A typical complete setup of a society is composed of people who differ. People may be different in terms of tribe, religion, social class, traditional beliefs, and race. Due to these disparities and subdivisions, there is always a rise in hate and discrimination; one group thinks they are better than the other or they deserve more than the others. These ideas eventually breed anger between the different races, social classes, and even religions. Racial inequalities are one of the major setbacks that have been facing the world as a society from millennials to date. In his book “Flying Home”, Ellison tries to use racial discrimination and its effect on America to meet his artistic goals.
Ralph Ellison uses a young, determined pilot named Todd, who is enrolled in a flight training school in Alabama during World War 2. The young trainee believes he can perform better just like his white mates, and he is purposeful to redeem his race (Ostendorf 189). Due to inexperience and overconfidence, Todd goes ahead to fly a plane for the first time but unfortunately causes an accident. When Todd crashes his plane, he fractures his ankle and becomes psychologically disturbed by the fault he has done (Ellison 223-224). He criticizes himself and concludes that he has failed his fellow black people. He imagines that any unintended fault committed by a black will be used to judge other black candidates and may be considered inexperienced. Todd feels he has underperformed and is afraid that he disappointed those who believed in him. When Todd crushes, he is metaphorically referred to as a “Flying Fool” (Ostendorf 190). Todd was so ambitious to fly a plane as early as he was a child; he made his own molded airplanes (Ostendorf 191). He even tried to catch a flying airplane as if it was moving just above his head.
Todd is significantly changed by the crush; his path takes a new direction away from both the shame Jefferson tries to imply and the cloudy future amid white men. Todd felt to be a stranger to his colleagues because of his race and griped no a fake recognition that he could hold at the expense of self-antipathy. He had lost self-identity and could not enjoy being himself, unlike Jefferson, who invites happiness by narrating sorrowful reality. Jefferson could release emotional tension out of conflict and victimization. Todd is sorrowfully informed of Jefferson’s flaws and lost his ability when he got out of the group. His ‘fortunate fall’ transforms into unity between Jefferson and himself and his inner definition of what self-limitation may be (Ostendorf 196). On the other hand, his encounter with Graves, which frustrates him, gives Todd a deeper reality of racism and arouses him from a comfort zone to continue chasing his identity and avoid self-limitation.
Ralph Ellison tries to unveil the themes of community and care between Todd Teddy and Jefferson. When Todd crashes, with the help of his son Teddy, Jefferson keeps watching on Todd because they come from the same community of black people (Ostendorf 189). Jeff narrates his stories concerning a black angel being chased out of heaven by a white god for shining much brighter (Ellison, 1998). Here the author uses the imagery of black angle shining brighter to address blacks’ ability. Jefferson wants to cheer up and support Todd, but he takes it wrong because of his distortion by his guilt and shame perception of others. Ellison writes, “At the burst of laughter Todd such as intense humiliation that only great violence would wash it away (239). Ostendorf notes that when the author compares Jefferson and Todd, he uses consonance to describe Todd: “…his mindless over assimilation to a white world which rejects him” (189). Thus, discrimination and insults from white people cause Todd to perceive himself and his community negatively, although it cares about him.
Jefferson cared for Todd when he found himself alone and neglected by the white community. Similarly, Graves purports to save Todd from his foolishness by placing him in a straitjacket (Ellison 249). Straitjacket, in this context, draws an impression of oppression though ironically implied protecting him. The airplane is Todd’s straitjacket, and without it, he loses identification in society. Is powerful support it controls confuses him; however, he realizes he may be flying in a direction contrary to the white people (Ostendorf 191). Graves Danby is a wealthy white landowner for whom Jefferson works, and he hates black people. Graves comes with two servants from a maniac asylum who intimidates Todd by putting him in a straitjacket (Ellison 249). Now, the speculative fear of associating with a group of his race transforms into an ideal threat to him by the racist (Ostendorf 191). Danby makes fun of him, and when Todd tries to resist, Danby kicks him in the chest (Ellison 249). Todd suffers massive humiliation from Danby and realizes that only Jefferson and Teddy had better intentions for him.
The title “Flying Home” is ironic; heaven is iconic to freedom, and the only way to go there is through flying; therefore, the title flying home is total irony. When Todd flies, it is expected that he gains his freedom, but unluckily his liberty continues to be under the white people’s control (Ostendorf 188). “Flying” is a symbol of liberty in American culture, and it also brings out the vision of African Americans in the air force which was considered to bring the blacks and white together. However, in Ellison’s story, the symbol of flight both coincides with and contradicts the meaning of freedom. The aviation theme is used to show the discrimination and oppression of black people, which has a profound impact on the main character. At the same time, Todd’s dream to fly demonstrates his desire for freedom from oppression that black people cannot achieve yet.
One can also note these tendencies in other literary and artworks, as well as in historical documents. During the Second World War, the African American soldiers were despised and considered inferior and unskilled. Their duties were only limited to working as support men, and they were not allowed to fly fighter planes and do other sophisticated tasks, but the force from the black press forced president Rosabell to agree (History). Finally, the training programs were also open to black people. The war department also took the initiative to train the black airmen at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama (History). The black men banded instantly and built with a motive of a common objective and racial dignity.
When the first black troops were deployed to the Mediterranean for the operation, they achieve the required war standard; they displayed exemplary performance and discipline in protecting the Bahamas. The Three Thirty fighter groups, also known as the Tuskegee airmen, accomplished one mission after another, protecting the Bahamas from the Fifteenth air force as they attacked the bridges in Italy and an oil refinery in Romania (History). However, after the achievement, in another combat, the Tuskegee airmen returned to America, and they were isolated from the white airmen.
Despite the isolation, the effect of the Tuskegee airmen in the skies of Europe weakened the foundation of American racism. The white and the black troops were again integrated; they blended and refined their skills and tactics, proving the basic unfairness of a separated military (History). In America, we have been hearing cases where blacks are killed on the scene by the police forces without conviction. These cases have created a bad reputation in the history of America with constant demonstrations by the blacks. Consequently, these examples demonstrate that the struggle for racial equality continues.
Therefore, the analysis of Ellison’s novel demonstrates how the author uses the theme of aviation as a black man’s dream to illustrate the discrimination and oppression faced by the black community. This artistic parallel and the deepening into the accompanying concerns and manifestations of cruelty allow the author to show the problem of American society using the example of one person and one dream. In addition, this idea is based on historical realities, as the history of the Tuskegee airmen demonstrates, which makes it more socially significant and alive. Both stories, real and fictional, show the manifestations of discrimination in post-war America and its impact on social relations and the psychology of people. These examples breed enmity and isolation in readers. However, from the story of Todd and the Tuskegee Airmen, one can see how black people strive to take their position and prove to the world that they are equal to their white colleagues and segregation is a form of injustice to them. At the same time, although racial segregation at the legislative level was prohibited, society is still in the struggle for racial equality and justice.
References
Ellison, Ralph. Flying Home And Other Stories. Edited by John Callahan, Penguin UK, 1998.
Ostendorf, Bernhard. “Ralph Ellison’s ‘Flying Home’: From Folk Tale to Short Story.”Journal of the Folklore Institute, vol. 13, no. 2, 1976, pp. 185–199. Web.
“Who were the Tuskegee airmen? Dogfights. History.”YouTube, uploaded by History, 2020. Web.