![]() ![]() This was a great commentary on the anti-SJW crowd of the early 20th century. This novel provides a glimpse of the kind of treatment that many Americans were subject too, but never spoken about. However, in spite of every obstacle he faces he holds on to his pride. Our main character is beaten and humiliated for nothing more than his race. From my own interpretations I believe that the grandfather is warning the grandson to always fight for his race and the movement toward equality. The story begins with our protagonist being haunted by his grandfather's dying words that, "…our life is a war and I have been a traitor all my born days, a spy in the enemies country ever since I gave my gun back to the reconstruction." We are immediately left with the question, traitor of what? I believe it to be a traitor of race. The "blindness" of our nation at a time when African Americans were abused, segregated, and mocked will forever be a black stain across our country's shining record. This then led me to thinking, that society "glossing over the truth" was exactly what Ralph Ellison was trying to portray throughout his story. Invisible Man will surely be grueling but enlightening, and I hope to read it soon.Īs I was reading Ralph Ellison's, "Battle Royal" I found myself wanting to turn away, flip to the next page, do anything to gloss over the disturbing abuse taking place. He was an odd old guy, my grandfather, and I am told I take after him. They stayed in their place, worked hard, and brought up my father to do the same. About eighty-five years ago they were told they were free, united with others of our country in everything pertaining to the common good, and, in everything social, separate like the fingers of the hand. I am only ashamed of myself for having at one time been ashamed. “I am not ashamed of my grandparents for having been slaves. But before that, we are teased with a ray of hope, in the most intriguing character of his grandfather. You are in the head of the narrator, looking back on his boyhood, and the racist abuse is described through his own terror and pain. This story of a sick and twisted event, probably in the early 1930’s, is horrific reading. I didn’t realize when I started that it’s the opening chapter of Ellison’s Invisible Man, which has now rocketed up my TBR list. I wanted to do a little Juneteenth reading, and found this online (along with many other stories I’m anxious to read now). ![]()
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