Historical+Blacks+and+Their+Roles+in+and+Influence+on+the+Invisible+Man

= Historical Blacks and Their Roles in and Influence on the Invisible Man =

[[image:booker_washington5.jpg width="163" height="187" align="right" caption="Washington (http://www.africawithin.com/bios/booker/booker_washington5.jpg)"]]
Booker T. Washington was born into slavery on April 5, 1856 to a white father and a black slave mother on a rural farm in Virginia. At the end of the Civil War in 1865, Booker T. Washington was freed from slavery. He moved east to college called Hampton University [6]. He became the first leader of the new normal school, named Tuskegee University, in Alabama. Tuskegee provided an academic education and instruction for teachers but emphasized more on providing young black boys with skills such as carpentry and masonry. If African Americans played their part in society, Washington thought that white Americans would eventually accept them [6]. Later in his life, Washington was criticized by W.E.B. Du Bois, a leader of the NAACP, because he did not believe in violent civil rights protests. Washington believed that the only way African Americans would gain equal status was to overcome racism and to cooperate with supportive whites. He believed that African Americans should become educated and earn their equal status.
 * Biography**

Throughout the novel, there are many characters that have the same beliefs as Booker T. Washington and use his strategy for gaining equality with whites.
 * Influence on //Invisible Man//**
 * "When I met the big men to whom my letters were addressed I would put on my best manner. I would speak softly, in my most polished tones, smile agreeably and be most polite (Ellison 157). [4]**

In this part of the novel, the narrator is planning how is going to act when he meets all of the people in New York that Bledsoe sent him to find jobs from. This reflects Booker T. Washington's idea of how African Americans should act in the white society; educate and then gain acceptance. The Invisible Man shows here that he would like to become accepted by these important white men by acting very polished and well-educated.


 * "How would you like to be the new Booker T. Washington?" (Ellison 305)**

This is what Brother Jack asks the narrator when they meet and Brother Jack asks him to be a part of the Brotherhood. This shows that the Brotherhood directly relates their method of organizing the black community to Booker T. Washington and that their figure can even be recognized as a "new" Booker T. Washington.


 * "It was the antithesis of scientific approach. Ours is a reasonable point of view. We are champions of a sicentifis approach to society, and such a speech as we've identified ourselves with tonight destroys everything that has been said before. The audience isn't thinking, it's yelling its head off (Ellison 350).**

The Brotherhood's method of "changing" the African American community in Harlem is by a scientific approach. In this instance, they are very angry with how the Invisible Man's first speech in Harlem went. After the speech, the crowd was very energetic and if they went to take action, would probably be very violent. The Brotherhood, on the other hand, would like the audience to think before they act, as Booker T. would suggest.


 * "Very well, but no violence. The Brotherhood is against violence and terror and provocation of any kind- aggresive, that is. Understand, Brother Clifton? (Ellison 365).**

After the narrator tells Brother Jack about when he saw Ras the Exhorter, Clifton tells Jack that him and the Invisible Man will take care of Ras. However, Brother Jack does not want Clifton to use violence against Ras because that is not how the Brotherhood operates. They believe in civil disobedience, just like Booker T., and are against any kind of terror to promote the black people.

Biography[[image:garvey.jpg width="273" height="348" align="right" caption="Garvey (http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=766&rendTypeId=4)"]]
Marcus Garvey was born on August 17th, 1887 in Jamaica. He formed the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League in July of 1914 with Amy Ashwood, his future wife. During his early years, Garvey was influenced by and met Booker T. Washington. After arriving back in New York in March of 1916, Garvey lived with a Jamaican family in Harlem, while working as a printer and becoming a nightly soapbox orator in Harlem. He begins a speaking tour about two months after arriving back in the United States. One of his famous speeches was on the East St. Louis Riots in July of 1917, in which he claimed that it was one of the bloodiest outrages against mankind. [9] At the height of his power in 1919, the UNIA had around two million members and Garvey was being hailed as the black Moses. [3] Around this time, he founded the Negro Factory Corporation and Black Star Lines, which was to be his method of transportation to Africa. His movement was called Back to Africa, which was his general statement. He signed up recruits who were willing to go over to Africa to run out the whites. Garvey also had prominent black critics who criticized the fact that he met with members of the Ku Klux Klan and was apparently their messenger boy. [10] Eventually, his actions caught up with him. The federal government investigated and found him and other members of the UNIA guilt on counts of mail fraud. He began serving his prison sentence and was deported to Jamaica. After that, he fell into obscurity and died on June 10th, 1940 in London. [9]

Connections to the novel
Marcus Garvey’s attitudes and beliefs fit closely with those of Ras the Exhorter and Destroyer.
 * "We gine chase 'em out," (Ellison 159)** [4]

This quote is the first time the Invisible Man encounters Ras. He passes by him as he's walking around Harlem. Ras's statement about chasing "them" out relates to Garvey's wish to chase the whites out of Africa. While Ras's goal is to take Harlem back from the whites, Garvey's goal is parallel to that: chase the whites out of Africa, the black homeland. Ras takes a local stand for blacks, while Garvey takes an international stand. Ras is also giving he speech on a streetcorner, like Garvey started doing after he returned to New York.


 * "Mahn, I ought to kill you. Godahm, I ought to kill you and the world be better off. But you //black, mahn//. Why you be black, mahn? ... Why you with these white folks?" (Ellison 370)**

Here, Ras is fighting with Brother Clifton. Ras's general attitude here is "Why are you cooperating or working with the whites?" This parallels Garvey because Garvey was for black independence through the work of other blacks, although he associated with members of the Ku Klux Klan. Ras goes on to make reference to black homelands, like Trinidad and Barbados, which is near Jamaica, Garvey's homeland.


 * "The time for ahction is here. We mahst chase them out of Harlem. ... Ras said chase them! It is time Ras the Exhorter become Ras the DESTROYER!" (485)**

Here, Ras brings about a personal change in an attempt to kick the whites out of Harlem. While Garvey's actions never reached such insane levels as Ras's, he still managed to gather quite a large following.


 * "A new Ras of a haughty, vulgar dignity, dressed in the costume of an Abyssinian chieftain; a fur cap upon his head, his arm bearing a shield, a cape made of the skin of some wild animal around his shoulders." (556)**

Here, Ras is in the outfit of an African tribal chief. This parallels Garvey because Garvey dressed in flamboyant military outfits and large hats. While Ras's outfit is incredibly outrageous, Garvey's was more reflective of a leader, not a madman like Ras. Ras even goes as far as throwing a spear at the Invisible Man, which could be a reference to a derogatory term for African Americans. It also shows how primal Ras has become.

Biography
Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey was born in 1818 on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. He was named after his mother, Harriet Bailey. [8] In 1826, Douglass's master died, and he was sent to the master's son in law, Thomas Auld. Auld would then give him to his brother, Hugh Auld. Bailey learned to read from white children on the streets and the major book that helped him was //The Columbian Orator.// In 1834, Bailey was sent to Edward Covey. Covey treated slaves very violently, and this treatment made Bailey resistance to these methods changed his life forever. He would attempt to escape slavery twice, once in 1835, and once in 1838. In 1835, his plan was foiled, but with the help of Anna Murray, he escaped successfully in 1838. By 1840, Bailey had changed his name to Douglass, moved to New Bedford, Massachusetts, married Anna Murray and had two children with her. He was recruited after a speech in 1841, to speak for William Lloyd Garrison's American Anti Slavery Society. In 1845, Douglass's most famous work, //Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave// was published. Later in the decade, Frederick would begin the anti slavery magazine, the //North Star//, as well as attending the Seneca Falls Women's Rights Convention. In 1851, Douglass would end publication of the //North Star//, and begin publication of //Frederick Douglass' Paper//. His second autobiography, //My Bondage and My Freedom// would be published in 1855. During the 1860s, the Civil War and its aftermath raged on, with Douglass obviously in favor of the Union cause. In 1872, Douglass was appointed vice presidential candidate for the Equal Rights Party, a position which he never truly owned up to. A position that he was proud of was the U.S. Marshal for the District of Columbia, a job he was awarded in 1877. His third and final autobiography, //Life and Times of Frederick Douglass//, was published in 1881. In 1882, Anna Murray would die and in 1884, he would marry his secretary Helen Pitts. In the early 1890s, Frederick led the Haitian delegation to the Columbian Exposition. In his life he would tour Africa, Europe and the Caribbean, going places that many former slaves had never been. In 1895, Douglass would die at his estate named Cedar Hill.[1]

Philosophy and Ideology
Before and after the Civil War, Frederick Douglass held the same themes near and dear to his heart. These three major themes were: economic self-reliance, political agitation, and coalition building. Douglass repeatedly told the United States Government and the American people that enfranchisement of African Americans would not inspire class conflict. He also stated time and time again racial peace would not be protected by "degrading one race and exalting the other, but buy maintaining a state of equal justice between all classes." When others called for black colonization of the West, Douglass disagreed. He believed that it was their right to live in the land where they built and where they wanted because that is what the Constitution said. This staunch opposition of sometimes popular, but immoral beliefs, made him unpopular with many people, including some of his African American allies. Another area that Douglass was very serious about was women's rights. Although he believed in women's suffrage, he believed that Black men deserved the right to vote first. After the passage of the fifteenth amendment, his women's rights allies were upset with the fact that women were not included. Douglass was not upset because he believed that this was "the Negro's hour." In July 1848, Douglass was in attendance at the first feminist convention at Seneca Falls, NY. At this meeting, he had a large role in the passage of the motion to support female suffrage. Along with Elizabeth Cady Stanton, he signed the Declaration of Sentiments, which became what the Declaration of Independence was for the American Revolution. In his magazine //The North Star//, he once wrote that "Right is of no Sex - Truth is of no Color." In saying this, he clearly showed that he believed in equal rights for all, regardless of gender or race. Another critical passage from this same periodical: [7]

"In respect to political rights, we hold woman to be justly entitled to all we claim for man. We go farther, and express our conviction that all political rights which it is expedient for man to exercise, it is equally so for women. All that distinguishes man as an intelligent and accountable being, is equally true of woman; and if that government is only just which governs by the free consent of the governed, there can be no reason in the world for denying to woman the exercise of the elective franchise, or a hand in making and administering the laws of the land. Our doctrine is, that “Right is of no sex.”" [5]

We can again see, how staunch Douglass is in his opinion that women are equal to men in every way, regarding rights. However, we begin to wonder if Douglass is a hypocrite or not. Throughout this whole entire passage, he talks about how women should be able to vote, yet he claimed it was "the Negro's hour." On the other hand, one could say that he had no choice. He had been fighting for black rights his whole life, and to then fight against the fifteenth amendment because it did not include women would have been a bad move as well.

Connections to //Invisible Man//

 * "Here was a way that didn't lead through the back door, a way not limited by black and white, but a way which, if one lived long enough and worked hard enough, could lead to the highest possible rewards" (Ellison 355).**

This quote shows a strong connection to Frederick Douglass. One of Douglass's, if not his main tenet was self-reliance. When one wants to be self-reliant they must work hard. Here, the Invisible Man is saying that the only way one could truly achieve the highest goal that they wanted, would be for that person to work extremely hard. For the first time in his life, the Invisible Man is realizing that he could actually be something, if he works hard enough.


 * "Some of our best ideas have been though in prison" (Ellison 469).**

This may have been an allusion to Douglass and African Americans of his time. Ellison knew that Douglass grew up in slavery, and is known for having his life changed through his treatment at Edward Covey's plantation. It is obvious that Douglass is one of Ellison's role models.


 * "And i don't think that we, of all people, should be afraid of the people's enthusiasm. What we've got to do is to guide it into channels where it will do the most good" (Ellison 352).**

This statement, by an elder member of the Brotherhood, is very similar to the message of Frederick Douglass. He believed in agitation, but not violence. He wanted the black people to rise up and fight for what they deserve, but he did not want them to do harm to others. The stated goal of the Brotherhood is very similar to the goals that Frederick Douglass had. However, we know that their true goal was not what they said it was.


 * ""Your assignment, should you decide to remain active,"** **Brother Jack said, reaching for his gavel, "is to lecture downtown on the Woman Question" (Ellison 406)**

This quote is very important as well. At first glance, one would say that Ellison did not think much of women's rights of the time, due to the fact that the Invisible Man's punishment for his "actions" was to work with women's rights. However, when the reader looks closely, things are different. Ellison is actually saying that black rights advocates of the time were being hypocritical by caring so much about the rights of African Americans, but putting the rights of females on the back burner. This is something that Frederick Douglass did not do. He knew that all people were equal, not just races. He knew that women deserved the same treatment as men, and fought for it. What seems as an insult to women by Ellison, is actually a statement about inequality.

Resources
1. "About Frederick Douglass: Timeline." __The Frederick Douglass Papers Project__. 2008. 2 Mar 2008 <[|http://www.iupui.edu/~douglass/FD_Timeline.htm>.] 2. "Booker T. Washington." __Booker T. Washington National Monument__. 26 AUG 2006. 2 Mar 2008 <[|http://www.nps.gov/archive/bowa/btwbio.html>.] 3. Eichman, "Marcus Garvet's Back to Africa Movement." __Marcus Garvet's Back to Africa Movement__. 2001. Chana High School. 20 Feb 2008 http://www.puhsd.k12.ca.us/chana/staffpages/eichman/Adult_School/us/fall/1920s/marcusgarvey.htm. 4. Ellison, Ralph. __Invisible Man. New York: Random House, Inc., 1952. __ 5. "Frederick Douglass." __National Park Service__. 2006. NPS. 3 Mar 2008 <[|http://www.nps.gov/wori/historyculture/frederick-douglass.htm>.] 6. "History of Tuskegee University." __Tuskegee__ __University__. 2 Mar 2008 <[|http://www.tuskegee.edu/Global/story.asp?S=1070392>.] 7. "Local History: Biographies." __Explore DC__. 2003. WETA. 2 Mar 2008 <[|http://www.exploredc.org/index.php?id=47>.] 8. "The Life of Frederick Douglass." __National Park Service__. 3 Mar 2008 <[|http://www.nps.gov/archive/frdo/fdlife.htm>.

9. "Timeline." __American Experience: Marcus Garvey__. 2000. PBS. 12 Feb 2008 <[|http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/garvey/>.] 10. Van Leeuwen, David. "Marcus Garvey and the Universal Negro Improvement Association." __Marcus Garvey and the Universal Negro Improvement Association__. Oct 2000. TeacherServe. 12 Feb 2008