Wright powerfully conveys the profound feeling of alienation and systemic rejection experienced by Black Americans. It means he felt denied his rightful place and belonging in the very nation of his birth due to the pervasive and dehumanizing forces of racial prejudice and injustice.
Quote by Richard Wright: “I was born disinherited... my country did not want me.”
I was born disinherited... my country did not want me.
Insight
Historical Context
This raw confession from his autobiography details his agonizing experiences growing up Black in the Jim Crow South, illustrating the deep psychological wounds inflicted by racial discrimination.
About the Author
American novelist and critic whose 1940 novel Native Son and 1945 autobiography Black Boy brought the brutality of American racism into stark focus for mainstream readers. Wright was one of the first African American authors to achieve widespread commercial and critical success in the United States.
View all quotes by Richard Wright