In the final chapters of Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man, the reader may encounter many different obstacles, all of which lead back to the current issue of race and white. supremacy in the 1930s. Specifically, in chapter 20, an issue is presented that, fifty years later, remains a major concern. This controversy arose after the questionable death of former Brotherhood member Tod Clifton. Clifton was shot and killed by white officers after alleged “illegal activity.” The difference between these unjustified killings and those of today is public reactions and involvement. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay The death of Michael Brown, an unarmed black man shot for no apparent reason, is similar to the death of Tod Clifton. Many believe his murder was the result of negative opinions about his skin color: “Mr. Wilson is white. Mr. Brown was black. Protesters see the matter in terms of racism and police brutality” (BBC News). These two deaths are similar in the series of events they triggered. In Brown's case, his death sparked a movement involving people outside the region and generated a national debate about the relationship between law enforcement and African Americans. The controversy over the issue is immense, many different people support opposing sides, however, not everyone expresses their opinion: "There are witnesses who support what Agent Wilson is saying, but they have not not spoken to the media” (BBC News). Although these two cases are similar, the public reactions are different in each of them. At the time of Clifton's death, the public remained rather uninvolved, evidently leading the narrator to serious skepticism about the Brotherhood's true intentions saying, "Men out of time, who would soon be gone and forgotten" (ch .20, p. 420). ), and deducing that the brotherhood does not care about its members. This skepticism ultimately leads the narrator to see the negative effects of the Brotherhood and its ineffective movements. After Clifton's death, many gathered for his funeral. The narrator took advantage of Clifton's funeral to regain power; he mobilizes the crowds to try to reconquer solid bases. The irony of this scene involves the Brotherhood berating the narrator for supporting a dead man's actions that killed him in the first place. Ultimately, Clifton's death fuels a massive race riot. This riot can be significantly compared to that in Brown's case; however, the difference between the riot fifty years ago and the riot today is the supporters. During Clifton's era, major supporters shared the same race as Clifton, even though white supremacy reigned the vast majority of the time; “I heard that he had caught white fever and was gone” (ch.20, p.415). Unlike the 1930s, today's race riots have a diverse base of supporters, making protest more effective. These alleged supporters are taking control: “Protesters are demanding more action following the release of a federal report finding overwhelming racial bias within the city's police force” (BBC News), the results of these demands lead to solutions such as trials to vindicate victims and consequences for guilty law enforcement officers who played a role in the incidents. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized document now from our editors.