Micro-aggressions in Invisible Man

This novel is a complex novel that covers racism in almost every light, north and south, light and dark. In this novel however, there is a stark difference in the racism our narrator experiances in Harlem, rather than in the deep south. In Harlem he is littered with micro-aggressions. The most prominent example being in the diner. Our narrator is stunned that he is allowed to eat at the same counters and tables as white people yet when approached by the man behind the counter he assumes the narrator would like “the special”. This special including pork chops, grits, one egg, hot biscuits and coffee: a very southern breakfast. The attendant assumes this because of his skin color and even though it is not overt racism such as the degradation in the first chapter or slur calling, it is certainly a micro-aggression. According to this article in USAToday it is a much more prevalent form of Racism experienced today that happens to be mirrored in this scene. It is a form of racism that is easier for society to accept today (and very well shouldn’t be) since it doesn’t seem like its racism. These micro-aggressions that are shown in Harlem are clearly not harmless to the narrator as perpetrators of micro-aggressions might believe. The narrator describes the attendants look as “There that ought to excite you, boy” (178). He responds with “I should order the special and get up and walk out. Who does he think he is?”. Its interesting that Ellison would be talking about this in 1954 since the actual term of “micro-aggression” wasn’t coined until 1970 according to the article and comes up with millions of hits for recent news when searched on google. It has also become the center of the award-winning Fx tv show “Atlanta” by Donald Glover proving that micro-aggressions are just as alive today and maybe even more so than they were during Elison’s time. It is not something has gone away.