Ralph Ellison and the raft of hope : a political companion to "Invisible man"

An important new collection of original essays that examine how Ellison's landmark novel, Invisible Man (1952), addresses the social, cultural, political, economic, and racial contradictions of America. Commenting on the significance of Mark Twain's writings, Ralph Ellison wrote that "a novel could be fashioned as a raft of hope, perception and entertainment that might help keep us afloat as we tried to negotiate the snags and whirlpools that mark our nation's vacillating course toward and away from the democratic ideal." Ellison believed it was the contradiction between America's "noble ideals and the actualities of our conduct" that inspired the most profound literature—"the American novel at its best." Drawing from the fields of literature, politics, law, and history, the contributors make visible the political and ethical terms of Invisible Man, while also illuminating Ellison's understanding of democracy and art. Ellison hoped that his novel, by providing a tragicomic look at American ideals and mores, would make better citizens of his readers. The contributors also explain Ellison's distinctive views on the political tasks and responsibilities of the novelist, an especially relevant topic as contemporary writers continue to confront the American incongruity between democratic faith and practice. Ralph Ellison and the Raft of Hope uniquely demonstrates why Invisible Man stands as a premier literary meditation on American democracy. Ralph Ellison learned from Mark Twain that "a novel could be fashioned as a raft of hope, to keep us afloat as we tried to negotiate the snags and whirlpools that mark our nation's vacillating course toward and away from the democratic ideal." In one of his last public speeches, Ellison challenged American writers "to take individual responsibility for the health of American democracy" in their literary endeavors. The original essays in Ralph Ellison and the Raft of Hope illuminate Ellison's work to enrich the political sensibilities and strengthen the democratic resolve of his audience. In Ellison's day, rampant social upheaval was the hallmark of a divided America, and those hoping to improve society through concerted democratic action encountered powerful opposition. Conflict and discord filled buses and churches, courtrooms and legislative halls, dinner tables and negotiating tables. Warriors on all sides took their battles into the streets, and this atmosphere permeated the text of Ellison's masterpiece, Invisible Man.Ellison's relevance as a political novelist, essayist, and commentator did not end with the publication of Invisible Man or as the civil rights movement waned. This collection of essays demonstrates that Invisible Man deserves its place in the pantheon of great American novels and that Ellison should be regarded as an essential framer of recent American political thought. His conception of America's basic democratic project -- strangers, bound together by common citizenship, crafting a vision for America's future and forging consensus on the path toward that goal -- is especially valid in the new century as the nation struggles with divisions and contradictions unimagined during Ellison's lifetime. The essays in Ralph Ellison and the Raft of Hope probe the political lessons of the landmark novel Invisible Man, in which Ellison reflects on the sacred ideals that set the American republic into motion. He explores the contrast between modern statements of those ideals and the policies that subverted them, ceaselessly exhorting his fellow writers to bring their acute insights to these crucial questions. Drawing from literature, politics, history, and the law, the contributors demonstrate how Ralph Ellison set the tone and agenda for a politically charged era. "This superb [essay] collection enables readers of Invisible Man to appreciate the subtleties of its cultural and political commentary." —Journal of American Studies An important collection of original essays that examine how Ellison's landmark novel, Invisible Man (1952), addresses the social, cultural, political, economic, and racial contradictions of America. Commenting on the significance of Mark Twain's writings, Ralph Ellison wrote that "a novel could be fashioned as a raft of hope, perception and entertainment that might help keep us afloat as we tried to negotiate the snags and whirlpools that mark our nation's vacillating course toward and away from the democratic ideal." Ellison believed it was the contradiction between America's "noble ideals and the actualities of our conduct" that inspired the most profound literature?"the American novel at its best." Drawing from the fields of literature, politics, law, and history, the contributors make visible the political and ethical terms of Invisible Man , while also illuminating Ellison's understanding of democracy and art. Ralph Ellison and the Raft of Hope uniquely demonstrates why Invisible Man stands as a premier literary meditation on American democracy. "Essential reading for anyone interested in understanding Ellison's political thought." —Lawrence Jackson, author of Ralph Ellison: Emergence of Genius "Outstanding. . . . Provides an interdisciplinary perspective of the politics of the book." — Lexington Herald-Leader "These essays . . . demonstrate that a great work of art has the capacity to renew itself across generations." —Pamela K. Jensen, Kenyon College "This careful study of Ellison's great novel is highly recommended for all serious students of American and African American literature." — African American Review

an Important New Collection Of Original Essays That Examine How Ellison's Landmark Novel, Invisible Man (1952), Addresses The Social, Cultural, Political, Economic, And Racial Contradictions Of America. Commenting On The Significance Of Mark Twain's Writings, Ralph Ellison Wrote That A Novel Could Be Fashioned As A Raft Of Hope, Perception And Entertainment That Might Help Keep Us Afloat As We Tried To Negotiate The Snags And Whirlpools That Mark Our Nation's Vacillating Course Toward And Away From The Democratic Ideal. Ellison Believed It Was The Contradiction Between America's Noble Ideals And The Actualities Of Our Conduct That Inspired The Most Profound Literature — The American Novel At Its Best. Drawing From The Fields Of Literature, Politics, Law, And History, The Contributors Make Visible The Political And Ethical Terms Of Invisible Man, While Also Illuminating Ellison's Understanding Of Democracy And Art. Ellison Hoped That His Novel, By Providing A Tragicomic Look At American Ideals And Mores, Would Make Better Citizens Of His Readers. The Contributors Also Explain Ellison's Distinctive Views On The Political Tasks And Responsibilities Of The Novelist, An Especially Relevant Topic As Contemporary Writers Continue To Confront The American Incongruity Between Democratic Faith And Practice. Ralph Ellison And The Raft Of Hope Uniquely Demonstrates Why Invisible Man Stands As A Premier Literary Meditation On American Democracy.

Recovering The Political Artistry Of Invisible Man / Lucas E. Morel -- Affirming The Principle / James Seaton -- Ralph Ellison On The Tragi-comedy Of Citizenship / Danielle Allen -- Ralph Ellison's American Democratic Individualism / Lucas E. Morel -- Invisible Man And Juneteenth: Ralph Ellison's Literary Pursuit Of Racial Justice / Thomas S. Engeman -- Invisible Man As 'a Form Of Social Power': The Evolution Of Ralph Ellison's Politics / William R. Nash -- Invisible Man As Literary Analog To Brown V. Board Of Education / Alfred L. Brophy -- Ralph Ellison And The Problem Of Cultural Authority: The Lessons Of Little Rock / Kenneth W. Warren -- Ralph Ellison And The Invisibility Of The Black Intellectual: Historical Reflections On Invisible Man / Charles 'pete' Banner-haley -- The Litany Of Things: Sacrament And History In Invisible Man / Marc C. Conner -- Documenting Turbulence: The Dialectics Of Chaos In Invisible Man / Herman Beavers -- The Lingering Question Of Personality And Nation In Invisible Man: 'and Could Politics Ever Be An Expression Of Love?' / John F. Callahan. Edited By Lucas E. Morel. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 230-243) And Index. "Ellison's relevance as a political novelist, essayist, and commentator did not end with the publication of Invisible Man or as the civil rights movement waned. This collection of essays demonstrates that Invisible Man deserves its place in the pantheon of great American novels and that Ellison should be regarded as an essential framer of recent American political thought. His conception of America's basic democratic project - strangers, bound together by common citizenship, crafting a vision for America's future and forging consensus on the path toward that goal - is especially valid in the new century as the nation struggles with divisions and contradictions unimagined during Ellison's lifetime." "The essays in Ralph Ellison and the Raft of Hope probe the political lessons of the landmark novel Invisible Man, in which Ellision reflects on the sacred ideals that set the American republic into motion."--Jacket A half century after the publication of Invisible Man there is very little controversy over its standing as one of the great literary works of the twentieth century, but the debate over the political implications of the novel and about Ralph Ellison's politics in general has continued, even though some issues have become moot.