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Richard Wright's story, "Big Black Good Man" is a story that reflects the time it was written where racism was common in society. In this story we are reminded of one of life's little lessons that can be applied to everyday life. Most often, it is described as, "do not judge a book by its cover." This expression teaches the principle that one should not create bias opinions, prejudice thoughts, or premature judgments of someone merely based on their physical features. Though it may seem childish and simplistic, this short story proves that misconceptions that cause false conclusions can arise in all ages of life. The events described in the story take place in the late 1950s. Although this pre-dates the well-documented Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, it is clear that Denmark was much more open-minded about diversity in society than the United States was at that time. Denmark’s hotels are apparently not segregated as an American inn would be, and Olaf is quick to recount several occasions where he took in people of assorted ethnic backgrounds without a second thought. At the same time, he contends that this particular black man seems terribly intimidating. When Olaf warns Lena, the prostitute solicited by Jim, that Jim