“Lord, why have you made me black? Why have you made me someone the world wants to hold back? Why do people think I'm useless? Why do I feel so used? Why do some people see my skin and think I should be abused? (author unknown). As I reflect on this poem, it pains me to see and learn how one race oppresses another, simply on the merits of skin color, gender, or cultural background. In this essay I will analyze and criticize Ralph Ellison's “Battle Royal,” which tells firsthand how difficult it was and is to be black in America. According to Jstor.org and biography.com, Ralph Ellison was born in Oklahoma City on March 1, 1914. He studied music before moving to New York City and working as a writer. He published his first bestselling novel Invisible Man in 1952. It is from this acclaimed book from which the story of "Battle Royale" is based. “Battle Royal” provides a realistic portrayal of the difficulties a person of color faced living in a world or society dominated by white men. In his story, Ellison uses several symbols to illustrate the black struggle for equality. When you start reading and finding your identity in a society where people are valued based on the color of their skin and the talent they possess. The battle itself was the strongest symbol in all of history. Ironically, black men were physically forced to fight each other, but emotionally they were fighting against white men, which was the biggest battle that blacks could not win in that era. The young man's description of the fighting states, "everyone fought hysterically, and on and on" it was complete anarchy. “Everyone fought everyone else.” “No group fought together for long.” It is safe to assume that black men vented their anger at each other rather than focusing their efforts on trying to achieve equality and reduce the control over which white men were exerting.