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/

Follow the Leader

       When the narrator finally relays the whirlwind of events that took place at Jim Trueblood’s cabin and the Golden Day to Bledsoe, his response was strikingly similar to the narrator's grandfather's dying wish. On his deathbed, the narrator’s grandfather pleads “I want you to overcome ‘em with yeses, undermine ‘em with grins, agree ‘em to death and destruction, let ‘em swoller you till they vomit or bust wide open.”(16). The wise man’s advice to his children and grandchildren is to act as a “spy” towards white people- basically do what they say but do not let them corrupt your mind.

       Subsequently, Mr. Bledsoe’s argues “[Norton] ordered you. Dammit, white folk are always giving orders, it's a habit with them. Why didn't you make an excuse?...you're black living in the South-did you forget how to lie?”(139). Bledsoe believes that as a black man, the narrator should not let white people believe they are superior and order him around- similar to his grandfather’s final wish. Since the narrator views Mr. Norton as a God, as explained by the vet and the Golden Day, he is willing to do anything Norton demands. By being a puppet to Mr. Norton and other “superiors” the narrator is not fulfilling his grandfather’s dying wish.

      The older African Americans,such as the narrator’s grandfather and Mr. Bledsoe, in the novel try to instill values within young citizens, such as the narrator and the other students at the college, so they can succeed without being looked down upon by Caucasian people. The wise men want the future generations to be able to accomplish anything, such as Mr. Bledsoe’s inspiring journey to becoming the president of the college. 

The ultimate goal for the students at the college is to become educated in order to increase their social status. One way to do so is to not let white people “control” young kids minds.

      

Joseph Ucci: 11/27

Joseph Ucci

Blog Post 11/27/15

When the narrator returns to his college in chapter nine, Mr. Emerson reveals the letter written to him by Dr. Bledsoe. In the letter, Dr. Bledsoe tells Mr. Emerson that the narrator is to never be allowed back into the campus community again. Dr. Bledsoe says that the man “has been expelled for a most serious defection from our strictest rules of deportment.” (190) He is referring to the incident with Mr. Norton. Because the narrator did something that many of the blacks didn’t agree with—bring a wealthy white man to black environments where he wasn’t really accepted—Dr. Bledsoe refused to have such a man in his college. When the narrator hears of the news that he is no longer welcomed, he seems very confused. He didn’t see any wrong for taking care of a man when “he became ill.” (191) Unfortunately for the narrator, Dr. Bledsoe didn’t like what he did. Instead of keeping a good man at his school, Dr. Bledsoe was more interested in his school’s reputation. He didn’t want to upset the others at the school, or prospective students interested in attending so he took away the narrator’s privilege.

 

            The following image is a political cartoon of Boss Tweed. Boss Tweed was a very corrupt man who didn’t care to do what was right and only thought of ways to make more money. Like Dr. Bledsoe, Boss Tweed was willing to do anything he could to keep his money and reputation of a wealthy business man.

Insight

Yet again, the brutally-truthful vet makes an appearance to center the narrator back to the reality of the world he lives in. Although he is now viewed as a man completely off his rocker- with an attendant and all- he is not physically violent or threatening to anyone. In fact, the narrator describes him as very docile stating, “the only violent thing about the vet was his tongue,”(152). Yes, this nameless vet sure has a reputation of stating the things that were usually left unsaid for a reason. After the naive narrator is boggled at the vet’s transfer, the vet challenges him to, “for God’s sake, learn to look beneath the surface,”(153). The vet has obviously learned all-too-well how to read between the lines of people and their actions. While the narrator is still mindless to the control the white men in charge really have, the vet is doing his best to wake up him as well as the rest of the world with his very out-there words.

His final piece of brilliance the vet offers to the narrator is to, “leave the Mr. Nortons alone,” (156). No, he does not mean for anyone with the name “Norton” to run away from. What he is saying here is that black people must stop chasing after the upper of the societal hierarchy. By complying to everything they demand and doing their best to please these men that are supposedly the best-of-the-best, black people are not bettering their own lives. It does not help them to try and please society. What they should be doing is living for themselves and no one else. In a way, the vet is almost encouraging the narrator to live invisibly. In the end, living invisibly is at least better than living in the shadow of the white man.

The Liberty Paints

When the narrator arrives at an intersection, he is shocked to see a black policeman directing the white drivers. Seeing open opportunities the North can provide, he is determined to find a job and return back to college not knowing the North perpetuates its own racist social structures. The Liberty Paints in the North depicts false hope for blacks who want equality and justice within the nation.

In the Liberty Paints, the white paint serves as a metaphor. The white paint symbolizes America’s refusal to accept diversity among its people and its attempt to cover up the issue of racism. The message, “KEEP AMERICA PURE WITH LIBERTY PAINTS” (196) exemplifies the idea of preventing any race from coming into America. The message is implying the moral superiority of the whites. Mr. Kimbro shows the narrator the ten drops of black liquid which allows the white paint to be made into “the purest white that can be found” (202). The black liquid disappearing in the paint represents how the blacks are pushed to the corner and become invisible by whites.

The secret union meeting foreshadows the tension between the white labor union and the black workers in the factory. Some members call the narrator “fink” (219) when they learn the narrator is Mr. Brockway’s assistant. On the other hand, Mr. Brockway threatens to kill the narrator stating, “I’m liable to kill you. The Lord being my witness, I’LL KILL YOU!” (225). Feeling insecure the blacks are trying to take his job, Mr. Brockway gets into a physical fight with the narrator, escalating more segregation in the factory.

Though the North represents freedom and equal opportunities for blacks, there is still racial tension and discrimination in America. The Liberty Paints is one factor contributing to the tension in the North.

The picture depicts a protest from blacks in the work force for equal rights in their jobs. The blacks had shabby treatment of city union workers and a complete nonchalance of worker safety. The cruel and dangerous tasks performed by the blacks were life-threatening as multiple blacks die from machines, explosions, or in factories.

Blog 3: HeLa & Invisible Man

The narrator receives medical treatment. In this scene there is a “white rigid chair” (231) and a “long white corridor” (245) which shows the superiority the doctors at the hospital have over him. The narrator describes his treatment as “pumped between live electrodes like an accordion…” (232). After the treatment the narrator realizes his “mind was blank” (233). The doctors believe there is something biologically wrong with him because of his race. They must destroy the flaw. They spend some time debating his possible treatments. The electrocution machine will result in a “complete change in personality..” (236). Before settling on the electrocution method, the doctors discuss castration. This shows the doctors want to rid the world of anybody else that is genetically like the narrator. This principle demonstrates the racism the doctors have because they could apply it to the entire race. Such an act would be as extreme as the Holocaust. After the doctors perform the procedure the narrator has amnesia. The narrator has trouble remembering his name and his mother. But, the narrator can remember his culture. Upon his discharge from the hospital, the narrator must find something else to do besides “the rigor of the [factory] industry” (246). After the treatment, the narrator’s personality changes to “some alien personality” (249). The doctors gave him a new identity. The narrator is finally free to follow the advice of the vet and “be his own father” (156). When he loses his job and memories he distances himself from the college’s standards. The narrator is now living for himself. Perhaps, the first glimpse of this is the interest he takes in the presumably white “young platinum blonde” (250).

Henrietta Lacks also received improper medical treatment. The doctors treated her as an object just like the narrator. In both cases, the doctors believed they were superior because of race. To read her story click here.

   

A Child No More

Initially, the narrator is too weak to stand up for himself. He is a docile, emotional college student. Thrust into a battle royal, forced to give a wealthy white man a tour, and rudely dismissed from his college for no justifiable reason, the narrator is constantly being pushed around by his "superiors". His habitual compliance is eventually shattered when Brockway chastises the narrator for being late and accuses him of being a traitor. The narrator’s response to Brockway is life-altering and allows him to uncover an untapped source of confidence. This scene is essential because it marks the beginning of the narrator’s coming of age and removes him of his juvenescence.

Before this incident, the narrator is meek. He realizes this, thinking, “when, angered or spiteful, or drunk with power, they came at you...you made no effort to strike back” (225). Then, the important coming of age moment arrives, and the narrator finally stands up for himself. Brockway threatens the narrator, yelling, “I’LL KILL YOU, THAT’S WHAT!” (225). The narrator is expected to respond with fear; instead, he yells back, “YOU’LL KILL WHO?” and fights the old man (225). This narrator is definitely not the same boy who allows Bledsoe to strike him with derogatory terms.

This transition is important because it marks the first moment when the narrator shows signs of being capable of surviving in New York City. He becomes a man of confidence, taking off the clothes of a young boy and putting on the suit of an adult. His newfound ability to stand up for himself will allow him to pursue greater occupations beyond Liberty Paints. Many people in New York City will try to break him down because of his blackness, but this experience will allow him to rise above.