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.’’

On this radio broadcast, Jason Williams of Purdue University’s Society of Innovators will discuss the novel, focusing on its protagonist, Bigger Thomas, and how to approach (and help) the Bigger Thomases of today.

The program will air on WLTH 1370 AM/92.7 FM at 12 p.m. Central Daylight Time.

For more information, email theatreofpurpose@gmail.com.

This program received funding from an Indiana Humanities INcommon Grant.