Native Son 80 Years Later

Event Details

Richard Wright’s Native Son was an immediate best-seller, selling 250,000 hardcover copies within three weeks of its publication by the Book-of-the-Month Club in March 1940. One of the earliest successful attempts to explain the racial divide in America, Native Son established Wright as a spokesperson for African American issues and the ‘‘father of Black American literature.” As Irving Howe said, “The day Native Son appeared, American culture was changed forever.’’

In this program, McKenya Dilworth, Gary educator and director of the Morning Bishop Theatre Playhouse, will lead a discussion of the book, focusing on themes such as the oppressive nature of racism on both the oppressed and oppressor, the psychology of poverty and the concept of justice in both theory and practice.

The program is scheduled for the Nelson Algren Sound Stage at 616 S. Lake St. in Gary, but in the event of inclement weather, it will move to the Nelson Algren Museum of Miller Beach at 540 S. Lake St., Gary.

Note that the program begins at 4 p.m. Central Daylight Time.

Masks are required for entry.

Limited copies of Native Son  will be available for purchase.

For more information, visit www.nelsonalgrenmuseumofmillerbeach.com, email suerutsen@gmail.com or call 773.914.2574.

This program received funding from an INcommon Grant.