Battle Royal

This is a story of an African American man who is extremely intelligent in a time when the intelligence of his race was doubted. The story takes place in a small southern town, where inequality was rampant. The main character narrates the story through the memory of his lifetime. He was taught through his grandfathers actions that to get as close to equality as possible he would need to be humble. He was taught to do as he was asked and never speak out. For this reason the white community accepted him more so than other African Americans. He is told that he will be a speaker at the graduation in his town. When he arrives he soon finds that it is all a set up. They more so brought him to be the entertainment and fight other African Americans than to actually speak intelligently. Without being discouraged he speaks anyway. Not everyone listens at first, and many yell at him during the speech, but his thoughts are heard.

This story was hard to read because of the pure injustice and prejudice that exists. It is painful to think that humans are capable of such hate. I think the message of this story is to speak for what you believe in. Someone will hear your thoughts and needs. In the end the main character feels invisible. That is the hardest part of the story because no one should feel invisible.