een the others and the self. A person needs to step outside himself to gain a different perspective, or frame of reference. However, behavior does not always reflect character structure. For this reason, interaction with others is very important. Yet, one must not forget that the fundamental, most important, unit of society is the individual. He or she needs to demystify the scope of society in order to specifically examine the crucial issues.
In Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man the move to the North for the Invisible Man requires a shift in basic mannerisms, colloquialisms, and appearances. Even though he has different values, he pretends to be like a white man by altering his appearance. Even the members of the Brotherhood in the Invisible Man are victims and unwitting conspirators of the stereotyped generalizations based on ascribed characteristics. Exclusivity statements like "your people" and "I am a New Englander" reflect the correlation between an individual's identity and his status characteristics. Both are important physical and situational factors which encourage constant segregation. In the novel, the hierarchy of occupations for black men 300 teachers, 700 trained mechanics, 800 skilled farmers reflect the inferiority of their social positions. Even the trained and skilled members of the minorities make little money and have little prestige.
The dominant culture uses many strategies to maintain its control. The members of the "dominant" culture give token positions and titles to members of the minority to appease their cry for power without really relinquishing any of it. "Leaders are made, not born" (Ellison 262). Struggles over these positions within the established institutions of society assure the division of the subordinate class. There are many examples of cohorting with the opposing groups to achieve token power. Bledsoe, the dean of the Invisible Man's college, exemplifies someone obsessed ...