ELLISON’S NOVEL ADRESSES VIOLENCE AGAINST YOUNG, BLACK men in the urban American cities. Brother Tod Clifton is shot and murderred by a white New York police officer. This central act in a novel nearly 70 years old is still the focus of the late twenty-teens. Why does this issue persist? Why is violence enacted by white police officers against young black men still an issue in 21st century America? As we close our reading of this novel, we will continue to explore contemporary connections between Ellison’s novel and life in America today.

MONDAY

As we move into chapter 23, the Invisible Man’s discovers he can change his persona by disguising himself with sunglasses (at first) and a hat (later). Presumably, he disguises himself at first to hide from Ras the Exhorter (who becomes Ras the Destroyer) and his men. But what does he soon discover about identity in America, i.e.: "They see the hat, not me….”?
Finish reading chapter 23 for homework.

TUESDAY

No class today for SAT testing.
Read chapter 24. If you haven’t ordered our last two novellas, make a point of ordering a copy of Kate Chopin’s The Awakening and F.S. Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. These will be our two final texts.

WEDNESDAY

What does it mean “to pass” in terms of racial identity? We will start with an Eddie Murphy SNL skit, “White Like Me.” We will then discuss the Invisible Man’s plan to adopt an identity that will allow him to infiltrate the Brotherhood, discover their real political agenda. Time permitting, we will start chapter 23.
HW: Finish reading chapter 23 for class tomorrow.

THURSDAY

Small group analsysis of chapter 23. What is a Sybil in Greek mythology? What does it mean “to see through a glass darkly”? How has the Invisible Man’s plan to infiltrate the Brotherhood by getting close to wives of men in the Brotherhood go awry?
Start reading chapter twenty-four.

FRIDAY

Today we will watch the second part of the Ellison biography.
Finish reading chapter 24 this weekend.