Although Dave (LeVar Burton) and his family are poor sharecroppers in the Deep South in the 1930s, this 15-year-old's problem is shared by teenagers in every era: he stands with one foot in adulthood and the other in childhood. "Almos' a man" yet still treated like a child, Dave struggles for an identity - and there's one thing, one symbol of manhood, he thinks, that could guarantee him instant respect: a gun. Dave finds a way to buy a pistol, and...

Biography of the author of "Native Son," that interprets Wright's triumphs and tragedies as a man and writer.

"Born in rural Mississippi, the grandson of slaves, Richard Wright overcame daunting obstacles to achieve literary recognition as the creator of some of America's most powerful black literature. Wright's works changed the cultural landscape by challenging old stereotypes and myths about race. This critical volume helps students appreciate the literary significance of such groundbreaking works as Native Son and the autobiographical Black Boy. It serves...