In Juneteenth, as in Invisible Man, a major theme is individual identity. Several characters remain only partially identified, and others cut themselves off from their pasts in various ways, with results that are sometimes positive and sometimes negative. In Sunraider's case, the fact that Ellison never reveals the name of either parent intensifies the significance of his quest for a "true" identity.

The most obvious example of multiple identities is character is known variously as Robert, Bliss, Cudworth, Mister Movie-Man, Mister Big-City Man, and Adam Sunraider.

Ellison gives him multiple identities because he apparently intends this character to represent the rootless, isolated, lonely American who cuts himself off from his past, as this man repeatedly does. When his mother gives him to Hickman to "compensate for" the brother whose death she caused, she suggests that he be given that brother's name, Robert. Hickman seems to recognize...