Use Of Humor In Paul Beatty's The Sellout

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Recommended: Problems with racism in literature

In Paul Beatty utilizes humor in his novel “The Sellout” to force the reader stop and think about the intentions of acts regarding race. By presenting these ideas in a comical light rather than in a strictly no-nonsense tone, it is effectively making the reader realize how uncomfortable specific jokes make them feel, whilst also opening them up to further discussion about racism. The narrator and protagonist, Bon Bon’s frank and humorous voice helps lead audience members to be honest with themselves regarding such topics, and aids them in becoming aware of racism in the world around them particularly how it is not, in fact, a joking matter for many people. One racial ‘joke’ occurs when Bon Bon’s father, a psychologist, attempts to revitalize
Bon Bon’s father portrays Ken and Barbie as living a content life, enjoying themselves in the pool while the African American dolls run for their freedom. This scene featuring black dolls running away from search dogs and Ku Klux Klan members is incidentally a condensed version of black history, which, as discussed in class, would have been horribly offensive and racist had a white man written this scene. Bon Bon however, presents this scene to the audience as comical, even making the snide remark, “What are these, inaction figures” (34). By depicting this scene as comical rather than racist (although it certainly has undertones of that as well) the audience can allow themselves to feel more at ease with the situation Paul Beatty puts them in. However, the scene, at its core, is offensive and certainly causes the reader to second guess whether this ‘joke’ is actually ‘funny.’ Another racial ‘joke’ occurs during a Dum Dum Donuts Intellectuals meeting where one of the characters, Foy Cheshire, is discussing removing the n-word from the classic Mark Twain novel “Huckleberry Finn”. The ‘joke’ begins with Foy describing how he unable to read the novel to his grandchildren because the n-word appears repeatedly. Thus, he decides to replace words like nigger and slave to more humane and positive titles such as “warrior” and “dark-skinned volunteer” (95). He alters other aspects
Bon Bon makes light of the situation by asking “What are these, inaction figures” and the reader may feel comfortable enough to make light of this situation as well. However, the reader also becomes aware of why they should not find this ‘joke’ funny and second guesses the intentions of Beatty. Beatty’s second purpose is to cause this moment of second guessing, to force the reader to honestly consider whether the ‘joke’ is ‘funny.’ In the ‘joke’ about “Huckleberry Finn” this same moment occurs after the reader makes light of the new, long, and complicated title, but then Beatty coerces the reader to honestly consider whether it is funny to censor a historical book or laugh at the intentions behind doing so. This brings to mind questions about how the readers should interpret Paul Beatty’s ‘jokes.’ The ‘jokes’ in “The Sellout” and the purpose of the novel as a whole is to compel the reader to examine the context and the intentions behind racism and acts done in order to support or fight against such

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