Black History at Home and Abroad: 13 Leaders Whose Impact Went Global

RICHARD WRIGHT

An author of sometimes controversial novels, short stories, poems, and non-fiction, much of his literature tells prolific and groundbreaking stories on the African American experience during the late 19th to mid-20th centuries. His work is credited with changing the narrative of race relations in the United States in the mid-20th century, and he’s most known for penning Native Son, and Black Boy, which became an instant best-seller upon its publication in 1945. He was one of the key figures in the Harlem Renaissance.

The 1941 recipient of the esteemed Spigarn Medal, Wright moved to Paris in 1946, and became a permanent American expatriate. Today, his works are included in academic curriculums, exploring themes of black literature, racism, and social perspectives.