The Ethics of Living Jim Crow, Richard Wright’s personal essay, powerfully illustrates the institutional racism and dehumanization African Americans endured in the divided South. Wright uses real stories to show how Black people’s lives were impacted by the harsh Jim Crow laws, which taught them how to survive in a society where standing out for their rights may lead to violence or even death.

Learning Racism as a Child

Wright opens the article by talking about growing up in a segregated area. He foolishly played with white kids when he was younger, which resulted in an incident when they brutally beat him. His mother chastised him for failing to recognize the socially enforced racial limits. Wright’s instruction in the “ethics” of surviving under Jim Crow laws began with this early encounter.

Workplace Humiliation and Subservience

Wright talks about a number of occupations he had as a young man when he endured ongoing dehumanization and degradation. He saw a white nightwatchman slap a black maid at one hotel employment, and when Wright ventured to protest, the man pulled a revolver on him. Wright learned from these experiences how crucial it is to project a sense of submission in order to prevent violence. In addition to being aggressive, the workplace was emotionally draining, necessitating ongoing attention to detail and the repression of individual pride.

At an optical factory, Wright encountered a different form of racism. While the physical violence was less overt, the subtler cruelty persisted. He learned to maintain a facade of compliance while secretly defying the system, such as borrowing books using a white coworker’s library card. This act of rebellion symbolized his determination to educate himself despite societal barriers.

Social and Cultural Restrictions

Wright draws attention to the long list of subjects that Black people were prohibited from discussing with white people, such as American politics, history, and the Civil War. The narrow range of permissible subjects, including sex and religion, maintained a shallow, unequal relationship and reinforced stereotypes. The ridiculous yet perilous customs that maintained racial hierarchies are shown by Wright’s stories of riding an elevator with white men and negotiating the expectation that he take off his hat.

Survival Through Subterfuge

Wright stresses the importance of deceit for survival throughout the article. Black people were forced to conceal their actual feelings and thoughts in order to seem to fit in with white society’s expectations. This dual role—seeming submissive while holding resistance—was a never-ending battle for Wright. Pretending to be submissive turned into a way to preserve his honor without getting hurt.

An intense description of the psychological and physical effects of institutional racism may be found in The Ethics of Living Jim Crow. Wright’s own experiences highlight the widespread brutality and dehumanization of Jim Crow society, as well as the tenacity and resourcefulness needed to survive it. In addition to being a critique of the social system, his story demonstrates the resilience of the human spirit in the face of injustice.

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