Ralph Ellison's Battle Royal: A Fight for Equality

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Short story “Battle Royal” written by Ralph Ellison in 1952, expresses his beliefs through his powerful words. Aware of the African American struggle for equality after the Civil War, many suffered from racism. African Americans may have gotten freedom but not equality. They protest to define who they are and the purpose they have in life by making a difference and making sure their voices are being heard. Ralph Ellison strongly implies the importance of equality throughout the character he portrays. He tells a story that carries a message about the time when African Americans were abused and segregated. The purpose of the paper is to share who the author is, his reason behind the content, other work in relation with the particular piece of …show more content…

His father died from a work-related accident when Ellison was only three years old. His mother took care of Ellison and his brother all on her own as she worked multiple jobs to support her family. Growing up to be an inspiring instrumentalist Ellison started off with studying music before moving to New York and becoming a writer. He was a trumpeter, and went to Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, as he studied music in the hope of being a symphony composer. He later moved to New York to find a job to pay off his college expenses and started working as a researcher and writer for the “ New York Federal Writers Program.” Eventually he started to write some of his own pieces, such as some essays and other short stories. Ellison later published The Invisible Man in 1952 along with some other amazing work. Unfortunately Ellison died from pancreatic cancer on April 16, 1994. His legacy still lives on and his other work was later released. (Bio. A&E Television …show more content…

He lived a very quite and ordinary life after he was freed and never made any trouble but considered himself a trader. On his grandfather’s deathbed he gives him advice as he states “Son, after I’m gone I want you to keep up the good fight” (Ellison 226). By that he means to believe in equality and not to be a traitor to his own people but to stand up for them. Not understanding the meaning behind his grandfather’s words, he thinks of them has words that are cruel and unusual. Filled with so many unanswered questions because of his grandfather’s words that haunt him day by day. His grandfather words are trying to have him understand that society would always go against him and his race and in order to make a change one must not give up. In the story he was invited to give the speech at the town’s gathering for the leading white citizens. His intentions were to earn the white peoples respect by letting them hear what he has to say, and maybe by delivering this speech at this event will work in his favor and some how give him a boost to start new a future. But without a choice was forced into a boxing match to fight others black men in what they call “Battle Royal” as the events entertainment for the night. The purpose of this battle was to show how in the society whites have all the power and how blacks were the victims to this

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