Adding the Emotion

At Clifton's funeral the narrator realizes that he is supposed to be giving a speech, although he doesn't have anything prepared, he gives one anyway. Because he didn't have anything prepared, everything he says comes from his own thoughts and emotions, which is something we don't get to see a whole lot of. The crowd is very moved by the speech and many had "handkerchiefs shading their eyes," because they were so touched by what the narrator had to say.

When the narrator gets back to the Brotherhood the Brothers all ask how it went and he said that the crowd was very moved, but that he went along with his "personal responsibility." The brothers are not too happy with this response, and wished he had put in more political things that would get the crowd riled up.

It is very interesting how the Brotherhood is so set on the narrator and all other Brothers essentially regurgitating what the Brotherhood has told them to say, rather than the speakers giving their own opinions. When the narrator gives a speech that is from his own experience and emotion, rather than what was written on a pamphlet, the crowd tends to get more out of the speech. 

For example, when the couple is getting evicted and he gives the speech to the crowd, they starts a riot, while at some of his other speeches, like the "the Woman question" they seem to get excited, but without much outcome. When the narrator is transferred back to Harlem he is told to "keep them stirred up," and even mentions the eviction, while he then gives the narrator what to say.

Taking on the name

We see in The Invisble Man that the narrator is very uncomfortable taking Mr. Norton to Trueblood. While Trueblood is telling this disturbing, and rather rehearsed story, the narrator becomes very uncomfortable. This is an example of social identity. Although the narrator isn't directly related to Trueblood, in fact, he has only heard stories of him from other people, he feels as though Trueblood's story will reflect poorly on him and "his people." 

This idea is everywhere. The idea that you hear about a teenager getting drunk and doing stupid things will make you look bad, even if you spend every Friday night watching Netflix. This idea is also in texting and driving. While texting and driving is very dangerous and many teenagers do it, the majority of people I see texting and driving are adults. We hear mostly about the teens texting and driving, and therefore ad companies aim their campaigns towards teens. We often here people talking about "those stupid kids these days." That puts a label on all "kids" as a whole. 

If we identify as one race, or one culture, people will think of you in that category. You may lose some of your personality in the process because people often become so fixated on that one specific part of you.