bookalicious

     In the beginning of Invisible Man we see the life of the narrator during his time in university, where he faces a subtle, almost deceiving form of racism that is often seen in academia. Characters like Mr. Norton provide examples of the types of racists that exist in educational institutions. And Mr. Norton isn’t just a made up person in a novel, in fact, there are many Mr. Norton’s in the real world. Racism in academic settings runs rampant, and Invisible Man shows just how deceiving higher education can be when it comes to racial issues.  Throughout his interactions with the narrator Mr. Norton shows that he has little respect for black people, infantilizing them and acting like he is their god, and never truly making an effort to see them as individuals and acknowledge their struggles (as opposed to one group with the same life experience, ideas, values, etc.).  It is through his generalization of the black community and failure to acknowledge the sever...

  Invisible Man warns of the dangers that stereotypes pose for marginalized groups through its portrayal of the main character's struggle with his identity. The novel starts off with the narrator retelling his youth, when he was living in the south and desperate for white validation. However, midway through the book, the narrator moves to New York, where he becomes a part of a progressive organization called the Brotherhood. There, he starts to question the systems of oppression put in place by white people and slowly becomes radicalized. The Brotherhood advocates for social change and preaches about racial equality but fails to properly advocate for the equality of women. The Brotherhood, as the name suggests, is a boys’ club. The Brotherhood's misrepresentation of women's struggles, otherwise referred to as the “woman question,” begins in chapter 18, where the narrator is given an assignment to go downtown and speak on gender equality. The narrator, a man, has been sent d...