In both “The Invisible Man” and “Sula” racism as an obstacle to individual identity in a black society. As of in The Invisible Man, the narrator struggles to arrive at a conception of his own identity. He finds his efforts complicated by the fact that he is a black man living in a racist American society. Throughout the novel, the narrator finds himself passing through a series of communities, from the Liberty Paints plant to …showed first 75 words of 430 total…

…showed last 75 words of 430 total…limiting nature of stereotype, in the end he finds this tactic too passive. He determines to emerge from his underground "hibernation," to make his own contributions to society as a complex individual. He will attempt to exert his power on the world outside of society's system of prescribed roles. By making proactive contributions to society, he will force others to acknowledge him, to acknowledge the existence of beliefs and behaviors outside of their prejudiced expectations.