Ralph Ellison’s 1952 novel 'Invisible Man' is a landmark of American literature that explores the social and intellectual issues facing African Americans. The protagonist remains unnamed, representing his 'invisibility' in a society that refuses to see him as a human being. In a famous scene, the narrator lives in a basement illuminated by 1,369 lightbulbs, stealing electricity from the grid. He does this to 'feel' his existence and to light up the darkness of his invisibility. Ellison used the novel to challenge both white supremacy and the narrow expectations placed on Black identity. The book won the National Book Award and is celebrated for its complex use of symbolism and its blend of realism and surrealism, making it a definitive study of identity and alienation in the 20th century.