The Emergence of Social Equality Although slavery has been abolished for over 150 years—racial inequality is still apparent today. It is 2018; America is in an era of change, acceptance, and innovation— anyone can be whomever they want to be. Finally, everyone in America belongs and there is equality… except when there isn’t. A recent study done by the Pew Research Center in 2016 revealed how discrimination is present today. The study reports, “A majority of blacks (71%) say that they have experienced discrimination or been treated unfairly because of their race or ethnicity. Roughly one-in-ten (11%) say this happens to them on a regular basis, while 60% say they have experienced this rarely or from time to time” (On Views of Race and Inequality). Many people think that discrimination ended decades ago, but many African citizens still feel as though they are treated unfairly based on the color of their skin. Discrimination is not as prevalent as it was in the 1950’s but it undoubtedly still exists today.
The novel, The Invisible Man, was published by Ralph Ellison in 1952 and set no the 1920’s when segregation and social inequality was widely accepted in American culture. “Battle Royal” is the first chapter in the novel, The Invisible Man. Ellison’s goal in writing “Battle Royal” was to exemplify that African Americans were still taken for fools and life would remain this way until someone stood up for change. The purpose of this text was that times were finally changing