Theme Of Keep This Nigger Boy Running By Ralph Ellison

Ralph Ellison, throughout the book, uses plenty of different MOTIFs to display the overall theme of the book. However, one that I found particularly powerful was when the narrator had a dream regarding his grandfather. His grandfather revealed a remarkable statement through a letter, “Keep This Nigger-Boy Running” (27). Ellison didn’t really understand the meaning of the statement, but he still believed that he will somehow understand it in the future. This is extremely symbolic, because it reveals the overall message of the book. That no matter how hard life gets, whether you're invisible or not, you still have to try to make change, and make a living in a segregated world, and hopefully one day, make it out being visible to others. Throughout this essay, multiple instances will be discussed, and most importantly prove the fact that “the running man” is in fact a powerful MOTIF. In addition, it will explain how Ralph Ellison MOTIF developed the overall topic of the narrative.

The running man is a symbol that represents an African American who wants to succeed, but after all, they end up in the same position that he/she was in before. Ellison uses the MOTIF to show the main TOPIC through his participation through the Brotherhood. His involvement

through the brotherhood kept him running towards his objective, and his purpose. He continued to give speeches, and continued to help the community. However, he continued to be in the exact same spot he was before, entering the Brotherhood. He was still invisible to the world, and did not reach his goal, of making sure the community is safe and equal for all.

Another way that Ellison uses the MOTIF to show the TOPIC was his involvement through the world in general.

Ellison was, throughout the whole book, socially invisible. He lived in a roach infested hole, underground in the beginning of chapter, and ended up there at the end. He tried to succeed, but as he was trying, he was betrayed by many, and he was looked down by many. One example that displayed that was when the narrator read a letter, and it stated that he was for the “white people” and not the African Americans, and that he needed to stop, and ultimately help his own race. In other words, he tried to help both communities, but instead, he only made it worse, and he was back in the same position as he was

before.

This book is very relatable to myself. Both the narrator, and myself, share some of the same characteristics, we both are African American, we both seem that we are betrayed by the world, and we both are living in a segregated city. Even though, we are silence by the people within the world, we know that we can make a difference, and try to speak on things that matter. That we will stand up, and advocate for what we believe is right, regardless of the stereotypical actions and comments made against us. That is what the narrator did, and that is what I’m doing now, to make sure that I try, because that's the only thing that is valid right now in this society today. We both are showing the universality of the theme, by incorporating it, and living up to the things that matter.