Presents essays that examine civil rights in "Native Son," including the cost of oppression, the search for black identity, and how racism has evolved in society today.

Background on Richard Wright. The life of Richard Wright / Edward D. Clark -- Life in the north / Hazel Rowley -- Native son and civil rights. A protest novel / James Baldwin -- The cost of oppression and submission / Irving Howe -- Black life no mere abstraction / Ralph Ellison -- Social critiques of native son anger Wright / Addison Gayle -- Losing self-control / Joseph T. Skerrett, Jr. -- The black male's search for identity in a racist society / Aimé J. Ellis -- Wright's solution to racism / Cynthia Tolentino -- No solidarity with the oppressed / Damon Marcel DeCoste -- Bigger's sense of superiority / Lale Demirtürk -- Bigger Thomas : radical revolutionary / Petar Ramadanovic -- Contemporary perspectives on civil rights. Racism continues in the south / Faye Fiore -- Race blindness / Samuel Terence -- Too many blacks imprisoned / Michael Eric Dyson -- Transracial adoptions still face hurdles / Rachel Uranga -- Defined by hip-hop / Keli Goff.