In his essay “New York 1936”, Ralph Ellison described his experience in New York city. He explained how so many things about New York City has surprised him, many things that were different from the South. He was astonished by the freedom that is available to the Negros in the northern state compared to Alabama, every day is a struggle for a Negro.
The author accounted most parts of New York City in his essay. The overpopulated city and its people, surprisingly no one cares about what color/race you are. There are no laws that discriminated the Negros, unlike in the south. The author was really surprised about the subway system in New York City. Just the amount of people that got into one car was enough to amaze him. Although the subway stations were a mess and people barely respected each other, but also to his surprise there was not any sign of racism.
The thing that the author liked most about New York city is Harlem. The Negro community coming together and exercising their freedom. Also, the bus system in New York City was the most surprising thing that the author had come across. Unlike the south, here Negros were able to sit wherever they want in the bus. The author literally tried sitting everywhere he wanted just to take advantage of the freedom available here.
