Hunger

So, in the book "Black Boy" Richard talks a lot about his hunger. But what exactly is he referring to? Well, you can look at it in two ways. Obviously there's the literal way that since his dad left, his family can't afford buying food everyday to feed themselves.
But on another level, there is the metaphorical definition. That's his yearning, or hunger, for the things that he wants. Things like not being bored, or a place that he can live with food, or what ever else he feels he needs.