Ralph Ellison
Born in 1913
Politics
Ralph Waldo Ellison was an acclaimed American writer and scholar best known for his novel Invisible Man, which won the National Book Award in 1953.
Born in Oklahoma City and named after Ralph Waldo Emerson, Ellison also published essay collections exploring political, social, and cultural issues.
His work earned him recognition as one of America's greatest literary figures.
Though he worked on a second novel for years, it remained unfinished at his death in 1994 at age 81.
A version was published posthumously as Juneteenth.
Ellison's writing continues to be influential in discussions of race and identity in America.
