Black Boy Characters

Richard Wright (Dick)

Now, we over here at Shmoop are pretty peaceful people. We get our yoga on, we meditate, and in...

Mrs. Wright (Ella Wilson Wright)

Since Richard doesn’t spend a lot of time focusing on anyone but himself, let’s get...

Mr. Wright (Nathaniel Wright)

Check out this first description of Richard’s dad: He was the lawgiver in our family and I...

"Granny" Wilson

This isn’t your standard cookie-baking, nursery-rhyme reciting, warm-hug giving grandma....

Grandpa Wilson (Papa, Richard Wilson)

If you think Granny is bad, wait until you see the prize she married. Grandpa ran away from...

Ella

All we know about Ella is that she’s a "remote and dreamy" schoolteacher who likes books...

Richard's Aunts and Uncles

There are a lot of them. Eight, to be exact. Don’t worry, though, because you really only...

The Communists

Ah, the Communists. These guys are Lenin fan boys. They walk, talk, dress, and act just like Dear...

Griggs

Griggs is the only "friend" that we ever see with Richard. He’s also the only person who...

Mrs. Moss and Bess Moss

At first, meeting Mrs. Moss is like sunshine on a cloudy day. She’s nice, funny, and even...

Mr. Olin and Harrison

Mr. Olin and Harrison are the two people involved with Richard’s unintentional Fight Club...

White People Who Are Nice to Richard

Mr. Falk, the Hoffmans, and Mr. Crane. That’s it. In the whole book there are exactly four...