Native Son 1951

Set during the tumultuous early 1940s in Chicago’s “black belt,” a region deeply populated by nearly half a million African Americans, we meet Hannah Thomas (Willa Pearl Curtis), a resilient mother living in a cramped kitchenette alongside her three children: Vera, Buddy, and her eldest son, Bigger (Richard Wright). The family, having fled the South a dozen years prior due to the horrific lynching of Hannah’s husband, struggles to make a living amidst societal upheaval. One day, as they go about their lives, a rat scurries across the floor, aptly named “old man Dalton” after their landlord—Bigger, in a moment of frustration, kills the pest.

In a surprising twist of fate, a relief worker approaches Bigger with a job offer as a chauffeur for the wealthy Dalton family. Though initially hesitant, he seeks out his girlfriend, Bessie Mears (Gloria Madison), a waitress with dreams of performing at a local club. Bessie is elated at the prospect of being given a chance to sing soon, but Bigger’s worries manifest when he warns Ernie, the club owner, to steer clear of Bessie. However, a planned robbery goes awry when Ernie interrupts, leaving Bigger on edge.

With plans fortunate for him falling apart, Bigger finds solace in a late-night movie alongside his friend Panama (George D. Green). Eventually, he resolves to accept the job with the Daltons. Surprisingly, despite Bigger’s criminal past, Henry Dalton hires him, even offering him a room in the tower of their opulent home. As Bigger takes Bessie for a ride in the Dalton’s vehicle, she questions his sudden interest in Mary Dalton (Jean Wallace); Bigger reassures her that she is irreplaceable to him.

On one fateful evening, Bigger offers a ride to Mary and her suitor, Jan Erlone. Unbeknownst to him, they both carry a drunken bravado that leads them to the very club he had warned Ernie about, ultimately choosing to feign camaraderie with Bigger. The trio’s relationship takes a turn when they return to the Dalton home late that night. Following what seems like innocent fun, a tragic and irreversible event transpires—Bigger inadvertently causes Mary’s death. The horrifying realization sets in as he places a pillow over her face to muffle her sounds, worried about being caught by her blind mother.

The next day is shrouded in tension as Bigger concocts a story, claiming that Jan was responsible for Mary’s disappearance. The investigation spirals out of control when the racist detective, Britten, takes an interest, further complicating Bigger’s precarious position. Meanwhile, Bigger grapples with the systemic injustices that ensnared him, especially as he observes his mother laboriously scrubbing floors while the wealthy Daltons live in stark contrast.

As he confesses his intentions to Bessie about demanding a ransom for Mary’s supposed kidnapping, resistance mounts. When the ransom plan escalates, the media frenzy draws attention, and the paranoia intensifies—Bigger is painted as a monster. A slip in communication leads to panic, causing him to flee when reporters find incriminating evidence at the Dalton household. The once friendly faces around him turn ominous, as he and Bessie hide from authorities who are now hunting him down for murder.

In a harrowing climax, Bigger’s fate concludes when law enforcement captures him after a tumultuous standoff. The emotional aftermath unfolds in jail where conversations with Bessie’s memory and Jan evolve, and Bigger’s reflection upon his actions deepens. Hannah, in an emotional moment, asks her son to pray, reminding him of their shared faith amid despair. Jan reveals the turmoil of anger he felt upon discovering the truth about Mary’s death, battling with his initial urge towards retribution.

As Bigger faces the inevitable doom of a death sentence in the electric chair, he expresses a poignant hope that his tragic tale becomes a cautionary reminder, hoping that no other young black man bears the weight of such a fate. With a heavy heart, he asks his friend Max to convey his regards to Jan, preparing to confront the finality of life—with a deeply felt sense of remorse and longing for understanding.