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Richard Wright
Wright’s mother works hard to support Richard and his brother from a young age, but after her husband leaves the family, she must take on additional work in the kitchens of white families. Wright’s mother later succumbs to a series of strokes and is ill for much of Wright’s young life. At the end of the memoir, however, Wright’s mother has built up enough strength to be able to move North, to Chicago, with Wright, his brother, and Aunt Maggie.
Wright’s mother Quotes in Black Boy
The Black Boy quotes below are all either spoken by Wright’s mother or refer to Wright’s mother. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 2
Quotes
Mama, is Granny white?
If you’ve got eyes, you can see what color she is.
I mean, do the white folks think she’s white?
Why don’t you ask the white folks that?
But you know.
Why should I know? I’m not white.
Granny looks white. Then why is she living with us colored folks?
Don’t you want Granny to live with us?
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Why are there so many black men wearing stripes?
It’s because . . . Well, they’re harder on black people.
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Chapter 7
Quotes
Son, you ought to be more serious. You’re growing up now and you won’t be able to get jobs if you let people think that you’re weak-minded. Suppose the superintendent of schools would ask you to teach here in Jackson, and he found out that you had been writing stories?
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Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Black Boy LitChart as a printable PDF.
Wright’s mother Quotes in Black Boy
The Black Boy quotes below are all either spoken by Wright’s mother or refer to Wright’s mother. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 2
Quotes
Mama, is Granny white?
If you’ve got eyes, you can see what color she is.
I mean, do the white folks think she’s white?
Why don’t you ask the white folks that?
But you know.
Why should I know? I’m not white.
Granny looks white. Then why is she living with us colored folks?
Don’t you want Granny to live with us?
Related Characters:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Why are there so many black men wearing stripes?
It’s because . . . Well, they’re harder on black people.
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 7
Quotes
Son, you ought to be more serious. You’re growing up now and you won’t be able to get jobs if you let people think that you’re weak-minded. Suppose the superintendent of schools would ask you to teach here in Jackson, and he found out that you had been writing stories?
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
