◆ SpookStack

lack Boy ijes a bifter autobiography Photugrapha for LIFE by GEORGE KARCER a ea sro 7 a: A Ne wr into An lack Boy is the autobiography of tle youth of a 37-year- old Negro named Richard Wright who, in 1940, wrete Native Son. That novel, which placed Wright among Amere jca’s moot gifted wrhers, wus 4 bitter, fictional uccount of a Negro’s revolt agaliet the life imposed ona Negro in the North. Black Boy (Harper, $2.54) isa bitter, true stery of a Negro boy's struggles against the life imspesed on his race in the South. Richard Wright was boru on a Mississippi plantation und reitred by a fanaticully religious ¢ andmother. ¥ mi of the é Sas ey a ’ an i ' : a story has Lon nwt ey . Neye things that happened to him could buve happened to many boys brought up in dire poverty anywhere. Hut Richard wae more sensitive and articulate than most. He was ulso bluck and brought up in the South. This is what makes Black Boy net only a brilliant wulobiogruphy but a powerful indictment of u caste system which is one of America’s biggest problems. Qn the following pages LIFE presents a picture-dramati- zation of Richard Wright's Black Boy. None of the ucture in pny connection a ia 4 the od | ’ A “ “eee Ow EXT Pace 87 Lab» ; G é =