Hungry for Attention

This has to do with the book Black Boy by Richard Wright. This story is about how he grew up and when he was young it is evident that he wasn't happy. He not only was left by his father, poor, and hungry, but he craved attention that he could not get from his mother because of her constant working. He then got her attention by getting into trouble or doing good things. Something that is not normal for a child to do. It seems that most of the time people will get attention through negativity or through positivity. Not usually both.

This part of Richard's personality shows that he is trying to do as much as he can to get any sort of attention from his mother. (He no longer tries to get attention from his father because he no longer wants to deal with him.) What else is shown in the story this far is that Richard is not the only one in this situation. From his description we can infer that many other kids are doing the same. They are doing things so there parents will pay attention to them.

However, the only real way they could ever get enough attention would be if their parents had more money. The only way their parents will make more money is if they have equal rights and pay as the people around them. This is indirect way that racism played a part in his life in his young age. However, it seems that he thirsted for attention even before he was affected by the racism when he started the fire in his house to get some of the attention away from his grandmother. Cruel, but most kids at four do not quite know their morals and cannot see the consequences of their actions as well.

While Richard's quest for attention continues, we can only read to find out where it takes him.