Life in Oklahoma City by Ralph Ellison Author Ralph Ellison is a renowned writer and scholar with notable nonfiction stories credited to his name. He was born in Oklahoma City around the year 1913. His family had a small business where his father worked as a foreman but he died early when he was only three years old. After several years, he later discovered that his father wished for him to one day become a poet in honor of the great American essayist popularly known as Ralph Waldo Emerson who became his namesake. His mother was Ida Millsap Ellison, who was involved as a political activist campaigning for the Socialist Party. Furthermore, she was arrested several times in violation of segregation orders. At the time of Ellison's birth, life in Oklahoma City was still considered part of the frontier. His parents were originally Southerners of slave stock. When his parents married, they continued west to Oklahoma in hopes that their children's lives would be better in this state. Oklahoma during this period maintained distinction and reputation for its freedom. However, it wasn't long before the Texas and Arkansas prejudices soon fell on Oklahoma. When Ellison's father died in 1917, Ida had supported Ralph and his younger brother by working as a house help at the Avery Chapel Afro-Methodist Episcopal Church. The family moved into the rectory and Ellison was exposed to the minister's library. As he grew up, Ellison became passionate about literature which became a means for him to grow and love his studies. Furthermore, his enthusiasm for reading was encouraged by his mother, who brought home scores of books, including magazines, from houses she cleaned. There came a time when a black Episcopal priest in Oklahoma City challenged the white custom of excluding blacks from the public library. As a result, this custom was overturned. As such, it became another outlet for Ellison to further his passion for reading. Although his family was sometimes short of money, Ellison and his brother managed to study well and have a healthy childhood life. Ellison grew up and developed a passion for music where he studied piano and trumpet. It was during this time that Oklahoma City became famous thanks to several great jazz musicians.