THE NOTION OF THE ‘MELTING POT’ REBUFFED: PORTRAYAL OF AFRICAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE IN RALPH ELLISON’S INVISIBLE MAN

Abstract

United States of America is immigrant Nation hence; the word immigration resonates especially strongly with Americans. Critics claim that regulations intended to stop illegal immigration encourage the use of racial profiling by the police, raising the risk of unlawfully detaining and interrogating citizens & legal immigrants. Racism & racial identity are complex social construct. People from all over the world continue to experience racism, which can result in social marginalization when they visit developed nations like the USA. Invisible Man (1952) addresses socio-cultural, economic, political, and ideological issues that African-Americans experienced in 20th century. This study interprets the concept of invisibility in Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man over Bois’s theory of “Double consciousness”. Story's unnamed young black narrator exists in surrealist America of 20th century dependent on deception to survive. America can only live over pretense. The focus of study is on the struggle of unnamed protagonist to survive and be visible in America. This research will highlight challenges that African Americans face due to their race. It will look at the choice the African Americans make; assimilate or maintain their unique identity.