Big Boy Leaves Home

The violent plot of “Big Boy Leaves Home” demonstrates how racist views dehumanize both those who hold them and those who are subject to them.

Racism is perpetuated by assuming that cultural others are less evolved and lack the qualities of independent thought and fellow feeling that supposedly define what makes us human. Indeed, the white people in the story seem to think that the Black characters are less than human. Old Man Harvey believes that it’s acceptable to shoot at any Black person trespassing on his property. Bertha automatically assumes that the boys will hurt her and makes no attempt to speak with them or correct her deadly misunderstanding. Jim kills two of them without even questioning what is going on. While Black lives are disposable, Big Boy killing Jim in self-defense is considered beyond the pale. Members of the white mob refer to Black people as if they’re a homogenous group without independent identities. They are spoken about as another species that should be exterminated: “Gawddam them sonofabitchin n-----!’ / ‘We oughta kill ever black bastard in this country!” (52).

The characterization of white people in the story demonstrates how racist sentiments and actions undermine humanity.