Ralph Ellison

Date of Birth: March 1, 1913

Zodiac Sign: Pisces

Date of Death: April 16, 1994

Biography

Ralph Ellison, born Ralph Waldo Ellison, was an influential American author, literary critic, and scholar, best known for his groundbreaking novel “Invisible Man,” which addresses many of the social and intellectual issues faced by African Americans in the early 20th century. Born on March 1, 1913, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Ellison was named after the famous American philosopher and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson. His father died when he was three, and his mother worked various jobs to support the family. Ellison initially pursued a career in music and attended Tuskegee Institute on a scholarship to study classical music, focusing on the trumpet. His interest in literature grew during his time at Tuskegee, and he eventually moved to New York City in 1936, where he befriended writers such as Richard Wright. Wright encouraged him to write and contributed to his development as an author. “Invisible Man,” published in 1952, was awarded the National Book Award for Fiction in 1953 and has since become a classic in American literature. Ellison continued to write essays and short stories but never completed his second novel, “Juneteenth,” which was published posthumously in 1999, albeit in an unfinished form. Ellison held several teaching positions at various universities, including Rutgers University and Yale University. He was also the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969.

5 Interesting Facts about Ralph Ellison

1. Ralph Ellison was named after the famous American poet and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson.

2. He initially attended Tuskegee Institute on a music scholarship to study classical music, specifically the trumpet.

3. “Invisible Man” won the National Book Award for Fiction in 1953.

4. Ellison was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969.

5. His second novel, “Juneteenth,” was published posthumously in 1999, edited by John F. Callahan from Ellison’s unfinished manuscript.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Ralph Ellison

1. “I am an invisible man. No, I am not a spook like those who haunted Edgar Allan Poe; nor am I one of your Hollywood-movie ectoplasms. I am a man of substance, of flesh and bone, fiber and liquids—and I might even be said to possess a mind.”

2. “Life is to be lived, not controlled; and humanity is won by continuing to play in face of certain defeat.”

3. “Education is all a matter of building bridges.”

4. “America is woven of many strands; I would recognize them and let it so remain. Our fate is to become one, and yet many—This is not prophecy, but description.”

5. “The act of writing requires a constant plunging back into the shadow of the past where time hovers ghostlike.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Ralph Ellison’s highest net worth is not precisely documented, but he achieved significant financial success from the royalties of “Invisible Man” and his subsequent works and lectures.