Battle Royal
In today's society the story Battle Royal by Ralph Ellison continues to have a great significance to my people. Many blacks today are still ashamed of their race and would rather be part of a majority that doesn't want them to be equal anyway. The narrator states, "When I was praised for my conduct I felt a guilt that in someway I was doing something that was really against the wishes of the white folks that if they had understood they would have desired me to act just the opposite" (533). This is truly heartbreaking because I couldn't see myself being anything but a strong, surviving, proud, splendid black woman. This situation is extremely relevant to the black experience of America because even today there are still some blacks who will degrade, humiliate, and even put aside their self-respect for the acceptance and
They are willing to put money into expanding and rebuilding the white communities but neglect and criticize the black communities. These teachers will feed them the lies from their textbooks written by white America. These types of people choose to be blind to the harsh realities of our people, causing us to have two separate struggles, one within our own race and the other with white America. These people will do everything in their power to be apart of their elite society and their country clubs and to wear their member only jackets. They will chuckle at their racist jokes and snicker at their snide remarks and comments with stereotypical punch lines. They will force their children to go to the schools where the people there could care less about the African American culture. Not to mention that we have to show them that we are black but not too black. While the narrator was resighting his speech a group of voices would yell, " repeat what you said, whenever he had uttered a word with three or more syllables"(Ellison 540). They will disown their heritage and what they believe in so that white America will think highly of them and hopefully welcome them with open arms. These people are willing to hire whites before they hire their own, even though the black candidate may be more qualified. Some of the most important men of town where at the battle Royal saying such racist remarks as, "Let me at that big nigger, let me at those black son of a bitches, and I want to get at that ginger colored nigger" (535), where a few racist remarks made by the white folks. These children in turn will grow up ignorant about their culture, ancestors, and their history. Works CiteEllison, Ralph.
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