Big Black Good Man Essay

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Big Black Good Man The idea of racism and prejudice has seemingly always been apart of society. Whether it were to be as bad as a full out segregation of schools or just underlying thoughts. In the short story “Big Black Good Man” by Richard Wright. The narrator has a limited omniscient point of view. This gives us great insight into what the main character Olaf Jenson is thinking about the other character Jim throughout the story. Richard Wright did a great job of giving us a look into what was then and may still be today, an example of the average racist. The short story “Big Black Good Man” by Richard Wright, begins with the main character Olaf Jenson sitting at his desk in a hotel in Copenhagen, Denmark. In the beginning …show more content…
In his mind it just was not fathomable. “He was being a fool; there was no doubt about it. But, try as he might, he could not shake off a primitive hate for that black mountain of energy.” Throughout the short story it becomes more apparent that Olaf is racist. While he may not be a full blown out racist at this point of the story. It is obvious that Olaf does not like the fact that he had to give Jim a room. Olaf feels frightened and insulted solely because Jim does not fit into a category that Olaf see’s as acceptable. This is exactly how many people today who are racist may react to someone who they see as unfitting to society. Jim stayed at the waterfront hotel in Copenhagen for the entire six days, requesting the same thing each day. All he wanted was a bottle of whiskey and Lena, every night. By the sixth night Jim came into the office and asked Olaf what he owed him and told him that he needed his money. “Sure,” Olaf said, relieved, but filled as always with fear of this living wall of black flesh.” (187) Jim went to finally leave and Olaf was very relieved that he was going to be on his way and out of his sight and mind. But something stopped Jim as he was leaving. He turned around and approached Olaf and commanded him to stand up. Olaf scared that he was going to be killed by this man did as he said and stood up. Jim then put his hands around Olaf’s neck. Jim then smiled and gave a chuckle. “Please don’t hurt me,” Olaf managed to say.” “I wouldn’t hurt
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