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Desire for Individuality
Different. That’s what individuality is. A person trying to distinguish himself from others that’s what individuality is all about. In the excerpt “Black Boy” by Richard Wright and “Coming of Age in Mississippi” by Anne Moody, Wright and Moody tried very hard to achieve individuality. Wright and Moody both had personal experience with people trying to deprive them of their freedom to be themselves and say what they wanted to say or act the way they wanted. Both writers had to deal with racial issues, negative families and their communities trying to deprive them creating an individualistic view for themselves by telling them to do things the way everyone else did without asking questions. Wright and Moody resist influences from authorities and family to achieve their goal of individuality.
Both Moody and Wright wanted to be individualistic in their decision-making and attitude towards life. They both wanted to shape their thought processes without any external influence from parents. Let’s take a look at how Wright trying to achieve individuality. He wanted to write but was criticized by his mum, uncle and grandmother. While he lived with his family, Wright wrote a story that was published in the papers. The editor of the paper was the only person who encouraged while his family questioned his judgment and criticized him for writing. Wright said, “At home the effects were no less disturbing. Granny came into my room early one morning and sat on the edge of my bed. “Richard what is this you’re putting in the papers?” she asked (374 Wright). He talks about how his grandmother questioned him writing and she also called him a liar because he wrote stories that weren’t true. Wright mum also criticized his writings. She said, “Son, you ought to be more serious. You’re growing up and you won’t be able to get jobs if you let people think you’re weak minded.”(Pg 374 Wright) She told him he needed to be serious because she was worried that writing ability would affect his ability to secure a job. Although he was criticized by his family members Wright did not give up on his dream of writing. Wright also faced criticism from the authority and community, which he tried to resist. He questioned why people obeyed authority even though they felt the authority was wrong. Wright goes on to say
