A Visit to the Library

        Richard Wright's personal essay, "A Visit to the Library", (1945), chronicles a period in his life when reading opened up a whole new world to him, and gave him a new perspective as to how he would proceed with his life.  He develops this assertion by recounting the story of how he used a white coworkers library card to gain access to books, the new found knowledge gained from his reading changes him in ways he did not know was possible.  The revelation he obtains gives him purpose to move beyond the constricted parameters that the society of the times had dictated for his life.  Considering the time it was written, this piece could be a clarion call to other blacks to understand that your existence does not have to be limited by what others think of you.

     We found this essay to be very compelling, in that it resonated on a personal level, being an African American.  To think there existed a time when the act of reading a book could be viewed as threatening, when we think about it today, segregation seems so far off.  The author's story of determination and perseverance is inspiring.  I think we take so much for granted these days, these types of essays are reminders of the sacrifices that have been made by others to ensure that I and my children's children are able to enjoy all the privileges of being an American citizen.

     Richard Wright's essay gives us a peak at what life was life for the average black citizen in the 1940's.  He describes the inequities that played out in everyday life that when you read it today you wonder how people could have tolerated such treatment.  He points out how he gained new insight with each book, and how it caused him to look at people differently, " My first serious novel was Sinclair Lewis's Main Street.  It made me see my boss, Mr. Gerald, and identify him as an American type."(132)  It also change the way he looked at himself, "My reading had created a vast sense of distance between me and the world in which I lived and tried to make a living, and that sense of distance was increasing each day."(133)  He understands that knowledge is power, and chooses to live life on his own terms outside of the confines of his surroundings.