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Ralph Ellison: The Self-Taught Writer

25 minutes

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Young Ralph Ellison sits by a window, looking out and away from a typewriter positioned in front of him.

Old photographs and quotes from Ellison's writings help present his life as a writer and his views on civil rights. Influenced by Emerson, he believed that an individual is responsible for his destiny. In his novel "Invisible Man," he related the struggle African Americans faced living in a racially divided society. This work brought him literary recognition and respect, and Ellison received many honors before his death in 1994.

Media Details

Runtime: 25 minutes

Topic: Biographies, History, Language Arts, Social Science
Subtopic: African-Americans, Biography, Creative Writing, Ellison, Ralph, Social Issues
Grade/Interest Level: 7 - 12
Standards:

Release Year: 1995
Producer/Distributor: History On Video
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Black and white image with closeup of a sign that reads, "Civil Rights Plus Full Employment." Crowd of people and protest signs fill the background.

A Black woman wearing a nurse's uniform puts her arm around a Black boy, both smile at the camera.

Black and white photo of Black and White people in a coffee shop, some sitting in chairs and others standing at a lunch counter in the background. Caption. Male as narrator. The idea of the freedom rides was radical.

Color illustration of Ananse. A colorful umbrella shields him from the sun. Caption. All the stories belonged to Nyame, the Sky God.

Black and white frame of A. Philip Randolph, a civil-rights activist. Caption. Of a mighty corporation such as the Pullman Company was.

Black and white image of Jackie Robinson wearing his Dodgers jersey and sliding on one side towards a base, baseball hat falling to the ground.

Senior Black man wearing glasses, a teal-colored African scarf and head wrap, and a dark suit jacket stands next to an African wall hanging and speaks towards camera.

Faces of influential Black Americans dispersed across frame. February calendar page and map of the U, S in background. Caption. To focus on and learn more about black culture.

Still image from: All About the Holidays: Black History Month (Spanish)

Closeup of a wooden Kwanzaa kinara with red, green and black candles. Heap of fruits and vegetables fills background.