rce of unused brainpower waswomen” (Friedan 17).But it was not the culture of the society thatholds people back, it is also yourself if you as aperson can not fight back and educate yourselfagainst what society thinks is right, you failyourself. Knowledge is power and those who do nothave the spirit to gain that knowledge will falldeep within the cracks and will not be able tosurvive. But Richard Wright fights to fulfill hishunger of education that is denied to him. Theroles of the African Americans are mapped out forthem, making them follow to the set aspirationssociety has for them. Just as society does for thewomen in Friedan’s novel were to aspire to be ahousewife.Overall, Friedan and Wright though coming from twodifferent times and places both focus on oppression of themind. The oppression that brings this world against oneanother is destroying each person. With education beingtold as being for the “white man” only and our rolesoutlined by society, we try not to go against them. But weshould not let our culture hold us back if we feel a void bynot achieving what we as a person and equal in this worldwant....
