Analyzing Racial Struggles in Ralph Ellison’s 'Battle Royal'

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“Lord, why did you make me black? Why did you make me someone the world wants to hold back? Why do people think I’m useless? How come I feel so used? Why do some people see my skin and think I should be abused? (unknown author). As I reflect on this poem, it hurts me see and learn how one race oppresses another, merely on the merits of skin color gender or cultural background. In this essay I will analyze and critique Ralph Ellison’s “Battle Royal, which gives firsthand account on how hard it was and is, to be black in America. According to Jstor.org, and biography.com, Ralph Ellison was born in Oklahoma City on March 1, 1914. He studied music before moving to New York City and working as a writer he published his bestselling first novel Invisible Man in 1952. It is from this acclaimed book that the story of” Battle Royal” is taken from. “Battle Royal” provides a realistic portrait of the difficulties a black person faced living in a world or society dominated by white men. In his story, Ellison uses several symbols to illustrate blacks struggle for equality. As one begins to read and To finding ones identity in a society where people are evaluated based on their skin color and the talent they possess. The battle itself was the strongest symbol throughout the story. Ironically black man were physically forced to fight each other, yet emotionally they were fighting the white men, which was the larger battle the blacks could not win in that era. The young man description of the fight states, “everyone fought hysterically, and it continues “it was complete anarchy.” “Everyone fought everybody else.” “No group fought together for long.” It is safe to assume that the black men took their anger out on each other rather than focusing their efforts on trying to attain equality and reduce the control the white men were exercising over

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