Wright sharply points out the patriarchal and human-made nature of societal structures. He implies that our laws and governmental systems are not natural or immutable, but are deliberately constructed by human beings, which means they can be challenged and fundamentally changed.
Quote by Richard Wright: “The world in which we live is a world whose laws and government are made by men.”
The world in which we live is a world whose laws and government are made by men.
Insight
Historical Context
From his documentary text, this quote offers a profound critique of existing power structures that maintained racial and economic inequality during a period of intense social struggle and impending global conflict.
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