Marisol Manica

We begin to see the narrator start his journey North to New York City. A land of dreams and opportunities. On the bus we hear of Crenshaw and the vet talking. The vet warns the narrator to avoid the Nortons. While the narrator does not seem to listen to the vet, he does not understand why he is telling him to be careful. Crenshaw told the vet he talked to much but to me the vet seemed wise. “The force that pulls your string until you refuse to be pulled any more,” the vet said. This is the perfect line to represent what was happening in that time period. White folk were taking advantage of black men. They knew they wanted to succeed and would do anything, so they will put their string until they had enough. Which is what happened to our narrator. They basically mocked him, embarrassed him at the speech ceremony. The narrator did nothing because he just wanted to give his speech and show his community he had a lot planned for their future. The vet said what many were afraid to say, many knew at the time getting involved with white people was only asking for trouble. The vet warned them of that.

We see his grandfather come back in chapter eight, reminding him of the past. The narrator seems to avoid at all cost what his grandfather went through. He does not listen to the advice of his grandfather about him not betraying his people. We see the narrator attitude changes with many whom he encounters. On the subway he was afraid of being next to a white lady because she would scream abuse, second in the house he is staying his attitude with them is different. He wants them to value, and treat him to high standards. Which is why he refuses to tell them he has not found a job. And with his family he lies about having a job. the narrator is at cross roads, he split between two identities. He wants to fit into the white crowd so badly but at the same time he wants to go back to college to be a leader for his people.

In chapter nine, this chapter stood out to me the most. We get to see the American value system. And what i mean by that is when Emerson son says loyal Americans. We clearly hear the irony in his voice, meaning loyal only when it benefits them. We see the son talk about this freedom, and how the narrator should be happy he is telling him not to meet with this father. But how dare he right? How is Emersons son trapped? And why does he hate it so much?We see that system of value of playing the victim/hero card. Pretending to know what African Americans have gone through, we see that throughout a lot of the world and even in this novel, where white people seem to believe they understand the hardships African Americans have had. We also notice, another thing when he says can you and i talk and be honest without knowing one another. This point made me angry. At first when everyone meets you are going to put on your best smile. It called leaving a great lasting impression. No strangers, who have never met are going to be honest everyone is going to try and be fake. And how could the son expect the narrator to be sincere when he has a lot at stake. He is an African American who needs a job and is misjudged by the whole population. If he wanted to be honest it would go no where, it would prove what society already thinks. When the narrator went off on the son it showed a change in his identity. He stood up for himself, for his race. He finally seemed to understand that people are not what they appear. He himself needs to write his own destiny and do things for himself. This chapter encountered a realization from the character, he had been so naive. He finally sees societies true colors.

Marisol Manica

The Invisible Man by Ellison starts off strong. This novel talks about the experience African Americans had in a white society even after being “equal”. Already with the start of the first paragraph the readers get a sense of common themes throughout the book. The narrator starts off by telling us he was naive, and nothing but an invisible man. He even comes to say he is ashamed of himself for one being ashamed. As a reader this leaves you with questions. What is he trying to say? What is the narrator ashamed of? his grandparents for being slaves? Or of his race? He leaves in the hands of the reader to figure out. He immediately jumps into the scene of his grandpas deathbed. He recalls his grandpa last words, of how he was a traitor and their life was a war. Of course, the narrators parents were more freaked out about it then he was. But the grandpa signifies a symbol of being afraid to face your past, a ghost walking around who is uneasy. Later on in chapter one the grandpa comes back as a ghost to tell remind of who he is.  His grandpa represents a past which they cannot escape of. A past in which his people are constantly reminded of because of society. The narrator at the end of chapter one even tries to say his grandpa usually curses his triumphs. But in reality we know his grandpa is a symbol of the past he cannot escape, he has to learn who he is and embrace it. Throughout the rest of the novel, we see a monotone voice from the narrator. We can tell the narrator is afraid to overstep his boundaries, he himself deep down does not believe in this so called “freedom.” One of the major key points is the car he uses to drive Mr. Norton, a founder of the college. Ellison, does not ever say Norton. We notice how every-time he writes Mr. Norton. Two last points, are the car when you drive you are the main conductor. You decide where you are going, but in this case Ellison ask Norton to make the decisions, he does not want to over step boundaries. He does not say it but we feel that he feels like a slave. He calls him sir, he is afraid of being taken off as a driver. Even when giving control of where to go he stumbles. He is clearly not in control. Secondly Ellison makes Norton say for your people to the narrator. this feels a little like discrimination, why does he refer to African Americans as your people? And why is Norton making it seem like Ellison should be thankful for these opportunities because him and a partner were making his dreams come true? And why is Norton trying to excuse the fact that white people do not know how to handle the new freedoms and directions for blacks?

In Fanon, The Fact of Blackness, we see a very similar approach. Both authors talk about their experience of being a black male. But Fanon seems to know what it means to be black and accepts his identity. He symbolizes it as his uniform. He knows that because of skin color that will determine how he is treated. Fanon knows that his identity is not created by there is one already of him created through society views. He even gives the reader an example of how a Jew, because he is white has the ability to still create an image for himself/herself even through the tragedy they went through but not him. Fanon knows that because he is not white like the jew it is pointless to try and bargain to create an image to show society. Fanon is trying to race time and create an identity that has been made through his ancestors. While In Ellison we see that he is scared to step on peoples shoes. He wants to be accepted and make his family proud, but he feels he trapped and not at ease around white people. The scary thing is that today this still going on. For example, we see in another store how black people are considered to be thieves by color and the way they dress, but if a white person came in with the exact same clothing will they be a thief as well?It is astonishing to see how society wants to say they believe in equality when their is still so much discrimination. A society that claims to be so evolved still deals with these issues today. Because of our race, our color our identities are pretty much written. It is sad to see books that were written a long time ago, talking about such tragic events still occur in todays world. Fanon and Ellison are not far apart, they both are trying to survive in their societies as we are today.

Marisol Manica

Professor Allred

Du Bois author of “The Souls of Black Folk,” focuses on writing about how humans see one another through other eyes. He goes on to say the progress that has happened in the 20th century and what are the obstacles hindering that process from happening.He focuses on events of racial prejudice and how that separates black people from white people. He constantly talks about this veil that he is holding up. In the text that we read, we conclude how the problems in the 20th century cause double consciousness. Black people are forced to see themselves as one way and deal with how society sees them. For example, Du Bois explains how white folk do not know to approach black people, they make them feel like a different breed or something so delicate it will break with one touch. Du Bois mentions how one person said, “I know an excellent colored man in my town;” He then goes on to explain that he does not know how to answer to those statements. What can you say? he feels like the problem. Imagine how it feels like with everyone else. The confusion and chaos that happen because of how black people feel they need to present themselves in the community. It is a feeling of not fitting in, of not being able to be yourself because society has another image of you. The feeling of walking around on the street and thinking people are automatically going to treat you different because they do not know what to say to you.  A feeling that you have two different personalities one accepted by society and another one hidden away.

Du Bois does a good job in explaining the veil to the reader, the division of black and white men. He starts off by talking about his experience. On the day of which everyone was exchanging cards in school until one white girl decided to reject his card. That was when he realized he was different. He goes onto to explain how even though they had freedom, to the people of color it was not freedom but rather disappointment. There was no freedom yet. They were still struggling they were black men and women born into America trying to deal with being equal in society. The confusion that the white people had because they themselves did not know to treat them. They were going through problems they were black born in America. Du Bois used the term half men, which struck me as a powerful word. Half men referring to a black civilian of color but born in America. In other words he had rights but not all the rights he still had to serve and cook and not aspire for higher achievements. He ends with saying he hopes people understand his and other experience.

Emerson in his essay of “Nature” takes a different spin, he starts by asking the reader questions. Not just one question but questions followed by another question, followed by others. His tone sounds kind of annoyed with the universe, mostly annoyed at people around the world. He points out that all of us trust what society says, that whatever their answer is has been drilled into our minds and we are satisfied with it.Emerson then goes onto explain his feelings about nature. He gives the reader a definition of nature, In the common sense, refers to essences unchanged by man; space, the air, the river, the leaf.” I see Emerson describing nature as untouchable. As something that society has not ruined, something that society does not have all the answers too. He believes one must go into solitude to fully understood the beauty of nature. Emerson basically is saying you cannot understand all the nature has to offer in a city where you are being controlled and its always busy. He explains what natures give to the world,”The stars awaken a certain reverence, because though always present, they are inaccessible; but all natural objects make a kindred impression,” He takes a while to explain each creation of nature and how perfect it is. From the stars to the sun to the flowers. He speaks to his audience by relating what he went through. He relates nature as the god, as a way to find answers and a direction of path. People have a responsibility to society a discipline to do what they are told, but in nature its you finding your path. He even says he is a part or particle of god.

These two texts we have read are completely different from one another but at the same time similar. Du Bois is the acceptance of an African American into society. The idea that their freedom is not just a word thrown around but an actual reality. Du Bois, wants everyone to understand the sadness and disappointments him and his people went through because of white folk. He like Emerson have similar views of society. They both seem to not be fond of it. While Du Bois expresses how there are two identities he has to go through Emerson explains how nature is god and one can align with the universe through nature. Emerson is a big believer that society has everything planned out for people but if you go to nature there is so much more it has to offer. So much more things that we take for granted. The take away i am getting is both authors seems to want to derive away from society. While they both have different problems they deal with the main problem arising is society and its norms. Du Bois explains his experience while Emerson is more metaphorical in his essay. Both authors are trying to show the reader more.