In E.L. Doctorow’s Ragtime, Father is unable to change because he is a prisoner of his own beliefs. Father is someone who always likes to be in charge and wants to make all of the decisions in the household. In addition, he has a negative opinion towards race, and one could say that he is racist. In particular, his prejudice towards African Americans is something that Father really struggles with. He leaves for the North Pole and is gone for quite a long time. When he gets home, he realizes the changes that have been made in the household since he was gone. One of the biggest changes that occurred while he was gone is Coalhouse Walker Jr., an African American previously living in the community with his wife and child, has now moved in