In class, questions of the importance of the author's maleness and blackness both arose. The Sellout discusses homosexuality and its implications within the black community on several occasions. Based on the both of these elements, I argue that the intersectionality present in The Sellout complicates its simple premise of re-segregation for the purpose of dismissing it as a real solution for the race issues of today.
The protagonist's father expresses concern regarding his son's sexuality. Just before he dies, the protagonist's father is planning to meet his son at a Dum Dum Donut Intellectuals meeting to "ply [him] with . . . conversion therapy" (Beatty 42). The narrator/protagonist concedes that his father may not think he is gay, "but he's worried that [he] never stays out past eleven and the word 'booty' doesn't seem to be in [his] vocabulary" (Beatty 42). This passage demonstrates that despite the psychologist/father's obsession with the uplifting of the African-American race, despite his thematic question, "'Who am I? And how can I be that person?'" he is still adhering to the cultural standards of the black community, which clearly for him, in Dickens, include the commandment "Thou shalt not be gay" (Beatty 40).
The theme of intersectionality with regards to sexuality resurfaces just as the protagonist begins his cut-and-dry segregationist solution for the troubles that plague the black community. The children at Careers Day exchange jeers of "'that's gay'" in response to one another's career aspirations (Beatty 166). This interaction affirms the protagonist's father's perceptions of the black community's views on homosexuality - not only is it not yet accepted, but the word "gay" is still used as an insult.
These passages highlight just one of many factors that complicate the simple segregation the protagonist tries to implement. As Beatty obviously is not advocating for a return to segregation, I believe these passages are placed purposefully to draw the reader's attention to the idea that, while the United States may not have improved much with regards to race relations since the 1960s, the idea of identity has grown much more complicated. Segregation by race writes in even bigger question marks over these issues of intersectionality in which U.S. society has taken an interest.
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ReplyDeleteI agree with your idea that the Sellout’s intersectionality is demonstrated by examples of homophobia within the black community. I believe that Beatty also critiques the idea of hegemonic masculinity and how this idea negatively affects the black community. Throughout the novel, there are many instances in which the protagonist faces the idea of a hegemonic black man, in addition to your examples of homophobia, in order to feel masculine. The narrator says that he “never [stole] anything…never boarded a crowded bus…sat in a seat reserved for the elderly, pulled out [his] gigantic penis and masturbated to satisfaction” (3), emphasizing that while these are extreme cases, the protagonist contrasted the stereotypes of a black man. Furthermore, the protagonist seems to disregard those actions exemplified by his father. When the protagonist is kissing Marpessa in his father’s truck and his father is making explicit hand signs signaling his advice to “fuck her already,” (122), the protagonist seems to disregard this. He is respectful to women in contrast to the examples that other men show in the novel. Beatty uses Marpessa to offer a different view of a desirable black man. When asked about when she fell in love with the protagonist, she says, “When…we went out to eat” since he was finally a “black man who didn’t insist on sitting facing the door…who didn’t pretend he’s a big man” (143). She liked him because he wasn’t like other men, which is what the author is trying to emphasize; there should be reconsiderations of a masculine, black man.
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