Comparison/contrast of Wright and Baca - Essay Example

Whereas different environmental factors both contributed to the way in which these authors approached an understanding of the importance of the written word, the realizations and motivations that guided them were both ultimately quite similar. Upon a cursory review, the reader may be led to assume that the American Latino influences that guided Baca were fundamentally different than the African-American and civil rights realities that defined William Wright’s development, the fact of the matter is that they are far less dissimilar than one might assume.

Furthermore, this analysis will also draw upon these two specific authors as a means of comparison and contrast in order to understand their unique mental and psychological states during the development that they describe in their respective stories. Firstly, with regards to Richard Wright, the reader comes to the realization that Wright underwent a process of psychological self actualization prior to ever delving in to the works of H.L. Mencken. This is evidenced to the reader due to the fact that Richard Wright notes that his level of interest with regards to philosophy, sociology, civil rights, and the realities of his era existed long before the fateful trip to the library.

As compared to Baca, Wright had a thirst for knowledge that was exhibited from the very start of the story due mainly to the fact that a strong level of inequality existed with regards to the way in which African-Americans were treated within the society in which lived (Yagelski 141). This clearly denotes a rather advanced level of psychological actualization. Although one can of course focus a broad level of comparison and contrast with regards to how Richard Wright had self actualized prior to Jimmy Santiago Baca, a level of comparison between the two obviously exists due to the fact that they both turned to the written word as a means of power and expression as a result of the repression and hardships they faced as minorities in a oppressive society that defined them based upon racial boundaries.

Comparatively, the psychology of Jimmy Santiago’s story of self-actualization references a long period of hardships that ultimately impress upon him the power that the written word has in helping to liberate and define and otherwise seemingly hopeless existence. Again, as compared to Richard writes, Jimmy Santiago Baca experiences the crushing psychological reality of being labeled a troublemaker and criminal from the earliest years of his life; due to no other factor that his Latino origin.

However, rather than appreciating the power and importance of the written word, Jimmy Santiago Baca begins to rebel against the system that is made it so very difficult for him to gain any leverage were understanding within society in which he lives. Although brief moments of interest engage him with regards to how he can better himself and seek to express himself via the written word, these do not become a reality until he finds himself in the most horrendous of circumstances. In such a way, the reader can clearly see that the differential that exists between Jimmy Santiago story and that of Richard Wright is fundamentally with regards to the level and timeframe in which he self actualized.

This differential in psychological view effects a situation