Students Collaborate on Ralph Ellison Book Launching Soon

American writer Ralph Waldo Ellison’s legacy is being celebrated through a new book, “Ralph Ellison: More Than Invisible,” co-authored by Quraysh Ali Lansana. This work, part of the “I Am Oklahoma Children’s Series,” is published by the Oklahoma Hall of Fame Press, which aims to provide free literature to schools and public libraries across Oklahoma. The book will be officially launched on October 16, 2023, at 6 p.m. at the Thomas K. McKeon Center for Creativity in Tulsa.

Lansana’s collaboration with students from the Tulsa Undergraduate Research Challenge marks a significant milestone. This project credits Brianna Burk, a psychology major, and Isaac McGill, who studies math and sociology, as associate editors. For Burk, the experience was transformative, as she delved into the life of Ellison and the narratives of Black Oklahomans in the early 20th century. “I always knew that I wanted to be involved in writing,” she shared. “I love the process of creating stories, and it is a privilege to be able to tell someone else’s story.”

Ellison’s journey began on March 1, 1914, in the Deep Deuce neighborhood of Oklahoma City, known for its rich cultural history but also its segregation. His early interests in photography and music led him to a scholarship at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. After serving in the Merchant Marines, Ellison moved to Vermont with his wife, Fanny, where he penned the iconic line, “I am an invisible man.” This became the foundation for his acclaimed novel, “The Invisible Man,” regarded as a classic of American literature.

Burk expressed a personal connection to Ellison’s love for photography. “Some of his photos were very calming, peaceful and relaxing while others were more chaotic,” she recalled. “I thought it was beautiful to have such a creative mind that was not only able to write but capture an entire story in one photograph.” Lansana’s book highlights Ellison’s discovery of a large photo lens in his youth, which sparked his lifelong passion for photography.

As an adult, Ellison utilized photography as a creative outlet, documenting his surroundings and enhancing his writing. Burk noted, “He had more than one way of telling a story, and photography, music, and art are other ways of telling a story. All this fed into his writing.” This multifaceted approach to storytelling greatly influenced the creation of “More Than Invisible.”

For both Burk and McGill, contributing to this book represents their first publication credit. Lansana expressed pride in their involvement, stating, “It was an honor for me to have two students who worked with me listed as associate editors of a book.”

The launch event on October 16 will be hosted by the Center for Poets and Writers at OSU-Tulsa, offering attendees a chance to celebrate Ellison’s enduring impact on literature and culture. As Lansana embarks on a statewide tour to promote the book, the collaboration with students underscores the importance of engaging new voices in the storytelling process.