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Power in Black Boy - Coggle Diagram
Power in Black Boy
WHITE PEOPLE
In the beginning of the book, Richard is innocent to the harsh realities of the world. It takes him quite a bit of time to realize the difference in how white people and black people were treated. After he learned these things, his growing disdain for white people grew. He didn't know many white people but the idea of them, and the concept of them is what he disapproved of. To him, white people are always full, and wealthy.
ALCOHOL
For some time, Richard was controlled by alcohol. He desperately craved it and felt the need for more and more.
THE STREET GANG
Ella told Richard that he had to defend himself from the street gang and bring home the groceries or else he would not be let back in to the house. So he was given a stick. Richard went and asserted his power by beating up the kids. They did not come back to bother him again.
MONEY
Money problems keep Richard away from truly being content. If they had a lot of money many of their problems would be fixed.
NATHAN WRIGHT
Nathan had control over Richard. Richard had to obey his father and do what he asked. He provoked different emotions. His power one Richard is what made him so eager to disobey him. This was proven when Richard killed a cat just to spite him.
RELIGION
Religion has somewhat of a hold over Richard in Black Boy. It takes up quite a bit of his life. His entanglement with his families religion is why he was baptized and sent to his Aunt Addies school for a while. He did not want to do either of these things, but he was forced to. Religion is something Richard tried very hard to escape from when he was young.
LITERATURE
Literature got Richard into a lot of trouble. He was always a very curious person. Richard always wanted to know things. He wanted to learn how to read and he wanted to learn numbers. He was always looking for something new to learn and when he found books, they consumed him. He wanted to read everything even though it got him in trouble with his granny. His granny thought they were sinful but he did not care. That is how much power literature had on him. Richard could not get away from these books.
HUNGER
Hunger is huge in Black Boy. Hunger has such a control over Richard that it consumes his thoughts. Controls his life and controls his actions. Hunger is prominent in much of Richards life and it is something he will always know the feeling of. The element of hunger is related to the book because that is the foundation of which Richard life is built on. Almost nothing was constant in his life but hunger was always there.
RACE
Race is big in Black Boy. Richard realizes that because he black and will not get the same luxuries as the white people. His race has a hold over how he can live his life. He has experienced racism quite a bit. Especially seeing black people killed by white people.
FAMILY
Family is something that has power over Richard. He has to restrict himself due to his family. He can not truly be himself due to family.
VIOLENCE
Violence has power over Richard because there is a lot of violence in his life. He gets hit by his parents. He has to resort to violence in order to get power over the street gang. He has to defend himself with a knife against his own family. Everywhere he looked there was some form of violence against him.