RACISM AND OPPRESSION IN BLACK AMERICAN

LITERATURE: AN EXAMPLE OF RICHARD WRIGHTS

BLACK BOY

ARIJE YETUNDE UMULKHULSUM

07/15CD056

AN ESSAY SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE BACHELOR OF
ARTS DEGREE IN ENGLISH

TO

THE DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH, FACULTY OF ARTS,

UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN, ILORIN

MAY, 2011

DEDICATION
This essay is dedicated to Almighty Allah, my creator and provider who
has been my ever present pillar of strength. I also dedicate it to my
parents of inestimable value, Alhaji and Alhaja Arije. May Almighty Allah
bless you continuously in all your endeavours.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I have every reason to give thanks to Almighty Allah for his love,
guidance, protection, through out my four years in Better by Far (Unilorin).
I am specially greatful to my able, dynamic, motherly supervisor, Dr. Mrs. B.F
Ibrahim for her constructive efforts, encouragement and contribution to the
realization of this essay. May Almighty Allah continue to reward you bountifully.

To my wonderful ever dynamic parents, Alhaji and Alhaja Arije, you are the
best. I could not have wished for better parents. Thanks for your support,
morally and financially. I pray you live long to reap the fruit of your labour.
I also want to acknowledge the inestimable love and efforts of my siblings,
Kikelomo Ajibowo and her husband, Wasiu Ajibowo, Jumoke Ajiboye and her
husband, Segun Ajiboye, Dr. Lateefat Arije, Temitope Laaro and her husband,
Taiwo Laaro, Yomi Arije and Garfar Arije. You are worth more than silver or
gold. Thanks for your support morally and financially. And also to my three little
nieces (my tweenies) Iman, Kehara and Faiza. I will forever love you.

Also worthy of commendation is the love and support of my aunties,

uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews. To them, I want to say a big thank you.
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I also want to acknowledge the love and support of my friends, Tomi,

Kola, Yemi, Bukky, Ilerioluwa, Shukurah, Biola, Susan, Feyi, Toyosi,
Wura, Lynda, Kafilat, Zeenat, Khalid, Lere, Wale and Omololu. I love u all.
To the happening babes and guys of English Department, 2011 set, I will
forever miss you guys. I love you.

rd Wrights The Black Boy USA. Ck.hilegass.

Clark, J.P (1964). America their America. London: Heinemann Educational
Books Ltd.
Donald, B.G ed (1973) Modern Black Poets A Collection of critical
essays; London Spectrum Book
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Douglass, F. (1982). Narrative of the life of Fredrick Douglass. An American

Slave. New York: Penguin.
Eckman, F.M. (1960). The Furious Passage of Baldwin. London: Longman Press.

Ellison R. (1953) Richard Wrights Blues Antioch Review Anthology, ed;

Paul Bixler: New York: Word Publishing Company Ltd.
HHP://Wikipedia.org.Racism on 29th November 2009.
HHP://Wikipedia.org.Wright: Life and Background on 29th November 2009.

Lengos, L. (1961). Home and Exile and other selections. London and New
York: Longman Publishing Company.
Lewis, N (1965) Home and Exile and other Selection; London and New
York; Longman Publishing Company.
Rhode, J. (1893). History of United States from the compromise of 1850 to
the Final Restoration of Home Rule at the South in 1877. New York:
Macmillian Press.

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