The Narrator in Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man goes through an interesting and symbolic journey throughout his life. He first becomes a speaker for a social activism group, then witnesses a friend’s murder, and fights in a battle royale. One of his more normal actions is when he starts his new job as a labor worker at the Liberty Paints Factory. However, the factory and its products are also symbolic and teach the Narrator about a racist American society. The Liberty Paints factory and their products represent racial oppression of African Americans during this era, even in the more tolerating environment of the North. Ellison’s depiction of Liberty Paints and their process of mixing white and black substances in the creation of the Optic White
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Ellison uses Liberty Paints to portray that the early twentieth century American society was focused on white power. Liberty Paints stresses purity of color, with a slogan of “If it’s optic right, it 's the right white” that the Narrator finds humorously similar to the racist saying in the South: “If you’re white, you’re right” (217). This racist slogan is a fundamental ideal of both Liberty Paints and American society; it parallels how Liberty Paints prides themselves in their white paint, and America prides itself in its white culture. The significance of Liberty Paints to America is emphasized when it is revealed that Liberty Paints “make a lot of paint for the government” (197). Liberty Paints has colossal influence and power, as they conduct trade with American leaders. Moreover, their Optic White paints are symbolic of American beliefs as they are “the purest white that can …show more content…
Liberty Paints represents American society, and it would not exist if it was not for Lucius Brockway, a black engineer. The owner of Liberty Paints “knows that the reason our paint is so good is because of the way Lucius Brockway puts the pressure on them oils and resins” (218). Brockway is a pivotal piece in the company, and he represents the African American labor that went into the creation of American society. From the toils of the millions of African American slaves to the ideas and labor that African Americans contributed to society, America could not have existed without their efforts. Brockway and African Americans “know more about this basement that anybody”, they have “helped lay the pipes and everything” (216). Their labor is the foundation of early twentieth century American society. The pipes and basement are where the dirty and unseen work is done, but they keep everything running smoothly and perfectly. The loss of Brockway and African American labor would be devastating and neither Liberty Paints nor American society would be able to function. The owner of Liberty Paints tells Brockway that others “can’t do your job”, they “don’t have the touch. We haven’t put out a first-class batch of paint since you been gone” (216). African Americans like Brockway are critical to
Ellison uses Liberty Paints to portray that the early twentieth century American society was focused on white power. Liberty Paints stresses purity of color, with a slogan of “If it’s optic right, it 's the right white” that the Narrator finds humorously similar to the racist saying in the South: “If you’re white, you’re right” (217). This racist slogan is a fundamental ideal of both Liberty Paints and American society; it parallels how Liberty Paints prides themselves in their white paint, and America prides itself in its white culture. The significance of Liberty Paints to America is emphasized when it is revealed that Liberty Paints “make a lot of paint for the government” (197). Liberty Paints has colossal influence and power, as they conduct trade with American leaders. Moreover, their Optic White paints are symbolic of American beliefs as they are “the purest white that can …show more content…
Liberty Paints represents American society, and it would not exist if it was not for Lucius Brockway, a black engineer. The owner of Liberty Paints “knows that the reason our paint is so good is because of the way Lucius Brockway puts the pressure on them oils and resins” (218). Brockway is a pivotal piece in the company, and he represents the African American labor that went into the creation of American society. From the toils of the millions of African American slaves to the ideas and labor that African Americans contributed to society, America could not have existed without their efforts. Brockway and African Americans “know more about this basement that anybody”, they have “helped lay the pipes and everything” (216). Their labor is the foundation of early twentieth century American society. The pipes and basement are where the dirty and unseen work is done, but they keep everything running smoothly and perfectly. The loss of Brockway and African American labor would be devastating and neither Liberty Paints nor American society would be able to function. The owner of Liberty Paints tells Brockway that others “can’t do your job”, they “don’t have the touch. We haven’t put out a first-class batch of paint since you been gone” (216). African Americans like Brockway are critical to