Black Boy 13th Response

I agree with Richard's theory about artists and politicians standing on opposite poles. The artists are doing their work based on the fact that they are individuals, they try to make sure that they are never lumped up together with anyone else. While the politicians focus on groups coming together to accomplish goals. Each have their own opinions, but also have similar agendas. The artists and politicians are trying to make themselves more influential. Artists trying to make individuals more unique, and politicians trying to get as many people under their belief as possible.

Black Boy 12th Response

I believe that in some circumstances, that a single voice can move a crowd to action. Richard, even though he couldn't believe it, became the president of the John Reed Club. He really didn't even think that he would make any difference, but after seeing what happened during the election, he started to notice that sometimes, even if the leader is wrong for the way he is leading, it can be done.

Black Boy 11th Response

During the election, I believe that Richard went an extremely juvenile route. He wrote on the vote, "I protest this Fraud!" It startled me because I didn't think he would believe that would make any impact at all. But when you look at it from another point of view, I completely agree with his actions. He showed that there was one person who wasn't going to fall for your scheme.

Black Boy Tenth Response

(The fact of the separation of white and black was clear to me; it was its effect upon the personalities of people that stumped and dismayed me. I did not feel I was a threat to anybody; yet, as soon as I had grown old enough to think I had learned that my entire personality, my aspirations had long ago been discounted; that, in a measure, the very meaning of the words I spoke could not be fully understood.)

This passage that I chose speaks to me in a way that truly expresses the way many people felt at the time. Richard speaks that because of his color, no one even cares about his opinion. Richard is an extremely intelligent person and because he was black, none of that mattered. He could not even convey the thoughts he had in his mind because none cared to just look beyond his outward appearance. That is what I believe this passage means.

Black Boy Ninth Response

The last paragraph of chapter 14 ended on a very different tone. It ended with Richard realizing the terrible things that he was about to get away from, the sheer terror that Richard felt was completely understandable, when someone tells you,
"I'll never leave this goddamn south, I'm always saying I am, but I won't... I'm lazy. I like to sleep too goddamn much. I'll die here. Or maybe they'll kill me."
what else would you think but, "Kill you!?!" But the terror is something that Richard has lived with his whole life, and now he is finally about to escape it. Before he goes, he takes a look at what would of happened if he stayed, and that terror he felt at that moment was more horrifying then anything he had ever experienced.

Black Boy Eighth Response

Subservience, the literal meaning is complete obedience to someone else. I believe that subservience is necessary in life, but not all the time. Being obedient is not something to be ashamed of, but sometimes when you just can't agree with something, you fight for your beliefs. The same goes for Richard. Richard needs to be subservient to gain money to get to the north, but he also is a pretty independent person who holds his beliefs over everything else. With his attitude he has what you could call the perfect balance of one's beliefs and subservience.

Black Boy Seventh Response

The meaning behind, "Learn to live in the south", Is Richard is having a hard time adapting to his new way of life. Richard has always had it tough, but now in the south, he has to learn everything all over again. that is what the quote means.

Black Boy Sixth response

When Richard was about to graduate, he found out he was the Valedictorian of his class, and that he was told to give a speech. But the principle tells him to read the speech he made for Richard because white people will be attending the ceremony, and if Richard says his speech that he will bee held back. So Richard, ever plagued by people telling him what not to do, says his own speech. Richard had all the justification to his own speech because he worked so hard and had been through so much that he had to say his own speech.

Black Boy Fifth Response

Richard and Uncle Tom have never really got along since the day they met each other, and finally Tom goes off the edge. When Tom asked Richard what time it was, and Richard gave him the time. But Tom thought Richard was lying, so he told Richard to tell him the real time, so Richard checked again and said, "The time was close enough." And Tim gets extremely belligerent telling Richard that he would give him the , "Whipping of his life!" That is why Richard is so angry at Uncle Tom.

Black Boy Fourth Response

The reason why Richard feels gratified after sharing his writing, is all because he has never felt someone acknowledging him before. Richard has always loved knowledge, but has never been praised for his intelligence, so when his writing is exclaimed by his neighbor, he feels so happy that he can't hold it all in. With the gratification of his life actually meaning something, Richard knows that there is something more that he can do with his life.