Ralph Ellison (1914-1994) was an American novelist, literary critic, and scholar. He is best known for his novel Invisible Man, which won the National Book Award in 1953. Ellison was born in Oklahoma City and attended the Tuskegee Institute, where he studied music and literature. He later moved to New York City, where he wrote for various magazines and journals. Ellison's writing explored themes of race, identity, and the African American experience. He was a prominent figure in the Harlem Renaissance and was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1985. Ellison's work has been widely praised for its insight and complexity, and he is considered one of the most important African American writers of the 20th century.