Black History Month: What Does it Reveal?
By Susan Galpin-Tyree
Author and jazz musician Ralph Ellison’s classic novel, Invisible Man, won the National Book Award in 1953. I read his novel for the first time in Spring 2000, an assignment for the course SOC 470 Racial and Ethnic Minorities at ASU. I was captured by Ellison as his script drew me in and has refused to let me go ever since. His writing, his teaching, scattered with symbolism and allegory stays with me always.
The narrator finds himself working at a plant in Long Island. Its big neon sign announces its purpose: “Keep America Pure with Liberty Paints.” The plant produces a brilliant Optic White paint “that’ll cover just about anything!” Its secret is exactly ten drops, no more or less, of black liquid. In fact, upon closer inspection, the intense white of Liberty Paints is actually diffused with gray — although the white supervisor doesn’t seem to notice.
In this particular allegory, Ellison reveals the lie at the heart of America’s idea of itself: that no matter how we try to paint the history of this country, Black people give it color and depth. That fact has been and is often hidden from view, because America, no matter what it says about itself or what demography portends, still holds on to the idea that this country is a white nation.
In 1975, Ellison spoke at the celebration in his home town of Oklahoma City where the city named a branch library after him. “I have no doubt that within these walls other writers – Black, White, Indian – will emerge. The library is a place where we can free ourselves from the limitations of today by becoming acquainted with what went on in the past. And, thus project ourselves into the future.”
What does Black History Month reveal to me? It reveals the importance of reading, of learning, and of acknowledgement. It reminds me to seek to understand, and to celebrate.
What does Black History Month reveal to you?
References:
Ellison, R. (1952). Invisible Man. (1994 Modern Library Edition) Random House, Inc., New York
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWlaAcDlnjg
https://ralphellisonfoundation.org/meet-ralph-ellison/
