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Post 3 - Aryan G.

“Bread and Wine,

Bread and Wine,

Your cross ain't nearly so

Heavy as mine . . . “

One aspect of that, unfortunately, goes largely unnoticed is the unity and similarities amongst different groups of people. This is not to diminish the force for equality and equity that is the central theme of Invisible Man, but instead to reinforce it. All people are one in the same, and the cultural differences between different groups only elevate their humanity. This is my interpretation of the small song included in chapter 20 of Invisible Man. In the context of the book, both blacks and whites are united through religion. There are black nuns, and there are white nuns, religion is just as much integrated into the society the narrator finds himself in as food or shelter. Yet, amongst these similarities, there is still discrimination. There is still inequality. Thus, “Your cross ain’t nearly so heavy as mine…”

Although I am not entirely sure of the roots of this verse, it has been adapted, fairly recently, into a song by the rock band Cowboy Junkies. Their song Bread and Wine has a very familiar premise dealing with hardship and finding purpose, with the conclusion of the song being the realization that love is what the narrator was looking for.

#invisible man #racism #inequality

Post 3 - Aabid Q.

An Underground Sanctuary

One of the most climactic moments of the book is when the invisible man flees from the enraged mob. He bleeds onto the pavement due to a previous bullet wound during the riot. The mob closes onto him and he has nowhere to go except for a manhole, literally underground. All his life he felt as if he was isolated from society. The only chance he had with the Brotherhood is now in ruins. He is forced to go back to his isolation, hibernate from the rest of the bloody world. So he descends into the depths, away from the madness. A place people would regard in disgust, is now his only sanctuary. This is his time to heal.

Amazingly, there are a few constant forces in our life that help us cope with reality. One of these amazing forces is music. Music helps unite us all even in dark times. I believe when the invisible man went down the sewers, although it may not have been explicitly written in the book, he would hum a tune to remind him of home. He would sing Langston Hughes famous hymns. He would cry a sad melody to cope with his crumbling situation. It is in these times, after all, the invisible man resolves his tragic story. That he has to stop running, he has to take a stand for himself and his ideas rather than constricting himself to flawed ideals. He had to lose himself first to find himself in the end. What a paradox.

The image I drew above symbolizes these feelings of a tortured soul in an unexpected sanctuary. The dark and gloomy atmosphere summarizes the fate of the IM at that moment the mob was chasing him. The blood that runs down the asphalt is not just his wounds but the violence in the streets as brotherhood collapses on itself. The dark hole in the ground is the only means of escape. Yet through all this mess, there is a tune sung out from the depths. A tune in stark contrast to these unfortunate events. The song is sung by the invisible man himself, a colorful hymn of his heritage and a relief from his pain.

#invisible man #escape #sanctuary

Post 3 - Noor K.

The Power of a “Voice”

In chapter 24 of Invisible Man, the narrator recounts the story of his entry to Harlem, overall unwelcoming. Upon exiting the bus, he experienced numerous unpleasant sensations, but what caught his attention was a voice-like sound. When describing this, the author wrote, "It came, a twitter, a coo, a subdued roar that seemed trying to tell me something, give me some message" (Ellison 439). All the musical descriptive words add a sense of realism to the voice and develop the understanding of why the man was drawn to the sound. Out of all the chaos and distractions he chose that specific sound, which goes to show the power of a voice.

#invisible man #power #voice

Post 3 - Iris C.

A Connection Between Sybil’s Alluring “Siren Song” and Inherent Racist Themes Within Sybil’s Desire to Fulfil Her Sexual Fantasy with Black Men

“Feeling her stumbling beside me, humming a little tune; something fresh, naïve and carefree. Sybil, my too-late-too-early love . . . Ah! My throat throbbed… she hummed beside me, her perfume unreal in the night (434-435)”

In this instance, the Invisible Man’s attempt to have a relationship with Sybil illustrates the apprehensive relationship between white women and black men. The taboo of white women is represented by Sybil and symbolized by various women throughout the novel. Another taboo is represented by the appeal of Black men to Sybil; she comes clean with the Invisible Man about her perceptions and fantasies revolving around her vision of Black men as sexual animals. In Greek mythology, Sybil is seen as a Siren whose evocative melodies lured sailors to their ultimate death. This is symbolized in this novel as the narrator becomes more attached to Sybil; although he initially became involved to lure information from her, he becomes increasingly enticed by her “siren song.” While he thinks his needs are being fulfilled, she uses him to fulfill her sexual fantasy of being raped by a black man. This continues to demonstrate underlying racist beliefs as the prominent theme of racism is explored through the Invisible Man’s confrontation with the degradation and racism of others.

#invisible man #racism #siren song

Post 3 - Emily Z.

Sambo Dolls and the Racism Behind Them

Shake it up! Shake it up!

He’s Sambo, the dancing doll, ladies and gentlemen.

Shake him, stretch him by the neck and set him down,

-- He’ll do the rest. Yes!

He’ll make you laugh, he’ll make you sigh, si-igh

He’ll make you want to dance, and dance --

Here you are, ladies and gentlemen, Sambo,

The dancing doll.

Buy one for your baby. Take him to your girl friend and she’ll love you, loove you!

He’ll keep you entertained. He’ll make you weep sweet --

Tears from laughing.

The lyrics above are a jingle sung by Tom Clifton as he peddles “Sambo” dolls. The term “Sambo” dates back to slavery, and it denotes a loyal but lazy and irresponsible slave. Clifton’s song demonstrates the stereotype of servile blacks who entertain white masters. By making the dolls move with invisible strings, Clifton implies that stereotypes and prejudice often restricts a person’s freedom. It also is ironic that Clifton, who had previously protected the Brotherhood’s ideals, now sells these degrading dolls which “sing” and “dance” for the whites. The dolls are the complete opposite of the Brotherhood’s good intentions, which remind the narrator that ugliness will always exist in the world despite the efforts of those who try to eradicate it.

#invisible man #brotherhood #sambo #racism

Post 3 - Vidya M.

“Many Thousand Gone” Song Connection to IM

“‘There's Many a Thousand Gone.’...It was a song from the past, the past of the campus and the still earlier past of home” ( Chapter 21).

“Many Thousand Gone” is a traditional, spiritual song originating from African American slaves who toiled on plantation systems prior to the Civil War Era. Slaves had a tradition of curating songs, mainly about work and hope, as a means of lifting their spirits during their tedious labor. “Many Thousand Gone” is one such song which brings hope of a better future by expressing all the sufferings slaves will be freed of once slavery is abolished. For example, the line “No more hundred lash for me. No more, no more” presents an escape from the unjustifiable violence shown to slaves by their landowners. This song was sung at Tod Clifton’s funeral procession in Harlem who died of police brutality against the black race. This spiritual song served to connect the black community at Harlem, who shared the same history despite their differences, in order to seek justice for a common cause. Together, the black community of Harlem marched in memory of Tod Clifton as they sung this empowering song, but rather than freedom from slavery, they sang in hope of freedom from segregation, oppression by whites, and racial injustice.

#invisble man #racism #many thousand gone

Post 2 - Aabid Q.

“They really do have rhythm.”

These were the words of the doctor as the IM spasmed on the bed, his body convulsing due to the aggressive shock therapy he was put through. His memory was compromised due to the doctors’ rash actions. The doctor made a huge mistake, and what did he have to say for it? “They really do have rhythm.” The doctor is referring to black people and invoking a disgusting stereotype of how they love to dance. A real cruel joke to play on a guy withering in pain.

These words summed up the attitude of the white doctor and white people in general in this era. It is truly astonishing how little they care, they treat black people as a different species altogether. An animal for them to tame or abuse depending on their mood.

The picture above is my quick illustration of what I imagined as presented in the book. The IM screams in pain as he is shocked to unconscious, the heartless doctor watching the event unfold with pride, and the unnerving atmosphere as another cruel act against humanity is taking place.

#invisible man #rhythm #doctors

Post 2 - Aryan G.

“O well they picked poor Robin clean

O well they picked poor Robin clean

Well they tied poor Robin to a stump

Lawd, they picked all the feathers round from Robin's rump

Well they picked poor Robin clean”

The music motif has often been used in The Invisible Man to indirectly convey the narrator's reaction to certain events or as a larger indicator of the state of his identity. In the Prologue, we see that the narrator particularly resonates with the song “What did I do to be so Black and Blue”, initiating his quest for identity which we follow throughout the book. Later, the song that Peter Wheatstraw sings sparks a realization of a cultural component to the sense of identity that the narrator is searching for. Similarly, the song “Picked Poor Robin Clean” continues this theme with music. After the narrator's realization that he was betrayed by Dr. Bledsoe, who sent the narrator to New York as a way of expelling him without negatively impacting the reputation of the college, he comes across a man whistling the tune “Picked Poor Robin Clean”. Though, it is not until after a moment of reflection over recent events that he recalls the tune. The lyrics of the song symbolize how much the narrator has been degraded as a result of the event which got him “expelled”. Each recommendation letter delivered, each job rejection being a metaphorical feather that is plucked from the narrator's psyche. It is at this point where any pride or sense of connection he had to his experiences at college begin to dissolve away, leaving him a blank canvas with which to rebuild his sense of identity.

#invisible man #music #identity

Post 2 - Iris C.

Racist Themes Behind the Drunk White Man Requesting IM to Sing His Spiritual Songs

“‘You’re just who we need. We been looking for you...How about a spiritual, Brother? Or one of those real good ole Negro work songs? Like this: Ah went to Atlanta- nevah been there befo...White man sleep in a feather bed, Nigguh sleep on the flo’” (Chapter 14)

This situation occurs by a group of Brotherhood members that are singing; a drunk man requests beseeches the narrator to sing a spiritual song native to African Americans. As Brother Jack protests against his request, the drunk man exclaims, “Nonsense, I like their singing!” This shows that even within the Brotherhood, an organization that represents equality and justice, there are underlying racist beliefs. Even though the drunk man simply wanted to hear the narrator sing, his sensitivity towards race impartiality was virtually nonexistent. This further demonstrates the prominent theme of racism throughout this novel as the young black narrator confronts the degradation and racism of others. His situation also illustrates a development in the narrator’s perspective towards race. In the beginning, the Invisible Man emphasizes that African Americans should willingly cooperate with the powerful white men and women in power. At this point in time, he has met various people that have taken part in the complicated history of race; this matures his views on the world, as well as his impression on racism.

#invisible man #racism #spiritual songs

Post 2 - Noor K.

The Use of Music as a Method to Portray Temporary Feelings of Mental Illness

Although not explicitly mentioned, there is good reason to believe that the narrator has instances of mental instability whether literal or metaphorical. Upon moving to New York and trying to gain a position on campus, the narrator faced large setbacks that have led to great difficulty. When describing his reaction to all the challenges in New York the narrator wrote “If only all the contradictory voices shouting inside my head would calm down and sing a song in unison, whatever it was I wouldn't care as long as they sang without dissonance…” Without any direct statement, it can only be assumed that the narrator may suffer from schizophrenia, but his incorporation of the musical element adds significantly to the argument. Not only does he mention voices inside his head, but he adds the musical element of dissonance which implies a lack of harmony and a sense of clashing increasing the extremity of his suffering. With this, one may identify either a literal or metaphorical diagnosis of schizophrenia which has only been enriched with the addition of music.

#invisible man #music #schizophrenia

Post 2 - Emily Z.

Wheatstraw’s Blues Song and How It Relates to the Narrator’s Sense of Identity

At the beginning of Chapter Nine, the narrator encounters Peter Wheatstraw, a man who was pushing a cart of blueprints and singing a blues tune. This particular song draws ties with Jasper’s Gal, a 1940’s blues classic by Memphis Slim. His lyrics go:

“Now she got legs like a needle, she ain’t got no chin

She’s a beautiful woman for the shape she’s in

Her feet look like swings way out on a limb

That’s why her mother put her off on him

Because she bo-gish

She’s got B.O. all the time

And she thinks soap and water

Is a doggone crime.”

The song Peter Wheatstraw sings is similar to Jasper’s Gal, but while Memphis Slim trash-talks his girl for her looks, Wheatstraw treasures his own girl despite her unattractiveness, as shown in the lyrics he sings.

“She’s got feet like a monkey

Legs like a frog -- Lawd, Lawd!

But when she starts to loving me

I holler Whoooo, God-dog!

Cause I loves my baabay,

Better than I do myself…”

The narrator is initially drawn to Wheatstraw’s tune because the music reminds him of his Southern roots from when he heard blues being sung at home. Upon recognizing the narrator’s roots, Wheatstraw speaks in a black dialectical banter, asking if “is you got the dog?” The narrator laughs nervously and denies his Southern origins, and Wheatstraw is miffed that the narrator is trying to act like he never heard that phrase before.

In this case, the woman in Wheatstraw’s song represents Southern roots. While Wheatstraw is proud of his origins, the narrator is ashamed of his own. This plays an important role in shaping the narrator’s identity because he is wiping his slate clean and this foreshadows a fresh start.

#invisible man #south #southern roots #blues #music

Post 2 - Vidya M.

Disney Musical “Song of the South” Connection to Invisible Man

“BOY, WHO WAS BRER RABBIT?” (Chapter 11)

This was the question that was proposed to the narrator by the doctors in hopes of helping him recollect his memory about his identity. However, Brer Rabbit is a demeaning stereotype that has been associated with blacks for ages and even depicted in children’s television through musicals. A notable example is the 1946 family musical “Song of the South'' produced by Disney which is centered around Uncle Remus, an ex slave, telling stories to white children who came to visit the plantation about the mischief of Brer Rabbit. The fables narrated by Uncle Resmus would follow the general structure of the Brer Rabbit falling trap to the pranks of Brer fox. These stories would be an allegory for a white land owner (Brer Fox) manipulating the uneducated and accepting nature of their black slaves (Brer Rabbit) for their monetary gains and in the case of the folktale, their amusement. Brer Rabbit’s behavior and slang was depicted as very ignorant which was a stereotype that stuck with blacks a long time post slavery. ‘Zip -a-Dee-Doo-Dah’ is an oscar winning song from “Song of the South'', but the sequence before the song when Uncle Remus recalls his days of working on the plantation alarmingly depicts slavery in a positive light. Uncle Resmus stated “every day was mighty satisfactual. If you’ll excuse me for saying so,” he adds, “’twas better all around.” Due to the racially stereotypical depiction of blacks and embedded elements of supporting white supremacy, this Disney Musical never received a home video release in the United States and cannot be found on Disney’s streaming platforms today.

#invisible man #racism #song of the south

Post 1 - Aryan G.

“You can’t touch music — it exists only at the moment it is being apprehended — and yet it can profoundly alter how we view the world and our place in it.”

The 1930’s were the height of the Harlem Renaissance, a movement empowering African Americans through art, music being what the novel “Invisible Man” by Ralph Ellison focuses on. In just the epilogue, Ellison creates an immersive picture of himself and his setting through the use of jazz, specifically with the song “What did I do to be so Black and Blue” by Louis Armstrong, to introduce the large thematic impact that this genre of music has on the story. Known for its sense of spontaneity and individuality, Jazz music began as a cultural movement that continued throughout the Harlem Renaissance. The concept of cultural individuality being a central theme of “Invisible Man”. As the narrator embarks on his journey for identity, being an African American in a predominantly white country, some parallels begin to emerge connecting back to the fundamental elements of Jazz music. In the prologue, and next consecutive chapters, the main character endures much hardship, many of which are a consequence of his race. Enduring hardship and the effects it has on a person, a perfect commentary on the state of the protagonist as he listens to it. The song is a part of the narrative’s identity at the time, defining his motivations and his search for purpose as the story continues.

Though it is difficult to really experience the sentiment behind music, or any medium of art, like Jazz and the Blues living in an era entirely separate from the realities that inspired it. Emotional pieces like this one from Louis Armstrong can be appreciated for their cultural impact, but modern readers/listeners are unlikely to share the attachment to the genre seen with the narrator in the prologue. Even the song itself, “What did I do to be so Black and Blue” evolved in its thematic meaning through different performances from different artists. This concept being yet another parallel between the novel and the music that it comprises.

#invisible man #harlem renaissance #jazz #racism

Post 1 - Iris C.

Armstrong’s Jazz and How It Speaks for Racism Today

“Then somehow I came out of it, ascending hastily from this underworld of sound to hear Louis Armstrong innocently asking,

What did I do

To be so black

And blue?

At first I was afraid; this familiar music had demanded action, the kind of which I was incapable, and yet had I lingered there beneath the surface I might have attempted to act” (Ellison, 11)

Jazz serves as an elegant metaphor for the African American struggle for independence in society. Armstrong transformed jazz into a medium demonstrating individual expression and individuality,

The narrator listens to “What Did I Do to Be So) Black and Blue,” written by Louis Armstrong. Armstrong transformed the music piece to capture the challenges faced by colored people, specifically African Americans, in a white society.

The lyrics of the song explore the speaker’s inner thoughts/feelings and his identity judged by society. This reinforces the black struggle for individuality.

Seeing the black struggle for identity truly speaks to me, especially through the equality movements happening today. When Brown v. The Board of Education deemed the “separate but equal” schools as inherently unequal, we showed that, as Americans, we’d put aside racism and just feel, just understand. We’ve become so obsessed with the demographics that we have unraveled what it means to be America. To achieve racial justice, we must recognize that our perception of justice… is unjust

#invisible man #jazz #racism #armstrong

Post 1 - Noor K.

Musical References and Emphasis in Literature

In the novel, “Invisible Man” Ralph Ellison uses different musical references to emphasize variant literary elements and messages, and they create an enormously powerful addition to the work. For example when Ellison writes, “I'd like to hear five recordings of Louis Armstrong playing and singing ‘What Did I Do to Be so Black and Blue’ - all at the same time” he was able to connect his music and social thought in the forefront of the novel while simultaneously reusing the profound meaning of Armstrong’s performance of this song to comment upon the deeply rooted racism in the current society. When the narrator was injured, he described a dynamic music that he could here that changed throughout his consciousness. By incorporating music to his pain and experience such as “...the music became a distinct wail of female pain” his descriptions are significantly heightened and a whole new stylistic layer has been created.

#music #literature #invisible man #ralph ellison

Post 1 - Vidya M.

“Living with Music” Connections to “Invisible Man”

“Living with Music” is a book by Ralph Ellison which explains the extent of impact music has had on his life and the reasoning behind his effort to embed musical elements in his novels to enhance his storytelling. In “The Invisible Man”, Ellison mimics elements of jazz music like syncopation and solo improvisation. Syncopation is the element of jazz in which beats are used in unexpected ways to make the music more exhilarating. Ellison’s use of syncopation is seen when the narrator he was unexpectedly expelled from his college by Dr. Bledsoe despite the reassurance from Mr. Norton that it was not his fault. Solo improvisation is another element of jazz in which there are spontaneous (“at the moment”) additions to a music performance. Ellison employs solo improvisation in the informal narrations by different characters of their personal stories throughout the course of the “Invisible Man’s” journey. The most notable example is Farmer Trueblood’s narration of his sin in Chapter 2 because it possessed different dialect and sentence structure which interrupted the regular style and flow of the story, but accurately captured Trueblood’s essence.

Throughout his life, as he stated in “Living with Music”, Ellison was constantly stuck between Western Classical and Negro Jazz styles of music which mirrors the plight of his character’s dilemma in Invisible Man of either being subservient to please the whites or follow his grandfather’s last words of defying their race’s inferior position.

Ellison maintains his anecdotal style of storytelling in “Living with Music” similar to “Invisible Man” as this novel starts with Ralph’s childhood story of learning to play the brass trombone. His teacher imposed too many restrictions which made learning the instrument mundane and caused him to eventually give up. However, through his personal experiences growing up, he came to realize the power of music in resurrecting him out of difficult times which is why it has shaped his literary works to such an extent.

Editor of “Living with Music” discusses Ralph Ellison: https://jerryjazzmusician.com/2002/08/the-ralph-ellison-project-robert-omeally-editor-of-living-with-music-discusses-invisible-man-author-ralph-ellison/

#invisible man #living with music #ralph ellison

Post 1 - Emily Z.

What Makes Jazz So Unique and Its Underlying Social Effects

Music, in general, whether it is from the baroque, classical, or romantic period, follows a general structure, and this has been a norm for hundreds of years. Jazz seemingly breaks those rules with its special rhythmic and structural elements with roots from West Africa and Europe.

Jazz’s syncopation which set the notes off-beat were not present in European classical music, thus making it a novelty. The swing in jazz is what brings life to a performance. The feeling is created by a swung eighth note, and this is often a subjective quality to listeners. When put together, syncopation and swing give the music’s performer or composer considerable room to improvise on the spot, giving jazz character unique to each person.

“Perhaps I like Louis Armstrong because he’s made poetry out of being invisible. I think it must be because he’s unaware that he is invisible. And my own grasp of invisibility aids me to understand his music” (Ellison, 11). Louis Armstrong is heralded as one of the most influential figures in jazz. His improvised solos and vocals incorporating scat singing transformed jazz into a soloist’s art. Ellison’s comment on Armstrong refers to how music is an outlet for anger, grief, and desire for change in black Americans. Despite all the racism and discrimination, people like Armstrong have found solace in expressing themselves through music.

#jazz #invisible man #armstrong #trumpet #racism

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