A Disruptor Ahead Of His Time
African American novelist Ralph Waldo Ellison originally studied music and art but was drawn eventually to the world of literature. Ellison spent seven years writing Invisible Man (1952, National Book Award), and, although it was his only novel, it gained him a place as a respected American writer and remains one of the central texts of the twentieth-century canon.
Our History
Founded in Oklahoma City upon the conclusion of the Ralph Ellison Centennial Celebration in 2014, the Ralph Ellison Foundation is committed to highlighting the accomplishments of the acclaimed author and empowering the lives of others through his legacy in the areas of literacy, music, and the arts.
To accomplish these goals, the Foundation has focused recently on projects to engage both children and adults, such as creating curricula based on Ellison’s work for schools, conducting reading clinics and writing workshops, hosting community discussion forums and artistic events, as well as sponsoring an annual gala celebration in Ellison’s honor. As we do our work, we strive to partner with other organizations on the local, state, and national levels to promote the kinds of cultural awareness and cooperation that bridge ethnic and demographic divides.
Ella Shi is an illustrator, graphic designer, and 3D artist currently living in New
York. As a freelancer, Ella has worked on illustration projects for Ralph Ellison Foundation, and 3D projects for Jett Sets use in television and cinema productions.
In The News
Ralph Ellison Foundation Society
The Foundation also envisions long-term goals of establishing a multicultural center in Oklahoma City, establishing an annual Ralph Ellison Festival, as well as honoring Ellison with a birthplace marker and statue. We plan to develop additional initiatives to help raise the profile of Oklahoma’s most significant literary contribution to the world and to further good works in his name in the areas of education, community development, artistic programming, and the pursuit of positive social change.
OUR SPONSORS
- AT&T
- Audible
- BancFirst
- Blacken Studios
- Cooper House
- Cox
- Fowler Automotive
- Full Circle Bookstore
- Greater OKC Chamber
- Habitat for Humanity of Central Oklahoma
- Johnson & Associates
- Kirkpatrick Family Fund
- Langston University
- Larry Hellman
- Leslie & Cliff Hudson
- Lynn Institute
- Mercedes-Benz of Oklahoma City
- Metro Tech
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Oklahoma City University
- Oklahoma City University School of Law
- OU Department of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
- Plains Management Group
- Price Edwards & Company
- Ralph & Fannie Ellison Charitable Trust
- Respect Diversity Foundation
- Sarah & Kyle Sweet
- Southern Nazarene University
