The Black Ball

Ralph Ellison

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1. About the Author: Ralph Ellison
2. Themes:
   1. Racial Prejudice and Injustice
   2. Psychological Impact and Moral Dilemma
3. Symbols:
4. Analysis

About the Author: Ralph Ellison

Ralph Ellison, born in Oklahoma City on March 1, 1913, to Lewis Alfred Ellison and Ida Millsap, was a distinguished student and won a scholarship to Tuskegee Institute, a prestigious institute meant only for blacks. Ellison enrolled as a music major at the Tuskegee Institute in 1933.

While at Tuskegee he was influenced by the writings of T.S. Eliot. After studying music for three years, Ellison moved to New York to pursue his interest in sculpture and photography. Here, he became acquainted with Harlem Renaissance celebrities like the writer Langston Hughes and artist Romare Bearden. The editor Richard Wright encouraged him to write fiction and after World War II, he wrote Invisible Man which captured the complexities of African American life. Although Ellison failed to write a second novel, he remained a controversial cultural critic throughout his life, owing to his views on the Invisible Man. He was proud of the legacy of black Americans and denied being associated with groups that despised black culture and heritage. He supported multiculturalism and considered American and African American culture a joined entity.    

The Black Ball was first published in the volume Flying Home and Other Stories (1996).

Themes:

Racial Prejudice and Injustice

“Daddy, am I black?” The naive question of the caretaker’s son reflects the underlying racial tensions and stereotypes woven throughout the narrative.

The story presents a poignant portrayal of racial prejudice, highlighting the dehumanizing treatment experienced by the African American caretaker protagonist and his son. The encounter with a white man who recounts his harrowing experience in Macon County, Alabama, serves as a vivid illustration of the brutal consequences of racial bigotry and the profound scars it leaves. This instance underscores the pervasiveness of racial injustice and the lasting impact on both the victims and their communities.

Psychological Impact and Moral Dilemma

The protagonist’s internal struggle is a central focus of the narrative, as he grapples with the ethical and emotional implications of navigating a hostile environment. The distress and determination exhibited by the protagonist in shielding his son from the harsh realities of racial discrimination is a powerful testament to the resilience and protective instincts evoked by such circumstances. Moreover, the protagonist’s confrontation with the building manager, Berry, serves as a catalyst for examining the complex interplay between survival, dignity, and protest in the face of institutionalized racism.

Symbols:

White ball: innocence and naivety

The phrase “Black Ball” originates from billiards, referring to a position from which it is impossible to make a successful shot. It also carries connotations of ‘black-balling’, which involves voting against someone to deny them a position or to oust them from one they hold.

Analysis

The story “The Black Ball” by Ralph Ellison explores the themes of struggle, equality, hope, and connection. It is narrated in the first person by a man called John, who is struggling through life, and facing inequality due to his race. Despite the challenges, John remains hopeful and seeks a better future, especially for his son. The story depicts the difficulties faced by African Americans during the time of segregation, as well as the potential for change and hope for the future.

John’s apparent lack of concern with race and his encounter with a union activist:

John’s suspicion and hostility towards the activist are evident as he separates himself from the man, even though the man appears pleasant. The conversation takes a turn when the man makes a direct reference to American race history, shocking John and breaking a barrier between them. It is revealed that the man had his arms burnt for giving an alibi for an African American. The dialogue explores the violence against African-Americans in the name of ‘justice’ and the segregation between races, as observed by John from his window.

The impact of segregation on individuals’ lives becomes more evident to John following his conversation with the union representative. Notably, he starts reading André Malraux’s novel Man’s Fate, which depicts an attempted workers’ revolution in China. The innocent aspirations of John’s son, expressed through his desire to “drive a truck” in the future, serve to highlight the limitations imposed by societal precedents based on race.

The innocence portrayed by the son is also central to an incident involving his white ball, which is callously thrown by a white boy and subsequently leads to a swift reprimand from Berry without room for explanation. Segregation is enforced decisively in these interactions. The warning issued to John by Berry, using the phrase (“behind the black ball”) from which the story derives its title, serves as a clear threat, even in light of John and his son’s innocence.

The narrative ends with a sense of hope and the possibility of improvement while acknowledging the long road ahead for achieving true equality in society (‘Maybe there was a color other than white on the old ball.’).