In today's American culture, the pressure to fit in with societal norms is more prevalent than ever. By setting very clear standards for “fitting in,” the dominant culture makes the idea of ​​approval seem easily achievable. However, minorities are unaware of the rigidity of the norms and how often they are ridiculed when trying to conform to them. This ridicule is often perpetuated through the use of racial caricatures – descriptive visual devices that exaggerate certain aspects of individual races in order to create humor. In Ralph Ellison's novel Invisible Man, cultural norms are often reinforced through the use of the "little black sambo doll" – a racial caricature that transforms a black man's body into an ape, to fit the "animal ". stereotype of the black man, purely to entertain the viewer (SparkNotes). Although he does not recognize it, throughout the novel the Narrator is seen by the white community as the Sambo doll. This vision further dehumanizes him and allows white culture to maintain its power over him. Likewise, "Chief Wahoo" of the Cleveland Indians is just one of many caricatures, considered by many to be: "A dehumanizing red 'Indian' cartoon wearing a wide, big-toothed smile." A Sambo-like caricature or a piece of anti-Jewish Nazi propaganda” (Krimmel). The comparison of Chief Wahoo to “Sambo” directly connects the novel to today’s society. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayAccording to Douglas Cardinal, a member of the Canadian Blackfoot tribe, “Chief Wahoo actively contributes to the mockery of the Indians of America” (Taylor). This “mockery” dehumanizes American Indians, further isolating them from high society. The increasing alienation faced by minority groups, as well as the complete disregard for their problems, leads them to disassociate themselves from their roots in order to conform to American culture and integrate into society. This allegiance allows the dominant culture to feel entitled and paternalistic towards minorities, which continually gives them a sense of approval for completely ignoring the concerns of ethnic communities. The novel begins when the narrator is invited by the town's learned white citizens to give a speech at the Battle Royal. Unbeknownst to him, the Narrator must participate in the fight before giving his speech. By forcing the eight black men to fight against each other, the whites only abuse it for entertainment. The ease with which the dominant culture is able to "shake Sambo the dancing doll, shake him, you can't break him" (431), highlights the gap in the social ladder in the South. Knowing that they "can't break him," whites easily "shake Sambo" by forcing black men to fight for their amusement. By viewing the black community through the prism of their stereotypes formulated by white culture and treating them as nothing more than Sambo dolls, authoritative southerners further separate the minority from American society. The Battle Royal's mistreatment disrespects and dehumanizes the narrator and his race. , thereby further complicating upward mobility in American society. Likewise, in today's society, the most popular representation of Native Americans is the Cleveland Indians mascot, Chief Wahoo. The lack of knowledge about Native American culture, in addition to the graphic caricature that depicts them in such a wayinaccurate, makes it easy for Americans to ignore the fact that "the use of racist mascots dehumanizes Native Americans and, therefore, makes it easy for society to ignore their concerns." ...It allows people to treat us as invisible” (Waldstein). This statement by Philip Yenyo, executive director of the American Indian Movement of Ohio, demonstrates how pigeonholing all American Indians into the "Wahoo" caricature allows the dominant culture to sequester the ethnic group and its concerns. This facile and unconscious characterization leads Americans to ignore the concerns of the people, forcing natives to identify less with their own culture in exchange for being heard and understood. In the novel, the narrator attempts to distinguish himself from his culture during his speech by keeping quiet about his true feelings about society and expressing only what white people want to hear. “Social responsibility, sir. » "You weren't smart, were you, boy?" Are you sure the tie was a mistake? You better speak more slowly so we can understand. We want to do what is right by you, but you must always know your place” (31). By removing the term "equality" and replacing it with "responsibility", the Narrator suppresses his beliefs so that white people will "do what's right for [him]", and perhaps even help him to be recognized by d other members of high society. That is, American popular culture attracts minorities outside of their culture and traditions – many of which have been passed down from generation to generation – in exchange for their acceptance into society. In Invisible Man, the narrator's undying belief: “If you're white, you're right” (217) constantly alienates him from his culture and his family. The narrator constantly strives to dodge his past in an attempt to avoid societal isolation, often refuting established connections to his southern or black identity. For example, the Narrator refuses a very pleasant breakfast: "'Pork chops, grits, an egg, hot biscuits and coffee!'" as an attempt to distance himself from his isolating and African-American identity. towards integration Instead of accepting his culture through the pleasure of a delicious meal, the Narrator orders "orange juice, toast and coffee", then quickly declares: "I was proud of. to have resisted the pork chop and grits It was an act of discipline, a sign of the change that was coming within me” (178). So deeply influenced by the dominant white society, the Narrator believes that his refusal to. savory satisfaction is “an act of discipline.” “Disciplining” himself to reject his desire to achieve white tolerance leaves the narrator believing “that a sign change was happening to [him].” By dissociating himself from his culture, the Narrator “whitens” himself more and more so that he can feel “a sign of change coming within [him]” which would help him climb the social ladder. The constant avoidance and subhuman treatment the narrator is exposed to influences him to fit the accepted characteristics of society. Today's Native Americans are also sidelined by the same system of influence, except instead of Sambo, Americans organize the minority into the racial caricature of Chief Wahoo. Lindsay Gibbs, a sports journalist who focuses on racism and protests, believes that "Chief Wahoo promotes disrespect toward Native Americans" (Gibbs). Native Americans are seen as nothing more than a caricature that "promotes [American] disrespect" for the culture, making it easy for the majority to mock them. This dehumanization and rejection of Native Americans and their concerns leads many toleave their culture in search of tolerance. Philip Weeks, a retired professor of American Indian studies in the United States, particularly in Ohio, says: “The myriad of problems facing [Native Americans] in urban areas of America are leading many people to protest. Yet most others disagreed and instead chose to identify less strongly as Indian. Often marrying non-Indians, they sought ways to find a home and be accepted by mainstream America” (Weeks). Suffering from neglect of their people and their problems, many Native Americans chose to "identify less strongly as Indians" in order to discover "ways by which to find home and acceptance of Dominant America.” According to an online U.S. history textbook, some Native Americans seeking recognition replaced "the core of individual identity -- the name -- to 'AMERICANIZE' children" (40.d Life on theReservations) . By altering even “the core of individual identity,” Native Americans “chose to identify less strongly as Indians” in order to “Americanize” themselves and further their integration into “mainstream America.” Present in the novel and in today's society, racial caricatures disrespect and dehumanize minority cultures, preventing them from achieving social equality; thus sequestering the minority and forcing it to come out of its delicacy to try to achieve a societal fusion. The strong and ever-increasing allegiance of ethnic communities to the American hierarchy further affirms the majority people in their “superiority.” This assurance of power gives the majority a sense of entitlement, allowing them to treat the minority and their concerns in a paternalistic manner. Although the narrator does not initially realize it, the Brotherhood's true goal is not to promote the rights of the black community, but to deceive them into believing that they are doing so. The Brotherhood was created to channel the revolutionary energy of the frustrations of black people who were failing to advance in dominant white society. By hiring black spokespeople such as the Narrator and Clifton into the group, the Brotherhood misleads the black community and gives them false hope that they will help them. In reality, and as Brother Jack explained, these so-called leaders “were hired to talk” [And to] say nothing unless the committee passed it. Otherwise, I suggest you continue saying the last thing that [you] were told.' » (470). Reminding the Narrator that he was "hired only to speak" and being a spokesperson for the Brotherhood reassures Jack and the rest of the white committee members of their supremacy. This asserted dominance allows them to authoritatively advise the Narrator to “say nothing unless it passes the committee” and to “keep saying the last thing you were told.” The Brotherhood feels it has a claim on the Narrator, due to his unconditional and repeated dedication to the organization. This allows them to treat him in a paternalistic manner that repeatedly results in his compliance. The assurance of their complete control allows the Brotherhood to ignore the Narrator's growing unease regarding the politically failing Harlem neighborhood. Noting the many political shortcomings in Harlem, which cause extreme inhibitions in the advancement of blacks, the Narrator asks Brother Hambro for ways to revive hope and restore activism. Brother Hambro, a white leader, knows that he is superior to the Narrator and his concerns, which allows him to easily veto the Narrator's proposal. Hambro reveals to the Narrator: "[blacks] must be brought more.