How might one compare and contrast Ralph Ellison's story "Battle Royal" with M. Carl Holman's poem "Mr. Z"?

s short
story can be compared and contrasted with M. Carl Holmans poem Mr. Z in a number of ways,
including the following:

• Holmans poem is about an African American
  man who chose, during his youth, to adapt himself as much as possible to the demands and
  expectations of white culture. Although his skin was black, he essentially chose to live as an
  upper-class white. In contrast, Ellisons story is about a youth who seems tempted to behave as
  Mr. Z. does, but who finally decides to choose a very different path €“ a path of resistance
  and lack of compromise.
• Mr. Z, in his youth, like theof Ellisons story, is
  educationally accomplished. He uses his intelligence to make a secure place for himself in white
  society. Ellisons protagonist, on the other hand, never really has the chance to use his
  intelligence in such a way. He may think that he will be admired for his talents, but in fact
  the ceremony supposedly designed to honor him has precisely the opposite effect.


• Mr. Z leads a relatively calm and untroubled life. He achieves his goals of being
  accepted by most whites; he even marries a white woman. In contrast, Ellisons protagonist is
  abused and humiliated at an early age by a group of mean-spirited, racist whites. He is never
  given the chance to blend into white culture and society as Mr. Z is able to do.


• Both the story and the poem end on notes suggesting that the racial identity of
  African Americans is something they are never allowed, by white society, to forget or escape. In
  the case, of Mr. Z, this insistence on racial identity persists even after he has
  died:

Not one false note was struckuntil he
died:

His subtly grieving widow could have flayed

The obit
writers, ringing crude changes on a clumsy phrase:

One of the most
distinguished members of his race.  (23-26)