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Who doesn’t love a bit of controversy, scandal, and the FBI?!?!

Around 1944, Richard Wright wrote an autobiography containing two parts: the first covers his childhood as a black boy growing up in the South (of the United States) and the second part covers his time in Chicago and his foray into Communism.

Book-of-the-Month (“BOTM��), yes that BOTM with those monthly blue subscription boxes, was interested in Wright’s book, but they only wanted the first part (about growing up in the South).

On July 1, 1944, the editor of BOTM, Dorothy Canfield Fisher asked Wright if he would consider making the ending a bit more hopeful to essentially make white people feel happy that some of their efforts towards racial equality were working. Totally cringy reading that in 2024. Keep in mind the US still had segregation of its troops at this time, and the “I Have a Dream�� speech would not occur until 1963. On July 6, Wright says no, explaining that hopeful isn’t how he feels. On July 12, Canfield Fisher writes, “You certainly are the best judge. Whatever you decide to do, I’ll accept without question.�� The next letter is July 20 from Wright stating that his book was accepted by BOTM.

Based on my reading of the correspondence, Wright initially rebuffed a hopeful ending. After giving it additional thought, he decided that he could rework the ending. Additionally, the original book does oscillate between hope and despair, and this edited ending would keep with that theme.

There is also additional controversy because this book was promoted as autobiography; however, after initial publication, it was discovered that some of these things did not happen to Richard Wright—some of them happened to other people or didn’t unfold the way Wright portrayed them.

So what is my take?

Part 1 of the book is definitely stronger; although, the narrative voice is a bit lacking. Most of Part 1 is based on short dialogue and action, jumping from one shocking plot device to the next without learning much of Richard’s thoughts and dreams. Additionally, a 300-page book is much easier to sell than a 550- page book.

As far as the ending is concerned, the BOTM ending is lackluster, and it feels tacked on at the end. It isn’t even written in the same style as the rest of the book—it is four pages of longer paragraphs with unremarkable internal musings, and Wright had every reason to dislike the ending.

Part 2 of the book is boring. It primarily focused on Wright’s attempts to join and promote the Communist party. But, let’s face it, politics are usually boring, and this part of the book was repetitive. Moreover, if you look at books that brought about great social change such as Oliver Twist which dealt with impoverished children, Dickens merely shined a light on the problem; he didn’t go into specifics about how to solve it. But Oliver Twist moved the country to enact child labor laws.

By throwing in something ultra controversial, Communism would have been the talking point, overshadowing all of Wright’s other topics.

Plus��..um��.the CIA and FBI were keeping tabs on Richard Wright since 1943. McCarthyism was occurring right at this time in US history where anyone even suspected of Communist sympathies could be rounded up.

If you are interested in viewing Wright’s FBI file:

This book was read as part of Yale’s The American Novel Since 1945. If you would like to join in on the discussion, there is still time to take part in the group!

How much I spent:
1945 BOTM Hardcover Text - $12 on eBay
1993 Black Boy The Restored Text Softcover - $5.25 on Amazon
Audiobook �� Free with paid Everand subscription $84.99 annually

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