The Wake-Up Call

At the beginning of Invisible Man the narrator is not "woke", refusing to open his eyes to the inequities of the white-dominated society he faces. His grandfather heeds the family with his last words: "our life is a war and I have been a traitor all my born days" (16). But, the narrator wants to believe that if he works hard, then he can accomplish his aspirations. The narrator has an epiphany when he finds  he has been permanently expelled from his college. Working hard is not enough to become a successful person of color. One must also step on and degrade his fellow minorities, just like Mr. Bledsoe's motto: "I've made my place ... and I'll have every Negro in the country hanging on tree limbs by morning if it means staying where I am" (143). 

After this realization, the narrator's values transform as he makes radical speeches that incense all listeners and exude a passion quite similar to that of Malcom X's speeches. He also begins reclaiming parts of his African-American culture that he gave up to please the white-dominated society. Foods like yams and hog innards are taboo; African-based hairstyles are taboo; African-American vernacular is taboo. A lifestyle of such taboo culture allows whites to dehumanize and degrade blacks "simply by confronting [them] with something [they] liked" (264). But, the narrator goes back to his roots and takes pleasure in eating Southern-style yams. 

The transformation of the author's values and beliefs is very similar to the "natural hair movement"** of today. Black people dare to wear and embrace their natural hair, going against the social norms which are based off of the behavior, appearance, and likes of white people. Like the narrator, blacks reclaim their culture, racial identity, and pride. 

**http://dailycollegian.com/2014/11/17/real-hair-dont-care-the-natural-hair-movement/