Hickman's Representation Of Identity In Juneteenth

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Ralph Ellison’s unfinished novel, Juneteenth, is not only about racism and racial identity like in his previous novel, but it also is the name of a celebration in that represents the end of slavery. The connection Ellison makes between his novel’s title and the celebration is ironic since a senator that goes by the name Sunraider, formerly known as Bliss, has an ideology that sees minorities as a problem people and not real Americans like himself. Ellison’s use of allusions and metaphors leads to the idea that a social identity is not a true identity because it is associated with the misrepresentation of a group and creates false appearances in social situations. In Juneteenth Ellison’s allusions refer to the protagonist and his experiences …show more content…

After receiving Hickman's criticism, Sunraider decides to explain the reasons he chose to take on his discriminatory identity, which began with his powerful persuasive technique. Sunraider’s mannerism, which was taught by Hickman himself, was thought highly of and as a child he becomes “intoxicated with his power of persuasion becoming a drunkard” (Williams). By comparing human greed for power to an intoxicated man with little awareness or control over his actions, where he is essentially losing his identity. Hickman is unable to comprehend why he saw the need to throw away his identity asking, “why didn’t you pattern after Abraham Lincoln” (Ellison, Juneteenth 362), aiding African-Americans instead of causing harm to them. The metaphor compares Abraham Lincoln’s similar use of social persuasion to Sunraider’s provocative speech. However, while Abraham Lincoln died as a martyr Sunraider goes down as sore upon society, unknowingly harming the community he attempted to inspire. If Sunraider were to follow in Lincoln’s footsteps he would be unable to progress further due to Lincoln being “the most complicated of all great men” (Ellison, Juneteenth 362), and only those who oppose him could become greater than he. Therefore, in an attempt to become greater than Lincoln he joined those who opposed him, coming close to being revered as, “GOD’S TROMBONE” (Ellison, Juneteenth 49).

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