Battle Royal Langston Hughes Analysis

Ralph Ellison, The Invisible Man displays Racism and how ones identity( black identity ) is affected by it. Ellison wrote his novel from the perspective of a black man living through the civil rights movement. Ralph Ellison shows through the narrator, the obstacles of a young black man living under the system of Western society and how race was reinforced in America in the 1950s. Ellison is cogent in

   The narrator in "Battle Royal," by Ralph Ellison, is confused and disillusioned. He is black man trapped in a world of cruelty and social inequality with nobody to guide him. He is being ripped apart in two directions by the advice of his grandfather and by the wishes of the white society which he longs to please. While attempting to satisfy their wishes, he forgets what is most important- his own dignity.

James Baldwin “Sonny’s Blues” and “Battle Royal” Ralph Ellison are two stories by young african american men in the 50’s. Racial abuse was in abundance during this era. In both stories race has an important role however, in “Battle Royal” Ellison used race as the driving force of the story. In “Sonny’s Blues” Baldwin uses race as an important theme but is subtle as opposed to Ellison who directly addresses race as the issue. “Sonny’s Blues” and “Battle Royal” depicted the suffering of young black men in harlem, and illustrated the struggle of generation past and present; and the vicious cycle of the stereotype of african americans. African americans during this time endured in environment of hatred, but not only by whites but also by themselves, they hated who they were because they weren't white, in order for a person to be accepted in society or seen as valuable african americans believed they had to be white.

During the late 1940’s through 1952, the Invisible Man tries valiantly to overcome the image society has given him, but his efforts could never break from the grasp of the black society. This hold was constructed and glued together by the white society during this novel. The stereotypes and expectations of a racist society had blacks to behave only in savage and compelling ways, never letting them to act in their own free will. Even the actions of black activists seeking equality are manipulated and lied to. Throughout the novel the Invisible Man encounters this heart felt problems and although

III. Analytical Essay Racial Identity in Invisible Man The earlier centuries in American history were devoid of social equality for all. A war between blacks and whites in society created a division in the country.

In Invisible Man, to be invisible is seen as being viewed by others as a collection of stereotypes rather than as a complex individual, meaning that the dominant white society in which the narrator lives in treates him based on their preconceived notions of his black identity. Throughout the narrator’s journey in finding his identity, he most importantly comes to the realization that the racial prejudice of others forces them to only see him as they want to see him. For example, when the narrator arrives in the north he confesses that he has to change the way he speaks in the north as opposed to in the south because “the white folks wouldn’t like it” (p.164) In addition, the inability of others to see the narrator, as well as most blacks, also

to the white men, which is where the title of the book is derived. The

Invisibility in the invisible man is represented from the perspective of the narrator who goes through a deeper development than most of the characters in the book. The personality change is relevant and powerful since the events happening throughout his life shape the resulting persona. The narrator sees the color of his skin as the main factor that prevents people from seeing his worth as a human being. It is stated in the book that, the time period of the story reflected the era where racism and segregation were still a big issue in society. As the reader, I can relate to that invisibility in two different ways, my status in America and the fact that I am a female minority.

In the poem, the speaker says, “I live here, too. I want freedom Just as you.” (Hughes) This illustrates how African Americans felt in the 1950’s and 1960’s. They wanted to truly have equal rights with no segregation.

Explain: In other words, this poem is a message intended to speak to all the poor individuals who live in America, whether they originated from across the waters or are natives. He sees the government and the business people as full of greedy, and not treating the lower class decently. However, according to Langston Hughes this is not the expectation of the constitution. The author is trying to tell us that he feels the "Alleviation" (free nourishment for the needy) is insufficient for him. He needs a greater amount of everything for everyone so America can become America

Thus, he continues the motif of inequality within America by using this poem to demonstrate America’s hypocritical state as a result of their failed system of equality for African Americans. In the first part of the poem, Hughes juxtaposes foreign oppression with the oppression of African Americans in order to reveal how the black community’s fight for equality goes unmentioned. Hughes states “I hear you talk about the freedom For the Finn, The Jew, And the Czechoslovak” (590). In that, the President preaches to the American people about how America will strech open its borders to accept all people and shed its democratic principles of freedom for all to enjoy and embrace the nation’s prosperity. Hughes displays how the nation's leaders attempt to idealize America as a crystal clear beacon of hope and justice for all other nations to look up to and follow. Furthermore, the President intends to make America appear as a refuge for those who face harsh oppression at the hands of the nazi regime. However, Hughes contradicts the President’s words when saying “But you never seems to mention Us folks who’re black!” (590). Thus, Hughes addresses the hypocritical state of the nation. He exposes America and their false persona. In that, they pretend to be a nation striving for great social progression when in reality the issue of black discrimination is kept

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but the content of their character”(Martin Luther). The fight for unfairness has been an important area of debate over the years; many writers expose common injustice through their writing. For instance, as a prominent writer, Ralph Ellison describes many social hardships of American African in his novel “Invisible Man”. The first chapter of this novel, “Battle Royal” reveals this social inequality through the metaphor of the fight.

Hughes is currently a twenty-two old college student who is determined to succeed. “I go here to this college on the hill above Harlem, where I am the only colored student in class” (lines 10-11). Hughes most likely attends the prestigious Columbia University, where he’s the only African-American in his class and probably his entire school. Despite this, Hughes remains strong and determined to remain in the race and finish, because he knows the reward will be great. Furthermore, while trying to reach this reward, he is also willing to learn and teach others. “I guess you learn from me-although you’re older-and white-and somewhat more free” (lines 38-40). Looking past age, color, and level of freedom, Langston Hughes is eager to be educated by the instructor, as he is hopeful that the instructor is willing to be educated by him. By educating one another, they both get to see the world through each other’s perspective and find understanding. Being determined, is the only way Hughes will reap his great reward of: remaining at the college on the hill, learning, being free, and ultimately being seen as equal to

The struggle, which our narrator tells about on creating individuality in society, is something that black and others are still fighting for. We still see today that blacks do not have the same rights as whites and the fact that they are being overlooked and considered as

Another well-known poem by Hughes is ?Negro.? He wrote this poem after a trip to Africa and feeling a connection with the blacks there. Like ?The Negro Speaks of Rivers?, this poem is also historic and explains in depth the history of Africans. ?Negro? starts out with ?I am a Negro/ Black as the night is black,/ Black like the depths of my Africa.? From there, in each verse, Hughes names a different civilization or group of people that have enslaved the blacks. He writes about how the blacks have been forced to build, work, and suffer throughout their whole existence. ?Hughes uses many allusions in this poem, alluding to Julius Caeser, George Washington, and the Woolworth Building