Here's why:
* Richard Wright's impact on Ellison: Ellison's groundbreaking novel *Invisible Man* is deeply indebted to Wright's *Native Son*. Both novels explore the themes of racism, alienation, and the search for identity within a society that denies Black Americans their humanity. Ellison himself acknowledged Wright's influence, calling him a "powerful, important writer" who paved the way for him and other African American writers.
* Richard Wright's impact on Morrison: Morrison, in her own powerful works, built upon the themes and stylistic techniques that Wright pioneered. She, too, explored the complex realities of Black life in America, delving into the history of slavery, the legacy of racism, and the resilience of the human spirit. Though she often criticized Wright's bleakness, she acknowledged his importance as a pioneer in the field of African American literature.
Both Ellison and Morrison, in their own unique ways, expanded upon the foundation that Wright laid, taking the exploration of Black American experience to new depths and complexities.