Despite setting likely occurring during or approaching the Roaring 20’s and the rise of the Blues genre, Blacks were prohibited from most music events. Ellison, who had decided he wanted to become a musician, lamented that he could not join the marching band that lived less than a block away from him and could use his skill on the cornet. The author induces a feeling of isolation and hopelessness by listing the various parameters that would’ve made the situation perfect had discrimination not been a factor, leaving the protagonist to be “surrounded by sounds but unable to share a sound.” Such a statement may be a metaphor to discrimination and racism prohibiting Blacks from voting or having their First Amendment rights. It alludes to how the White desire to suppress the result of the American Civil War and continue to deny African Americans protection under the US
Despite setting likely occurring during or approaching the Roaring 20’s and the rise of the Blues genre, Blacks were prohibited from most music events. Ellison, who had decided he wanted to become a musician, lamented that he could not join the marching band that lived less than a block away from him and could use his skill on the cornet. The author induces a feeling of isolation and hopelessness by listing the various parameters that would’ve made the situation perfect had discrimination not been a factor, leaving the protagonist to be “surrounded by sounds but unable to share a sound.” Such a statement may be a metaphor to discrimination and racism prohibiting Blacks from voting or having their First Amendment rights. It alludes to how the White desire to suppress the result of the American Civil War and continue to deny African Americans protection under the US