty, realistic book about a person or persons dealing with political and/or economic oppression and/or systemic racism. Parents complain about the violence, sex, and language that is what makes the book so realistic. It makes me wonder if, at least some of the time, people are actually uncomfortable with these gritty depictions of oppression (even subconsciously) and complain about the language, sex, or violence as a way of dealing with it.
I enjoyed “Native Son,” if enjoyed is the right word, since it is a novel of hopelessness and violence. It is remarkably well-written, and the reader can truly feel Bigger’s fear and his sensations of being trapped by his circumstances. This is a book I heartily recommend for its depiction of race relations in the ‘non-segregated’ North in the early part of the 20th century.
Your Turn: Have you read “Native Son” or any of Wright’s other work? What did you think? What would it be like to feel as though you were so trapped by your circumstances that violence seems to be the only option? What would it be like to know that others see you as less than human?
Check out my Banned Books Week Spotlights all week, every day at 2 pm Central through Saturday, Octobter 4th.
Kaffir Boy: The True Story of a Black Youth’s Coming of Age in Apartheid South Africa — The Grapes of Wrath — The Handmaid’s Tale
Rebecca of The Book Lady’s Blog is doing Banned Books Week Spotlights as well, every morning at 9 am. Check her out as well!
The Perks of Being a Wallflower — And Tango Makes Three — Catch-22 — The Giver
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This book has stuck with me all these years. And you’re right…people, as a general rule, don’t want to be reminded about race relations and the suffering of another race. At least not one here in our own country. It’s like a dirty secret that gets swept under the rug (much like Native American history). I’m not sure if it’s latent guilt — I don’t understand that — or fear. Whatever the reason, books like Native Son are an important part of our social conscious. I, for one, will absolutely insist my children read it.
I’ve never heard of this book, but it sounds very valuable and like something I should read. I think reading about oppression is incredibly important for children because they need to understand what can happen in the world. I read quite a few books about Nazi Germany, slavery, and dystopias when I was a child and I wouldn’t exchange that knowledge for more fluff books about princesses and fairies.
I have not read the book; but I wanted to thank you for giving us the quote from Judith Krug. It’s one I’ve stored away in the back of my book journal where I keep “words of wisdom, and/or beauty,etc.” I think it’s great that you are highlighting Banned Books Week.
I read this as part of my high school English class and it’s still very vivid in my mind. Excellent book.
Like Lenore, I read this book in high school English class–but I HATED it. I think a large part of my reaction was due to the lack of class discussion and obvious discomfort of an inexperienced teacher. I had to read the book again in college to truly appreciate it.
This one’s been on my TBR forever. I read Black Boy and was really impressed with Wright’s writing. I agree that it is very interesting that many of the books that got banned are powerful examinations of racism.
ANOTHER one most people read in high school, but was not assigned at my school…i haven’t read most of those school classics (the scarlet letter, where the red fern grows, of mice and men, ETC), what the hell was up with my teachers/schools…