Racial Problem in the Works of Richard Wright and James Baldwin

Jean-Francois Gounard's examination of the writings of Richard Wright and James Baldwin achieves a balance between the fiery Wright and the placid Baldwin. Gounard's two studies convincingly prove a complementary relationship between the works of these two American writers. Both reflect the profound desire of black Americans to be recognized as first class citizens: Wright aroused white America's conscience, Baldwin made that conscience experience guilt. According to Gounard, this complementary relationship, and their leading roles in American race relations, make their work seminal. Understanding the evolution of Wright's and Baldwin's ideas is essential to understanding the evolution of the American race problem. This analytical study covers both the literary works and the political and philosophical essays of these two men. It is a valuable study for courses in Afro-American studies and African literature.

American society has not yet given definitive, hopeful, answers to the questions raised by this study. Gounard relies on biographical elements and textual analysis to retrace meticulously the careers of these two writers who deeply influenced their era. This study stresses the evolution of their ideas in their essays, articles, and interviews. Emphasis is also placed on how those ideas were applied in their novels, short stories, plays, and poems. Gounard also introduces the points of view of various critics. This in-depth study follows a chronological path covering a thirty year period (1940-1970), concluding with a comprehensive bibliography of the two authors' works--a most valuable resource tool.

JEAN-FRANCOIS GOUNARD is Director of International Student Affairs and Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at the State University College at Buffalo. Dr. Gounard specializes in Afro-American literature and Francophone African literature. He has also co-edited Commentaries on a Creative Encounter: Proceedings of a Conference on the Culture and Literature of Francophone Africa. His most recent article was entitled Developing a Course on the Literary Figures of the Francophone African World.

JOSEPH J. RODGERS, JR., is Chairman of the Languages, Linguistics, and Humanities Division, Professor of Romance Languages, and Director of the Critical Languages Center at Lincoln University, Pennsylvania. He is also President of the American University of Uzes, Uzes, France. Currently, he is working on a methodology textbook entitled Demystifying French Grammar and another called Fear Not the Spanish Subjunctive. His previous volumes include Afrique: Face a la Modernisation and a critical edition of Chateaubriand's Essay on English Literature.