The legacy of Richard Wright is little known. Born of personal experience, his works threw a harsh light on the continued struggles of African Americans in the first half of the twentieth century. Almost completely self-educated, he was a writer, thinker, and activist whose passion for the plight of his people never waned. His works continue to influence young minds to this day.
The stories in this collection are linked by Wright and his life, sometimes directly, sometimes only in passing. They are tales of the ongoing struggle, and Wright's existence in one way or another touches modern lives in ways they may not even recognise.
From a group escaping the ravages of Hurricane Katrina to an ordinary man trying to win the heart of a woman, Richard Wright has a bearing on every life described in these pages.