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Peter Lawal
April 12, 2019
5th block
Major Assignment 5: Literary Analysis

Ralph Ellison's Social Concept Of Race

There is a saying that you cannot judge a book by its cover. This plays upon society's

tendency to stigmatize. They often perceive an individual's race as a corresponding part of their

identity, however, they fail to realize identity is subjective to the person. They use stereotypes to

predetermine an individual's character, as well as to justify their prejudices. In Ralph Ellison's

"Invisible Man" the narrator goes through a maturation journey trying to break the racial stigma

which has clouded his life. He spends the majority of the book being figuratively blind to the fact

that he as an individual is invisible. Later on, he finally comes to the realization that he is

invisible to society because of his race. Throughout the novel, the concepts of intersectionality

and anti-essentialism become apparent to the reader. Furthermore, Ralph Ellison's symbolism of

the social construct of race and the institutionalization of racism make the issues discussed in the

novel more relatable to society's tendencies.

According to Delgado and Stefancic in "Critical Race Theory: An Introduction,"

intersectionality and anti-essentialism in terms of race means that an aspect of an individual's

identity does not determine other categories of membership. In fact, some aspects conflict or

overlap with several other categories. In layman terms, we cannot predict an individual's

character, beliefs, or values based on their race, sex, or religion. Invisible Man touches on this

notion through the protagonist of the novel. In the prologue of Invisible Man, the narrator goes

on a monologue explaining how he is a man of substance that possesses his own mind, but

people fail to realize this because they refuse to see him as his own man. The fact that he is a
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man of substance means that his identity is not subjected to one category, but intertwined with a

multitude of categories. However, his diverse persona goes unacknowledged due to the color of

his skin. He later goes on to say in his monologue, "Without light I am not only invisible, but

formless as well; and to be unaware of one’s form is to live a death." In other words, conforming

entirely to society's stereotypes is equivalent to killing one's self. Although a person can be

invisible, they are never formless. A person's individuality comes from their form (identity), by

allowing society to dictate your form you are essentially relinquishing your free-will and your

purpose in life. Identity is not predetermined by society standards, but it is created by an

individual's characteristics and experiences they go through in life.

Throughout the novel, the narrator breaks society's stereotypes of African American

culture and their behavior. The narrator breaking the standards of behavior society has already

set for him exemplifies the philosophy of anti-essentialism. Anti-essentialism is the non-belief of

any set ideas or perceptions by society. In the novel, there is a notion that African Americans are

to be well mannered even after they are demeaned by whites. This assumption is symbolized by

the cast iron piggy bank shaped like a black slave smiling. Enraged at the figure the narrator

shatters it, figuratively and literally breaking the stereotypes society has placed on him. The

philosophy is repeated later on in the novel with The Sambo Dolls. In chapter 20 of Invisible

Man, The narrator sees The Sambo Doll being used to entertain people that are gathered around.

In disgust, he spits on the doll and walks away. A sambo doll is a distorted black caricature that

dances when someone pushes down on it. The doll suggests that the purpose of black people is to

amuse whites. By spitting on the doll the narrator refuses another perception that has been preset

for him. Unconscious to what he has done the narrator has shown the relationship between

intersectionality and anti-essentialism Ralph Ellison intended for.

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The two concepts correlate with one another. Without intersectionality, there cannot be

anti-essentialism and vice versa. Ralph Ellison connects the two by having the narrator

acknowledge that he rather be seen as an individual with their own mind than another member of

his race. This free-will exists in every human, therefore there cannot be any predetermined

standard based on race (anti-essentialism). At the end of the novel it is clear to the reader that

this realization is the goal of the narrator's journey.

In the context of race, social construct refers to race being the product of human

interaction, not biology or genetics. Ralph Ellison uses the novel to illustrate and discuss

society's social tendencies in terms of race. Since the dawn of time, there have been different

interpretations of race. Its definition has evolved along with society. Originally meaning origin

of birth it has changed from that to economic status, and now to color of skin. This new

terminology took prominence in the seventeenth century with slavery. During this period is when

whites assumed the role as the dominant race in the world. Before then there was no clear

dominant group, instead a multitude of groups who controlled their region. In Invisible Man, the

quote "Optic white is the right white" embodies the new social conception created during the

seventeenth century. At Liberty Paints, the character Lucius Brockway gloats about how the

paint-mixing process at the plant could make the darkest of colors become white. This goes back

to whites assuming the dominance and taking everything as theirs by disregarding the different

races and their culture. Even though Caucasians are not the most populated race they still

manage to make the world essentially a "white society" as a result of their power. Race has not

always been determined by physical traits, however, the dominant groups establish societal

concepts and that essentially determines the definition of race.

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Ever since the abolishment of slavery American society has found different ways to

systematically oppress African Americans. Part of this systematic oppression is the

institutionalization of racism. The inequalities and power struggle that are embedded into

institutions and American culture are so prevalent that they often go unnoticed by the oppressed.

The different settings the narrator encounters on his maturation journey in Invisible Man

symbolize the different ways racism is hidden in society. During his time at the university, The

narrator is asked to chauffeur a donor, Mr.Norton, around the town. While he is chauffeuring

Mr.Norton he hits obstacles challenging his faith in the university and the founder's ideologies.

The notion that Mr.Norton's goal is not to advance the black community, but to advance his

reputation rattles him at his core. Later on in the novel, The narrator is rattled again when he

realizes Brother Jack's goal was never to advance black equality, but to advance his own political

platform. This highlights white society's ability to take advantage of the oppressed without their

knowledge. They present themselves as patrons and supporters, however their true interest is in

their own gain. Similar to the novel their deception goes unnoticed because of the oppressed

eagerness for equality. The powerless ultimately desire power and this blinds them to the power

dynamic that has continued in society. Although blatant oppression of African Americans in the

United States have become taboo there are still underlying effects of it in American society that

go unrecognized.

The purpose of Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man was to raise awareness on the fact that

racial tensions still exist in American culture despite its dismissiveness from white society.

Although the rights of Africans Americans grew during the mid-twentieth century, there was still

a sense of inequality. African Americans were seen as second-class citizens, while their culture

was used as entertainment or gain by white society. They also were stereotyped as poor ignorant
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people who needed the help of White Americans to become productive members of society.

Categorized and oppressed before birth, they were never truly able to break the stigma that had

chained them down. Efforts to help African Americans reach equality were often misguided. In

actuality, it gave more opportunities for white society to systematically oppress them more.

Invisible Man embodies the individuality and humanity stripped from African Americans, and

their struggle to obtain equality in a society that continues to tell them that they are not equal.

Works Cited

Delgado, Richard and Jean Stefancic. Critical Race Theory: An Introduction. 2nd ed. New York:

New York University Press, 2012.

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Delgado, Richard and Jean Stefancic, eds. Critical Race Theory: The Cutting Edge. 3rd ed.

Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2013. Print.

Ellison, Ralph. Invisible Man. New York: Vintage International, 1995. Print.

Lipsitz, George. The Possessive Investment in Whiteness: How White People Profit from Identity

Politics. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1998.

Purdue Writing Lab. “Critical Race Theory // Purdue Writing Lab.” Purdue Writing Lab,

owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/writing_in_literature/literary_theory_and_s

chools_of_criticism/critical_race_theory.html.