This research examines the themes of racism and loss of identity in Richard Wright's autobiographical work, Black Boy using Frantz Fanon's theories on colonialism and post-colonization as a lens. The study examines how Wright's experiences growing up in the racially segregated South underscore the impact of racism on individual and collective identities. Through Fanon's ideas, the analysis highlights how racism dehumanizes and marginalizes individuals, leading to alienation and internalized oppression. The research places Black Boy in the context of colonialism and racial hierarchy, focusing on how the protagonist internalizes racist ideologies. It explores Wright's struggle to develop a sense of self in a hostile environment where racism is pervasive. The study also looks at how education serves as resistance, challenging racism's structures and asserting agency. Additionally, it discusses the psychological toll of racism, as the protagonist confronts the white gaze and grapples with conforming versus asserting identity. The research also examines how race, and class intersect compounding the effects of discrimination on identity formation.
