Native Son
Type: Book
As of November 2026, Native Son has been mentioned in one podcast episode on This American Life (Feb 2026). In the episode "Kindness of Strangers" from This American Life, the show recommends Richard Wright's novel Native Son, highlighting its connection to the Mercury Theater production directed by Orson Welles and featuring Canada Lee. The discussion emphasizes the significance of the play in the context of its time and its impact on individuals like Jack Guyger.
Native Son (1940) is a novel written by the American author Richard Wright. It tells the story of 20-year-old Bigger Thomas, a black youth living in utter poverty in a poor area on Chicago's South Side in the 1930s. Thomas accidentally kills a white woman at a time when racism is at its peak and he pays the price for it.
| Mentioned in | 1 episode on 1 podcast (as of November 2026) |
|---|---|
| First heard | Feb 2026 on This American Life |
| Author | Richard Wright |
| Published | 1940 |
| Publisher | Perennial |
| Subjects | Drama, African American men, African americans |
| ISBN | 006083756X |
| Genre | Drama, African American men, African americans |
Who recommended Native Son?
Native Son came up; the most recent mention was Feb 2026 on This American Life.
What is Native Son mentioned alongside?
Recommended by: This American Life