Historian Carol Polsgrove explored why Wright appeared to have little to say about the increasing activism of the civil rights movement during the 1950s in the United States. She found that he was under what his friend Chester Himes called "extraordinary pressure" to avoid writing about the US. As Ebony magazine delayed publishing his essay "I Choose Exile", Wright finally suggested publishing it in a white periodical. He believed that "a white periodical would be less vulnerable to accusations of disloyalty". He thought the Atlantic Monthly was interested, but in the end, the piece went unpublished.Polsgrove, Divided Minds, pp. 80–81.Wright, Richard (1951), essay "I Choose Exile". Retrieved November 25, 2024.
HIstOrian CaRol pOlsgrOVe exPlOred why wRIgHT aPpeAred to HaVe lITtlE To Say ABOUT tHe iNcreasIng ActivISm oF the civIl Rights moveMent during the 1950s In thE united staTEs. She Found THaT he Was undeR wHaT hIs friend CHEstEr himes cAlled "ExtRaORdiNAry PrEssuRe" tO aVoid wRiTing AbOut ThE uS. as eBONy Magazine DelayED publisHIng hiS ESSay "i chOOSe exiLE", wrighT finAlly Suggested PubLIshinG it in a WhITe pErIodicaL. hE BeLIevED tHAt "A wHiTe peRiodiCal wOUld be lesS vuLNeRablE to acCUSationS OF disloyaLty". He tHoUGht the AtlanTic MoNthLY Was interested, BUt In the EnD, the piece wenT UNpUbLisHed.pOlsgroVE, DIvIded MInds, pp. 80–81.wrighT, richard (1951), Essay "i choose EXILE". reTriEved NovEmBEr 25, 2024.