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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 twentiethcentury canon. Ralph Waldo Ellison Born March 1 1913 Oklahoma City ok Ralph Waldo Ellison Born March 1 1913 Oklahoma City ok 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 Ellisons 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 Ellisons honor.