Blindness: Week 4

The chapter starts off with the Invisible Man being introduced as the district head of the Harlem division and in charge of the social change that occurs there. A new character enters the novel, a handsome and confident young African-American man by the name of Clifton. It's the Invisible Man and Clifton's first "mission" to address the black community in the heart of Harlem similar to their opposing forces, the Nationalists. Later that evening, as they are conducting the speech, the Nationalists leader 'Ras the Exhorter' interrupts the gathering with this men and a fight breaks out. It is important to note on page 369 that the Invisible Man could not even distinguish his own brothers from the Nationalists. He comments, "I couldn't tell ours from theirs and moved cautiously, trying to see,"(369). There is a symbolic aspect to this quote because despite the disparity and animosity between the two groups, they are both fighting and working towards the same thing. He cannot tell which man is on which side, because essentially they are all on the same side. However the Invisible Man and the two groups are blind to this and continue working against each other. When Clifton and the Invisible Man have a personal encounter with Ras, both the Brothers become severely uncomfortable with Ras's remarks. "What kind of education is that?" Ras questions the boys, "What kind of black mahn is that who betrays his own mama?"(pg. 371) Ras spares Clifton for he cannot bear to commit an act of murder against another black man, and his comments elicit flashbacks for the Invisible Man from the Battle Royale. Instead of internalizing and wondering why what Ras is saying is causing such images and feelings inside of him, he turns a blind eye. He instead retreats toward the familiarity like he has always done. This is a reoccurring pattern with the Invisible Man. When he has found some sort of 'community' he instantly adheres to all their ideologies and is reluctant to stray. This scene gives some sort of forewarning to the Invisible Man that the Brotherhood may not be in his best interests, but like the other instances, he refuses to acknowledge what is at hand.