Big Black Good Man by Richard Wright - Essay Example

Individuals unknowingly participate in racism and they are blurred by their own unconscious misunderstandings and fears. Racism is shown indicated by Olaf; when Olaf sees Jim for the first time, his life turns upside down. Hatred and fear for Jim became a normal thing for Olaf with each passing day. Olaf urges Lena to have no association with Jim but Lena views Jim like any other man who has manly needs (Lena is poor and works as a prostitute to take care of her four children). Olaf’s idea of a black man is very different and in his eyes, he sees Jim, as a black man who is too loud, too violent, too big, and too black.

He describes Jim in a dehumanizing manner and he has never used his name or even called him by his name (Jenkins 1).Fear has made Olaf respond to Jim in a different manner that is not expected. When he sees Jim for the first, his life turns upside-down and his inner fears overwhelm him. Fear makes him admit that he has never served such a black man before. With each new day, hatred and fear become evident in his thoughts. His fears make him describe Jim in very dehumanizing ways. He describes him as “too big, too loud, and probably too violent” (Jenkins 1).

Love changes the perception of Lena towards Jim; she even stops prostitution. Despite the urges from Olaf not to associate with Jim, Lena thinks of Jim just like another man who has his own manly needs. Lena does not fear Jim and she comes back each night as requested by Jim (Jenkins 1). Lena’s respect or love grows each day and she stops prostitution and makes contact with him. Thus, some kind of romantic connection existed between her and Jim because she gave up her source of income to live with Jim (Jenkins 2).

He views Jim as any other man who has his own manly needs. This perception leads to love between Jim and Lena and she eventually gives up her source of income in order to live with Jim.