The Invisible Man is a story of identity. It's the story of a Black Man living in 1930s America. He is intelligent (sometimes too much for his own good), deeply introspective, and a highly gifted speaker.

The story follows him through college, a worker at a paint plant, and as a very visible member of a political organization known as the Brotherhood. His experiences are sometimes akin to a straight man, someone who is almost objective in contrast to characters who embrace specific identities.

As an active observer, the narrator is able to explore racism as an obstacle to individual identity and as a device that invites exploitation by those who become self-interested in the wake of receiving any amount of influence or power. Ellison frequently illustrates how the limitations of an ideology — those that aim to save people — are often the same that enslave them. And the protagonist repeatedly comes up against authority figures who either use ideology to pad their power or blindly follow an ideology at the expense of helping anyone.

While there is always plenty of conversation regarding Ellison's book as an evaluation of racism (a concept some say he is unqualified to evaluate given his race), most people miss the point. While Ellison certainly provides a cross section of ideologies that existed in his time (and still do today), his exploration goes further than any one race and, indeed, encompasses a universal human nature. One does not have to be black to discover people who abuse ideology for self interest or be so blinded by it that they know what is best for everyone.

Despite finding some chapters less enjoyable (and occasionally annoying) than others, the overall merit of the work is as relevant today as it was then (maybe even more so). Ellison warns us to be wary of those who will reinforce stereotypes to fight stereotypes and shows us how freedom becomes an illusion when society prevents an individual from an opportunity to self-actualize.