Author: Mustafa Mohammed Rashid Al-Nuaimi, Dr. Solomon Benny

Abstract: Richard Wright’s Native Son is a powerful indictment of the systemic racism that ravages countless lives in America. The novel explores not just the rampant racism of the time but also the complicated and psychologically damaging web that it weaves when coupled with the equally oppressive, and sometimes corrosive, forces of social class and gender. The continuous oppression and systemic discrimination against African Americans create a psychological toll that few can endure, as well as a constant state of survival that many abandon hope of ever escaping. Wright's protagonist, Bigger Thomas, illustrates the explosion that such a life can trigger in some individuals. Although the novel centers on Thomas, Wright's story is not just about one man. It tells the story of many black men and women who have suffered the same extreme effects of racism. The paper examines the destructive impact of racism on African Americans in terms of four primary themes: identity, violence, systemic oppression, and the interplay of race and gender.

Keywords: Racism, African Americans, oppression, violence, and stereotypes.

Article Info: Received: 03 Sep 2024; Received in revised form: 01 Oct 2024; Accepted: 08 Oct 2024; Available online: 15 Oct 2024

DOI: 10.22161/ijels.95.49