Black vs. White week 3

While trying to go against the social norm, the invisible man can't help but fall into racial stereotypes. From being called out on the street to being asked to dance by white man, these stereotypes follow him everywhere. Some of the key black racial type can be found significantly in the cast iron coin bank that the man finds in Mary's house. The figure is described first off as being "very black" with a "wide-mou[th]" and "red lip[s]".  While the figure its self can be used to demonstrate how the black race is objectified in society and are not treated as humans, the descriptions that go along with it are the stereotypes that the invisible man and every black individual have to face in society. Ellison then goes further into describing the bank saying that when "a coin is placed in the hand and a lever pressed upon the back, will raise its arm and flip the coin into [its] grinning mouth". The acts of accepting a coin is very significant in the fact that the coin can be viewed as a reward that a black individual or slave receives. Because the bank is capable of this function alone the connection can be furthered into saying that this action is all blacks capable of and it is what they live for, working for rewards. The invisible man realizes all of this when he first sees the bank and this creates tension and anger, so much so that "the iron head crumbl[ed] in [his] hand". The invisible man wishes that he could destroy racism and therefore destroys the symbol of it, but while the coin bank is now gone the meaning behind the bank still surrounds the man in everything he does; he can't escape it. This idea is furthered when the  man tries to discard the bank; every time he throws it away it finds its way back to him. The first time the package makes it's way into the garbage, the garbage can's owner forces the invisible man to take his package back out and discard of it somewhere else. The next time he discards it another man approaches him "thrusting the package [back] in [his] hands". The invisible man is unable to escape the harassment and racism found in society just like he is unable to get rid of the bank.