The United States of America, during the 1950's, was generally described as a figure of growth and improvement. Along with its mark of economic growth in regards to an increase of manufacturing and home construction, it is not a question why former British Prime Minister Winston Churchhill quoted that, "America at this moment, stands at the summit of the world." The United States had the world's strongest military power and its economy was booming. The fruits of this prosperity were very evident in the lives of the people – new cars, suburban houses, and other consumer goods- all of these were made available to more people than ever before. However, the 1950's were also an era of great conflict, as people realized that the freedom that they so painstakingly fought for has only been attained by a privileged few, that freedom was nothing but a speech made by masters who broke off their chains but not the ridicule and shame that comes with it; that even with them freed from their contracts, they are as bound to it, still, as though they have never been freed from the first place. Society has a way of creating its mark, determining what is right from wrong, distinguishing between what is proper and fitting; and with society, one can never contest with it. Society has branded them as the inferior race for quite a long time, marked them with social disgrace and humility for scores of years, that even though the promise of freedom has been made, it remains words, never shaping into any form except a form of disillusionment. Like the era it represents, of prosperity and opulence but a suppressed violence and chaos boiling in its midst, freedom in the 1950's is sorely misjudged as hard-earned autonomy and independence; but in truth, nothing but a speech dressed in white refusing to accept any color than that of the bird in which it signifies. .
The "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison, published in 1952, describes the life of an African-American man made invisible by the cultural lenses of society.