Wednesday, June 29, 2011

The White Boy Shuffle by Paul Beatty

Hilarious-a perfect poetic satirical prose.  A fictional coming of age story of a young black male growing up in southern California in the mid 90’s that reads what I would imagine if Jerry Seinfeld and Wanda Sykes married and had a child. Wickedly funny dark humor on the trial and tribulations of the plight of this young black man that rings true from the stereotypical media definition of the black race in this country-Racism, poverty, education and crime that will not define a young man, but how he will use his life to better his situation.
Completely relatable to all races in poverty, but you are reminded that this is a black and minority problem as oppose to a poverty problem, that seems almost like an excuse for the main characters behavior.
Beautifully written, but the constant reminder that a chip on the shoulder of the black race still and will exist is reinforced every few pages and stereotypical representation of white people is almost similar to what I would consider some whites feel about some blacks.  All in all, great, great read.  Highly recommend.
I give it 3 ½ JAG’S

No comments:

Post a Comment