Ralph Waldo Ellison was a famous African American novelist who was named after the celebrated poet Ralph Waldo Emerson, by his father who wanted his son to become a poet.

Today Ellison is mostly remembered as the mastermind who wrote the emotive and gripping novel “Invisible Man” (along with many others) which met with much critical success, winning the National Book Award in 1953.

Ellison left Tuskegee and moved to New York City in 1936 after his third year as a result of financial issues, planning to complete his education in due time.

However, the major turning point for Ellison in New York was meeting with Richard Wright.

In 1965, Ellison received the honor of his book “Invisible Man” being declared the most important novel since the end of WW11 by survey of 200 prominent literary figures.