In chapters 5 and 6 of White Boy, Richard explores a variety of subjects previously seen in the novel such as hunger, school, white people, and violence coming from various sources.
In these chapters, one of the main aspects of his learning that begins to deepen is his understanding of the relationship between white and black people.
(129-133) First, there is the newspaper job. Although it initially seems like an innocent and honest way to earn some money, Richard soon learns that the paper he is selling is teeming with racist articles advocating the ways of the infamous Ku Klux Klan. What I found interesting about this particular incident is that Richard is ashamed once he discovers what the newspaper suggests. Why do you think this, rather than mere shock, is his reaction?
(146-148) Next, Richard acquires his first few jobs actually working for white people, and it is there that he truly experiences the hostility between races. At his first job in the world of whites, he is fed stale food by a woman who then insults his ego by declaring, "[y]ou'll never be a writer." Her reaction is unsurprisingly ridden with disgust. His reaction is once again an interesting one. Rather than being appalled or upset, Richard is simply angered by her assault on his ego. Perhaps this reaction, which is directed toward the less important issue at hand, was simply due to the innocence of young Richard. The voice of older Richard then comes in with insight, stating that he was "too naive to think that there were many white people like that." To young Richard, this was simply a small section of the much larger white population. At his second job, Richard once again experiences the hostility of the white race. Differing from his first job, however, is Richard's reaction. It now becomes one of understanding as he begins to "learn the reality--a Negro's reality--of the white world." Something I found interesting about this part was Richard's reaction to the constant cursing and tension between the white people. Why do you think this is so peculiar to Richard? What about this environment captivates his interest in this behavior among the whites to the point where he is "always conscious of it"?
In these chapters, one of the main aspects of his learning that begins to deepen is his understanding of the relationship between white and black people.
(129-133) First, there is the newspaper job. Although it initially seems like an innocent and honest way to earn some money, Richard soon learns that the paper he is selling is teeming with racist articles advocating the ways of the infamous Ku Klux Klan. What I found interesting about this particular incident is that Richard is ashamed once he discovers what the newspaper suggests. Why do you think this, rather than mere shock, is his reaction?
(146-148) Next, Richard acquires his first few jobs actually working for white people, and it is there that he truly experiences the hostility between races. At his first job in the world of whites, he is fed stale food by a woman who then insults his ego by declaring, "[y]ou'll never be a writer." Her reaction is unsurprisingly ridden with disgust. His reaction is once again an interesting one. Rather than being appalled or upset, Richard is simply angered by her assault on his ego. Perhaps this reaction, which is directed toward the less important issue at hand, was simply due to the innocence of young Richard. The voice of older Richard then comes in with insight, stating that he was "too naive to think that there were many white people like that." To young Richard, this was simply a small section of the much larger white population. At his second job, Richard once again experiences the hostility of the white race. Differing from his first job, however, is Richard's reaction. It now becomes one of understanding as he begins to "learn the reality--a Negro's reality--of the white world." Something I found interesting about this part was Richard's reaction to the constant cursing and tension between the white people. Why do you think this is so peculiar to Richard? What about this environment captivates his interest in this behavior among the whites to the point where he is "always conscious of it"?
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