Speech

Wright had worked hard and earned the right to be called valedictorian.  He was asked to give a speech that would represent his hard work and the hard work of his classmates.  When Wright found out that he was to give a speech that was written by for him he had every right to refuse to read it.  Richard felt as if it was his right to speak his own words to the audience to describe what points he wanted to get across.  The speech that they wanted him to read was written to please both white and black people.  Richard has never cared about how he makes white people fell because he doesn't really notice a difference between race.  Richard has eery right to refuse to say the speech, because he had earned it and should be able to reflect himself to others on his accomplishments.  This is yet another instance where Wright gets into a conflict with authority because he does not assimilate like everyone else does.  Richard's principal even tells him that he has been working with kids all his life and he has never encountered anyone that has an attitude like Richard does.