Essay #2 Idea! :)

In this essay I would like to explore the invisibility of the black man in America. Using both Invisible Man and Native Son, I want to analyze how the black man in America is often seen more as an object rather a person. Both Invisible Man and Bigger Thomas were black men in America who were trying to either run away from being black or attempting to fit the stereotype of being black. I think it is important to analyze both I.M.'s and Bigger's decisions in order to understand their "invisibility" in America. I think it will be interesting to look at both men’s situation and pinpoint the reason the authors decided to take a certain path. For this essay I believe it is important to take a look at the authors simply because they are the keys to their characters decisions. Also for clarification, I do not just want to speak about the black man’s “invisibility,” I believe it is important to also discuss the “invisibility” of the black person in general. In my class presentation I mentioned the current Trayvon Martin case. This case is a great example of the visible racism and invisibility blacks still face.  I would like to use this source and another similar case to defend my conclusions on why I.M. and Bigger Thomas made the decisions they did. I decided to write about both Invisible Man and Native Son because I think they both parallel each other in a way. Bigger Thomas was kind of set up in a situation to fail, while I.M. was given all the tools he needed to succeed, but still managed to find a way to fail. After I get all the logistics worked out, I think this idea has the potential to be a very enlightening view of the state of “invisibility” in America past and present.