Author's Bio - Ralph Ellison
Ralph Ellison (1914- 1994), an African-American author, became known for his works during the Harlem Renaissance. Throughout his lifetime, Ellison was recognized by his works, which discussed racial and social aspects in the United States as well as the diversity of different geographical, social, and ethnic backgrounds. Ellison expressed his thoughts and ideas not only through words, but through music as well—Ellison was a jazz musician and played the trumpet to convey messages about social backgrounds. Growing up, Ellison was fortunate enough not to observe the oppression that African-Americans of the “Deep South” faced daily, but it gave him topics of discussion in his novels. Ellison received most of his post-secondary education at Tuskegee University, where he was surrounded by many different racial and ethnic issues that inspired topics for the novels. Ellison, along with Langston Hughes and other men of the time were given the title of “Renaissance Men.” These individuals were passionate about breaching through and rising above racial barriers through art and philosophy.
Many are familiar with Ellison’s novel, “Invisible Man,” not to be confused with “The Invisible Man,” written by H.G. Wells. Ellison began brainstorming ideas for the novel on a friend’s farm in Vermont. He wrote down the sentence, “I am an Invisible Man.” He tried to discern and expand on the statement even more, and he developed themes of alienation and self-definition. The book also talks about African-American experiences and their experiences in Harlem.
Ellison won several awards, including IM won National Book Award for fiction, the Russwurm Award, and the Certificate of Award from the Chicago defender. Ellison later died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 80.
Many are familiar with Ellison’s novel, “Invisible Man,” not to be confused with “The Invisible Man,” written by H.G. Wells. Ellison began brainstorming ideas for the novel on a friend’s farm in Vermont. He wrote down the sentence, “I am an Invisible Man.” He tried to discern and expand on the statement even more, and he developed themes of alienation and self-definition. The book also talks about African-American experiences and their experiences in Harlem.
Ellison won several awards, including IM won National Book Award for fiction, the Russwurm Award, and the Certificate of Award from the Chicago defender. Ellison later died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 80.
"Ralph Ellison." Contemporary Black Biography. Vol. 7. Detroit: Gale, 1994. Web. 4 May 2014.
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