If He Hollers Let Him Go

761 Words4 Pages
The novels "If He Hollers Let him Go" by Chester Himes and the "Devil In A Blue Dress" by Walter Mosely both feature black male protagonists living in Los Angeles during the 1940's. Robert "Bob" Jones and Ezekial "Easy" Rawlins are similar in some ways but they are motivated by different ideas. Jones' biggest desire is to live life freely on his own terms and to be seen as a man in the world he lives in. The fact that this eludes him angers Jones. Although Bob Jones is angry, he drives a new car and is employed. Easy Rawlins served in World War II and is an unemployed factory worker who is on the verge of losing his home. In Bob Jones' story his nightmares become his reality as he is overcome by external forces and inner turmoil. Easy Rawlins is not consumed by anger and accepts his circumstances and at the end of his story is a landlord and an independent business man. Bob Jones moved to Los Angeles from Cleveland because he was tired of being passed over for work while white boys were hired. Eventually Bob Jones does find work and has an important position as a Leaderman in a shipyard. In spite of his position he deals with racism at work especially from his supervisor. Easy Rawlins moved to Los Angeles from Houston after returning from the war and encountering an old friend. Mouse burdens Easy with the fact that he has committed a senseless murder. Easy decides to leave Houston for good after Mouse confesses to him. Bob Jones and Easy Rawlins have very different backgrounds. Easy Rawlins grew up on a sharecroppers farm in the South and his parents were not very significant in his life (Mosely 15). Bob Jones grew up in the North. He was raised by his father after his mother died when he was young. Jones attended college until his father became ill and he had to help his family (Himes 153). Bob Jones holds his car in high esteem. Jones' car is a
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