"With a shock of recognition I joined them in appreciation of the hilarious American joke that centered on the incongruities of race, economic status and culture. My sense of order restored, my appreciation of the arcane ways of American cultural possibility was vastly extended." Learn more about

• Ralph Ellison, the man:
  http://www.jerryjazzmusician.com/mainHTML.cfm?page=ellison.html
• Ralph Ellison, the writer:
  http://www.centerx.gseis.ucla.edu/weblio/ellison.html