People always find it strange when I verbally espouse my love for Invisible Man. After all, I am not a black American. How, many ask, could I possibly relate to the central character of this story?
Ralph Ellison?s masterpiece, first published in 1952, is the story of a well-educated and ideological young black man who has graduated motivated and wishes to carve out a path for himself in the world. After graduating from his high school with the honor of being the class?s valedictorian, the nameless protagonist is given the chance to speak in front of a group of wealthy white men. First, however, he must compete in a brief fighting tournament against other black men, during which he is beaten and bloodied. Following the intense melee, he successfully delivers his speech and is given a full scholarship to a black university. From this utterly degrading and horrific event, our hero?s journey begins.
The main theme of Invisible Man is the lack of individuality due to the racism found in American society. The protagonist is never judged on his individual merits but rather is characterized simply as a black man.
The wonderful work is a true gem because it is one of the finest pieces of anti-collectivist American literature. The protagonist is burdened because society refuses to acknowledge that he is an individual, a man who thinks freely and tries to separate himself from the meaningless inherent quality of skin pigmentation.
Ellison understood that in our complex modern society, it is important we abandon such collectivist constructs as racism, sexism, and ageism (among many others). It is important that we stress individuality and that just because a person is of a certain race or sex, they do not necessarily act in the manner of certain other individuals in our society who share the same inherent traits.
At the end of the day, I do not wish to be judged on the basis of such qualities as ethnicity and sex. I am not your stereotypical American male who just happens to have a dizzying, world-spanning ancestry. I am me.
Copyright 2008 Daniel Downs
As Kierkegaard once said, “To label me, is to negate me”.
Your article on anti-collectivism seems to be in line with this quote, however most truths are found in between two extremes. I didn’t read Invisible Man nor do I mean to sound like some Greek thinker who espouses moderation; but it is undeniable that one’s sex, race, and other genetic traits profoundly affect the identity we develop into adults. Sure, taking heuristic labeling to an extreme does develop into racism, sexism, ageism, and etc., but race, sex, and age do exist and they should not (and really cannot by human ability) be completely ignored. Maybe you should look up some stuff about Simone de Beauvoir, her feminism does a nice job of finding the right synthesis of being a “woman”, yet also being a totally unique individual at the same time. You cannot escape your race, sex, or age, Dan; they are just as much a part of you as anything else that makes you an “individual”. It’s just like in those post colonial literature about some ethnic group’s diaspora in America; in the end it’s all about your roots.
Great information.