In the text “Battle Royal” by Ralph Ellison, the author uses a visionary approach in sending his message. The message being no matter how hard our narrator may try, equality is unachievable. The meticulous detail Ellison incorporates in his style of writing is what makes this story so special and unique. Writing our narrator to believe as if he is breaking barriers and attaining the impossible when in reality he is just another piece of the educated and rich white men’s games. At first glance, Battle Royal is on another spectrum in relation to “Going Black to Africa” by Baratunde Thurston. This story is about an African boy who is taking a trip back to the brother land, unaware of how incomplete he was until his trip was over and achieved the feeling of
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Everyone praised me and I was invited to give the speech at a gathering of the town’s leading white citizens. It was a triumph for our whole community” (Ellison 185). In this line we see that our narrator is ecstatic to be invited to give his speech in front of the men that hold all the power. This is where he starts to think he has the potential to be a part of the leading citizens of the town and that gap between him and the rich whites was only an arms lengths away in terms of equality. This is showcased when he mentions that it joyous for the whole community, he is referring to the black community. The reality of these expectations were heartbreaking, we see that what he was actually invited for was to fight in the battle royal and be used as entertainment. The rich white doctors, lawyers, and teachers in every way they can show our narrator that they do and always will hold all the power and control over them. “Going Black to Africa” is comparable in the sense of holding expectations, our narrator, Baratunde Thurston fills his journey will racial jokes and stereotypes. Baratunde is even using humor when he lands in Africa. Thurstone says, “I’m not sure just what I expected. Would there be a version of the
Everyone praised me and I was invited to give the speech at a gathering of the town’s leading white citizens. It was a triumph for our whole community” (Ellison 185). In this line we see that our narrator is ecstatic to be invited to give his speech in front of the men that hold all the power. This is where he starts to think he has the potential to be a part of the leading citizens of the town and that gap between him and the rich whites was only an arms lengths away in terms of equality. This is showcased when he mentions that it joyous for the whole community, he is referring to the black community. The reality of these expectations were heartbreaking, we see that what he was actually invited for was to fight in the battle royal and be used as entertainment. The rich white doctors, lawyers, and teachers in every way they can show our narrator that they do and always will hold all the power and control over them. “Going Black to Africa” is comparable in the sense of holding expectations, our narrator, Baratunde Thurston fills his journey will racial jokes and stereotypes. Baratunde is even using humor when he lands in Africa. Thurstone says, “I’m not sure just what I expected. Would there be a version of the