.
The social difference between African Americans and Caucasian society is quite evident in the book. Richard is continuously beaten both bodily and emotionally by white people who feel a sense of superiority being they are White and feel they have the born right to this black boy like nobody. The Novel gives a vivid depiction of this harsh treatment. Wright receives a job working at an optical shop in Jackson, and he is excited to learn all about the craft, there are two white men who are working there and refuse to teach him the craft. They harass Wright into hopes for him to leave the job by threatening him with physical violence and trying to break his pride of being an African American ˜Nigger you think you'll ever amount to anything? If I was a nigger, I'd kill myself.'' The two men torture Richard for their own personal enjoyment until they take it too far and almost kill him after that he quickly leaves the job. Ironically Wright meets he meets the first white man who has ever shown an ounce of a heart. This man is Mr.Crane, the owner of the optical shop. Mr.Crane cares deeply for Richard and his struggle, he is able to see Richard as a person unlike most. Richard realizes that there are people specifically white people who do not make colored people out to be an abomination. He himself doesn't see the difference between white people and black people and doesn't change the way he acts around either .
When Richard is very young, the reader can already tell that he is unlike the majority of the other Black boys of his time. He is passionate and yearns to read and write. He is hungry for knowledge and making the world a better place. Wright is never fully accepted even amongst his own people. When he is around other black boys they seem to be in confusion of Wright and he feels the same way towards them. Richard never settles to be normal. When Richard becomes associated with a group of communists, he decides to rebel against them even though he is alone and he knows that they will try and fight him.