Invisible Man

Ralph Ellison, et al.
Random House, 1952
First edition
Vanderbilt University Collection
Vanderbilt University Special Collections

The Invisible Man is a powerful critique of the social and political landscape of mid-20th-century America. It addresses issues of racism, segregation, and the exploitation of African Americans within multiple social institutions, including politics, labor, and education.  The novel follows an unnamed African American protagonist who feels “invisible” due to racial prejudices and societal expectations that render him unseen as an individual. Ellison explores the complexities of identity, self-perception, and the struggle to assert one’s existence in a world that marginalizes and dehumanizes.  The novel’s themes of invisibility, alienation, and the search for identity resonate have made it a classic in American literature.