Black Boy Traits Essay Example

depended on strangers for sustenance" (97). From a young age, Richard faced challenging circumstances and had to become self-reliant in order to survive. With his mother being disabled, he had no option but to work and provide for himself without any guidance or approval.

Richard had the confidence and self-belief to pursue anything, disregarding others' opinions, in his quest for what he considered justifiable. Being in a segregated environment, Richard's worth and value were assessed by others solely on his appearance. In this society, blacks were considered inferior while whites were seen as superior. What motivated Richard to dissociate himself from this unjust system was his determination to live life according to his own principles. "Since I lacked the ability to bring about change in the external world, I took action within myself."

Richard's environment was initially barren and bleak, but he saw unlimited potentialities within it and yearned for something greater (83). He recognized the suffering and struggles of his surroundings, but also understood that there was another way to live life. He believed that if a miracle ever occurred, it would prove that hope could emerge from even the darkest of situations in the southern swamp of despair and violence (284). While slavery may be a thing of the past, racism and oppression persist. Richard had few relationships within the black community and lacked their support because they believed he would conform to societal norms. Instead, he forged his own path towards success by relying on hope to combat oppression. His strong work ethic and ambitious goals fueled the realization of his dreams.