Which African American man was the first to win a Nobel Prize in Literature?

• A. Ralph Ellison
• B. James Baldwin
• C. Toni Morrison
• D. Wole Soyinka

Answer: (C)

The first African American man to win a Nobel Prize in Literature is actually Ralph Ellison, who was awarded the prize in 1953 for his acclaimed novel "Invisible Man." This novel critically explores the complexities of African American identity and societal invisibility. While Toni Morrison is a highly celebrated author and indeed won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993, she is a woman, which does not fit the criteria of the question asking specifically for an African American man.

James Baldwin, while an important literary figure, did not receive a Nobel Prize in Literature, and Wole Soyinka, though a Nobel laureate, is a Nigerian playwright and poet, not African American. Understanding the correct context of each author's achievements in relation to the specific question about African American men helps clarify why Ralph Ellison is the appropriate answer.