Richard Wright’s autobiography, Black Boy, is more than a story of a struggling African-American. It is a story of a little boy growing up determined to create his own destiny. As Wright grows up, realizes that he is and always will be hungry. He is not only hungry for food, but also for compassion, acceptance, and an understanding of the society in which he lives. As he grows and matures he will develop an unappeasable appetite for knowledge. Wright’s hunger is first seen within his own family. They were never able to provide anything a regular family should like boundaries, parental guidance, and attention. His struggles doubled when he was with his Aunt Addie. She was not only his Aunt but also his schoolteacher. She was especially tough on Richard. She once accused him of leaving peanut shells all over the floor in school. She punished him at school then tries a second time to punish him at home, but this time because he told her that he didn’t do it but refused to tell her who did. “I was conscious that she had descended to my emotional level in order to rule me, but my respect for her sank”. All in all, Richard’s feelings toward his Aunt are only a reflection of how he feels towards his whole family. This is especially seen when his whole family tries to “save” his soul. "The entire family became kind and forgiving, but I knew the motives that prompted their change and it drove me an even greater emotional distance from them."
