Freeper Reading Club Discussion: "Invisible Man" (Ralph Ellison)

November 18, 2002

[PJ-Comix]

This month's Freeper Reading Club (now over 100 members) discussion is about Ralph Ellison's "Invisible Man." As I stated when assigning this book, as soon as you think you know where this book is heading, it completely changes directions and surprises you. Upon re-reading "Invisible Man" it seems apparent to me that Joseph Heller, author of "Catch-22," must have read this book since much of the surreal absurdity in "Invisible Man" was reflected in his own acclaimed book years later.

As we saw in "Invisible Man," nobody really saw the man (never named) as he really was. To them he was just a symbol but never really existed as a man. Does this remind you of something nowadays? I sure saw a lot of this in how liberals treat blacks. To them, black people are merely voting blocks to be counted on at election day. Too bad that this strategy didn't quite work this time around.

I really like the section of "Invisible Man" where the man (not named) puts on a hat and sunglasses and is immediately mistaken for Rinehart, another black man who uses his invisibility to assume many different roles. Somehow on the first reading of this book, I missed the significance of this. It sure opened the eyes of the Invisible Man to the possibilities of life.

Also fantastic was the often hilarious look at the internal workings of the Communist Party U.S.A. circa the 1930s era. The character of Brother Jack was right on in it's characterization of a deceitful Communist Party bigwig.

Oh, and one other thing. Can anyone out there tell me why "Invisible Man" (Ralph Ellison book) has NOT been made into a movie. If ever there was a book SCREAMING out to be made as a movie this one is it. Perhaps its Politically Incorrect look at the antics of the Communist Party makes this book too embarrassing for liberals to make as a movie.

All in all, "Invisible Man" is an incredible book! Those of you who didn't read this one missed out on an incredible treat.

[PJ-Comix]

I think it was pretty apparent that Mr. Norton had incestuous relations with his daughter which somehow led to her death. The thing that makes me curious is why Ellison included this in his book. But the fact that Mr. Norton was so fascinated by the story of the black sharecropper's incest with his daughter plus the fact that he later went into a sort of semi-coma seems to me that Ellison wanted us to think that Mr. Norton had incest with his daughter although this wasn't explicitly pointed out.

[PJ-Comix]

Dr. Bledsoe sort of reminded me of a cross between Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. The school that the narrator attended was definitely based on Tuskeegee Institute which is verified by the fact that Ellison did attend that school. I wonder if he based Dr. Bledsoe on some Tuskeegee Institute official. As to The Founder, I am sure this character was based on Booker T. Washington although Ellison did mention them separately at one point in the same paragraph. Oh, and the Brotherhood is definitely the Communist Party U.S.A. since Ellison has stated that he was in the Party although he didn't officially hold a CPUSA card.

It wouldn't surprise me if Brother Jack was based directly on a comrade that Ellison knew in the CPUSA.

[SamAdams76]

Another interesting part of the book was when the narrator worked at Liberty Paints and his first job there was to mix the "optic white" paint (Slogan was "If it's Optic White, it's the Right White"). In order to make the paint as white as possible, it has to be doped with a "jet black" liquid, which ends up disappearing into the paint, somehow making it even whiter then it was before. I think this was somehow symbolic of the black man becoming invisible to whites. I wonder if this is something that the author made up or if it really is true that white paint becomes even whiter if it is doped with a jet black liquid.

Anyway, things really got bizarre for a while when the narrator went downstairs with Lucius Brockway.

[PJ-Comix]

Anyway, things really got bizarre for a while when the narrator went downstairs with Lucius Brockway.

Also funny since Brockway was a real nutcase.

[SamAdams76]

Dr. Bledsoe sort of reminded me of a cross between Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton.

Only difference is, Dr. Bledsoe had an actual job and probably did real work. For some reason, I thought of D.C. mayor Marion Barry. I don't know much about Barry (other then his drug bust) but he seems like a flawed man who manages to hold on to power no matter what.

[SunTzuWu]

Please add me to your list!!!

I'm an avid reader... when I'm not online reading FR. I remember the first book that had a lasting affect on me. I read "The Ugly American" when I was about 14. I credit that book with starting me down the long road toward the Vast Right Wing.

[SamAdams76]

What I like about these kind of book clubs is that you end up reading books that you never otherwise might have considered reading. So far, none of the books that PJ-Comix has selected were on my reading list and all of them have been worthy. I am into Chapter 5 of "From Here To Eternity" and hopefully many of the nearly 200 people in this club will get to finish it. It doesn't seem like many of us made it through "Invisible Man" based on the response so far. It was a tough read at times but overall a rewarding book.

[PJ-Comix]

I read "The Ugly American" when I was about 14.

I'll probably be assigning that book down the road. Col. Lansdale of the CIA was fictionalized as a character in that book.

[PJ-Comix]

What I like about these kind of book clubs is that you end up reading books that you never otherwise might have considered reading.

Also I'm re-reading a lot of books and noticing how much I missed on the first go-around.

[PJ-Comix]

Hmmmm..... I'm wondering if anybody but us two actually READ Invisible Man. Oh well, I'm looking for MORE participation on the From Here To Eternity thread in January. After all FHTE is probably the BEST American novel ever written and Peggy Noonan wrote a column saying why FHTE is an IMPORTANT novel for us to read. Also I am giving all the way to mid January (Jan. 13) to complete FHTE and with the holidays and all there is no excuse for members of the Freeper Reading Club not to read it.

Anyway, as always, you have been the most active participant in the Freeper Reading Club. Perhaps I should prescribe Sam Adams beer for the others to drink to inspire them to read more.

[SamAdams76]

Well don't get discouraged. It might take a few months to get people here in the habit of reading a book every month. I've been reading at least two or three hours a day for over 20 years (not including my internet time) so reading your monthly book isn't that big of a deal for me.

But the vast majority of Americans haven't read a book since they got out of high school or college due to the fact that they watch the television.

Hopefully a lot more people are reading "From Here To Eternity."

[Belial]

Ya know, I read Invisible Man when I was quite young, and I was intrigued by it, although I didn't really understand it. I'd definitely like to re-read...this thread reminds me of that.

Only a few details remain in my memory: the guy in the basement splicing power cables for free electricity, and a scene where he leaves a drunk woman after writing "I've been raped by Santa Claus". Or something like that.

[shetlan]

I-Man did well in high school, and was given a full scholarship to college.

During his junior year, he was trusted with the responsibility of showing an important benefactor around. He foolishly messed up, exposing the wealthy, pathetic man to reality.

He gets kicked out of college, and immediately goes to Harlem, N.Y. where he becomes grown-up I-man.

Eventually, I-Man tires of cheating, and living like a rat.

Chapter one had me going. I had a hard time with the rest :-(

[codercpc]

Hi sorry I didn't get to the discussion yesterday, I was gone all day.

I agree about Dr. Bledsoe, he reminded me of Jesse Jackass also. He portrays himself as a savior and a beacon of blacks (see what I have achieved), but as soon as it looks like he will be penalized by his rich white benefactors, he throws the blacks away. Its all about his power and money, not about championing his race and trying to better them.

Raz the Destroyer was Malcom X or, any other Black Muslim, of today.

Although I agree it was alittle dry in parts and difficult to get through in parts, I looked forward to reading it every night.

Thanks for putting this book club together.

[SamAdams76]

I didn't realize the same thing happened to Don Imus. Weird.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

Is there a non-fiction book report section in FR?

Seems like there should be. Sometimes there are books that seem important, and worth discussing here. I guess a fellow could post a review of a book as an article, then comment on it directly . . .

[PJ-Comix]

Is there a non-fiction book report section in FR?

The Freeper Reading Club already had two non-fiction book discussions: The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test and Homage To Catalonia.

[PJ-Comix]

It might take a few months to get people here in the habit of reading a book every month.

One summer I was actually reading two books per day: A Louis L'Amour Western in the morning and a Mickey Spillane Mike Hammer book at night.

But the vast majority of Americans haven't read a book since they got out of high school or college due to the fact that they watch the television.

I started reading a lot of books during the TV commercials. But what would happen is that I found the books so interesting that I quickly didn't bother even watching the TV shows after the commercial breaks and stuck with the books. BTW, a LOT of book reading can be done while waiting in line at the Post Office (especially around Christmas time), sitting at the airport, on air flights, or just as an excuse not to have to talk to annoying In-Laws during the holidays.

[PJ-Comix]

Raz the Destroyer was Malcom X or, any other Black Muslim, of today.

That was Ras the Exhorter. What was interesting is that I didn't know they had black nationalists back them. And it wasn't a case of someone taking today's realities and imposing them on the past since Ellison completed Invisible Man in 1952.

[PJ-Comix]

My favorite part was the Brotherhood (Communist) Party meetings. Notice how Brother Jack betrayed the I-Man? Also I enjoyed how the I-Man was mistaken for Rinehart and discovered the many unusual guises (bookie, preacher, etc.) of the latter.