Native Son (1940)
"Native Son" is a novel by Richard Wright, published in 1940. It tells the story of Bigger Thomas, a young African American man living in poverty in Chicago during the 1930s. After taking a job as a chauffeur for a wealthy white family, Bigger becomes embroiled in a series of events that lead to tragedy. The novel explores themes of racism, oppression, and the consequences of societal marginalization, and it was a groundbreaking work that helped to define the genre of African American literature. It has received widespread praise for its portrayal of Bigger's inner turmoil and its portrayal of the harsh realities of life for black Americans at the time.