Summary of Blueprint for Negro Literature (1-3) PDF

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Vu Nguyen WR121 John Williams

Summary of Blueprint for Negro Literature In the first three segments of “Blueprint for Negro Literature”, Richard Wright discusses the influence of African American writings to the world and to the fate of African Americans themselves. At the start, Wright points out that African American workers were displaying “a greater freedom and initiative in pushing their claims upon civilization than even the petty bourgeoisie”. (1,2). Therefore, Wright immediately compares them, African American workers, to African American writers. Wright sees that African American workers were much more efficient and clear in showing their consciousness and mobility toward controversial issues, racism perhaps. Meanwhile, the African American writers were probably suppressed by the government ruled by the white people. Thus, they stay silent despite their race were fighting hard out there. Wright mentions some scandalous events to prompt African American writers about their true purposes of writing. Wright then uses the term “hiatus” to describe the unintegrated collaboration between the African American writers and the African American workers. Richard Wright continues to define the two major sources that help African Americans define themselves in this society. It was through “the [African American] church and the fluid folklore of the [African American] people” (7). Only when living as a Christian were African Americans be able to feel the Western culture. And to help strengthen the African American community, they use folklore to tell stories, tales about their ascendants and all the sufferings they had been through. Wright illustrates folklore as a stream which the racial wisdom flowed through and folklore created the channels for the streams. Since the white people quench the African Americans’

desire to be recognized among the society full of racism, the culture of African Americans didn’t flourish. Thus, their culture didn’t exist in many forms. The only thing that “embodies the memories and hopes of [their] struggles” is folklore. And like Wright states, “the [African Americans’] most powerful images of hope and longing for freedom still remain the in the fluid state of living speech” (7). It is true that speeches have a lot of impact on people. They are alluring, each emphasis, if expressed in the right way, will strike one right into his heart and leave a long-lasting mark. African Americans’ writings were the only thing that stood out of the overall-suppressed African Americans’ communities. They were “the most powerful weapon” that when they started, people would realize the meaning of suffering and they would feel it and, eventually, fight against it. In conclusion, Richard Wright asks for a favor from African Americans writers of the future: to feel people’s souls and forge in them the “uncreated conscience of our race” (8)....