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Essay / Battle Royal Themes, by Ralph Ellison - 1197
The narrator is not the only black man in history to have experienced racism with white men. The narrator tries to get away from racism but finds it difficult to do so, he meets several African Americans who are trying to do the same thing. All of this gives an idea of the right way to be black in America and also demonstrates how black people should act. It is said that anyone who does not follow these good methods betrays the race. At the beginning of the story, the narrator's grandfather says that the only way to make racism go away is for African Americans to be too nice to white people. The exhorter named Ras had different beliefs that blacks would rise against whites and take power from whites. Even though these thoughts come from the black community to take freedom from white people, the stories reveal that they are just as dangerous as white racism. The narrator struggles throughout the story to explore his identity. In doing so, it demonstrates how so many black people betray their race because they have such a hard time coping with it. At the end of the story, after the battle is over, the boys are brought in to receive their payment. This is when the narrator can present his speech to everyone. He was completely beaten and bruised, and blood was pouring from his mouth and nose as he began his speech. All the other men laugh and yell at him,