Ralph Ellison's "Invisible Man".

From the excerpt "Battle Royal" in Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man, Ellison uses the unnamed protagonist to give an in depth illustration of the negative effects of racism and segregation. The unnamed protagonist is propelled from living according to the perceptions of what he believes he is and is trying to survive in a society where he is not supposed to exist none the less, thrive. The Invisible Man's blindness and invisibility is not solely based …

…the townsmen provide Invisible Man with the opportunity of knowledge. He is blinded by his perceptions of the world. Despite receiving his reward, the white society is oblivious to Invisible Man's existence. He threatens the white man's concept that the black man could succeed if given the opportunity, "... someday he will lead his people in the proper paths (2383)." However, Invisible Man is blinded by the perfections and the imperfections of the society that surrounds him.