Ralph Ellison Invisible Man Analysis

Ralph Ellison once made the brilliant reference to a street vendor’s yams in his fictional novel Invisible Man; he explained that the sweet smell emanating from the food is vividly reminiscent of his home and mother’s cooking. This nameless protagonist isn’t raised in a particularly opulent environment; nevertheless, his upbringing still creates within him a sense of comfort and appreciation. As I’ve transitioned into adulthood, I likewise have found and continue to find the importance in having an ever-present home. Throughout this maturation stage, my family has grown greatly and quickly; within the span of two years, we adopted three children. This proved on a deeper level that my childhood was extremely fortunate and is envied by millions
around the world. As a fourteen-year-old, my parents informed me and my three biological siblings that we would be expanding our family through adoption. We became a part of an organization that would facilitate the placement of a child in our home, and within just weeks they had matched us with a five year old boy, whom they’d thought to be a perfect fit for our family. After eagerly accepting this news, we were furthermore informed that this boy had a sister who was born into the foster care system just months prior to our signing up with this agency. They also notified us that both children were born with methamphetamine in their systems, and would suffer long term learning disabilities and their development may be severely stunted. We were asked if we could accommodate both children, and we ardently accepted the opportunity..
After many months of learning to manage our role in the complex foster care system, the adoption was finalized; however we were only beginning to understand the extent of our new additions’ preceding life experiences. Marcus, the oldest adopted sibling, had lived in multiple foster homes before being placed with us. A majority of the homes in which Marcus had been placed were severely harmful and unhealthy environments. My biological siblings and I found it entirely difficult to relate to his situation, which makes me both grateful for my own fortune and upset for the severe injustices against my new younger brother. Hearing his stories of abuse and neglect has been absolutely heart-wrenching and angering. It did not take much consideration to understand that I, and many kids of similar backgrounds, take for granted the luxury of having a comfortable home with loving parents. There is an overwhelming amount of foster children who have never experienced true love from a parent or the blessing of a family who truly cares about them.
Almost an entire year after adopting Marcus and his younger sister, Tyler, we received news that their biological parents had yet another child together and we had the option of adopting him as well.
As a family, we welcomed Lucas without hesitation. Although we had hardly any space left in our home, we did not want to separate the three siblings, let alone allow for another child to be placed into the uncertain and often unsafe foster care system. We therefore adopted this baby when he was only two days old, and I received a fourth brother. Our family has since developed an even stronger passion for the institution of adoption. It is harrowing to see how many children today are unfamiliar with true, familial love because they were raised in a broken foster care system with minimal security. These three new siblings have taught me a plethora of lessons about being grateful for mere existence and family. They took the most basic elements of our lives and thoroughly redefined their importance. Prior to this expansion, I believed adopting was merely admirable. However, this experience has inspired me to reach out and show love to the unloved. I quickly learned that adoption is incredibly important and beautiful, no matter how much space it may take
up.