Main Characters: The narrator who was called "Sambo." He seems to be African American and had just graduated from school as one of the best students in his class.
Previous knowledge of the topic: I knew that even though slavery ended in the early 1900's, Southern white men were still extremely racist against African Americans and that they harshly discriminated against them up until the Black Rights Movement.
What can you imagine: I can imagine how embarrassed the black boys were standing in front of a bunch of wealthy, yet pathetic, white men. I can see how desperately Sambo wanted to give his speech and to just get away from where he was at that moment. I can also imagine how greatly Sambo appreciated the scholarship and how proud of himself he was for fighting through the fight and electric rug before his speech. He was able to hold his head high and recite every word, even when the white men were being disrespectful. The fact that Sambo held his ground and stood up for what he believed was astonishing and the pride he showed was worth everything.
What do you think about: Every time the narrator described a horrible moment of that night, I would catch myself thinking, "How could people find this amusing? How can you watch a person get the crap beat out of them, and shocked over and over, without feeling anything? How can men laugh at the situation?!" The teachings of that time were wholesome and loving and caring, yet you have these "elegant, smart, powerful, influential" people who are acting like savages. How could the government and other people just let things like that happen, and why weren't they thrown in jail? They should've suffered just like the poor African Americans. No human deserves that kind of treatment.
How do you feel about it: The story gave me a new perspective on racism and how apathetic humans can be toward other human beings. It deeply disturbed me that things like the story actually did and still do happen in this world. I honestly could feel everything the narrator was presenting because I do have a heart and I just can't imagine anything like that happening to someone I love and care for. It would devastate me if I had to experience that.
What do you want to learn more about: I want to learn more about the Black Rights Movement and how great African American leaders emerged to step up and fight for what was right to their people. I want to know about the obstacles they encountered and overcame.
My reaction if it would've happened to me: The narrator was brave and dead set on proving to the white men that African Americans should have the same rights and laws as white people. If something that traumatic happened to me, I would be scarred for life. I would probably fight through it like he did, but the impact it had on my life would devastate me for a while. In the end, I feel like it would make me stronger. I would realize that this world is full of people who are there to put you down, but at the same time, teach you to fight for what you believe is the best thing for you. Nobody can create what you will become except you.
Relation to my own life: Obstacles and situations are thrown your way everyday you wake up. That is life. Those who are strong enough to overcome life's everyday battles are the most likely to succeed. I believe that things that leave the greatest impact on your life are the things that will influence you the most and determine the rest of your path you walk in time.
**after discussion**
Information about the author: Ralph Ellison wrote "Invisible Man" in 1953 and won the National Book Award. He was not writing a novel of social protest, he was trying to show the country how his people were being treated.
My favorite passage/section: My favorite section would have to be when the narrator was standing in front of all the white men and was giving his speech while spittting blood out of his mouth. He had gotten beat down just so that he could have his voice heard. But he was still standing there. Even though the superintendent of his school was taking part of the terrible things they were putting the boys through, he listened the whole time for the narrator's speech. It makes me wonder how he can be so insensitive to him physically but mentally aware of the narrator. When the narrator is giving his speech he fights through the other men who arent paying a bit of attention to him and showing ill manners. He says what he wrote and memorized the meaning of it all and the passion he has about the subject at hand.
Summary: In class, we talked about how African Americans of the time would have much rather been communisitic since they would be equal to the white society. The book tried to present ethics (what is right or wrong, and is a person's morals and values.) It made people who read it think about how they discriminated against African Americans in the United States.
Ellison also seems to be writing a parody because he pokes fun at the narrator, Booker T. Washington, and the white men. He is trying to make people realize the situation in its whole context.
Evaluation: I really enjoyed the story because it presented discrimination against minorities as realistic and meaningful. It was a step to standing up and showing what is right and what is wrong. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the black rights movement and the road to equality they had to establish.
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