Not Logged in.
Book Jacket

The Sellout


The first book by an American author to win the prestigious Man Booker Prize.
Summary and Reviews
Excerpt
Reading Guide
Author Biography

The beautiful Supreme Court Justice asks her colleagues to consider what the words "separate" "equal," and "black" really mean. How would you answer her? Do your answers explain the shooting of Bonbon's father?

Created: 01/18/17

Replies: 3

Posted Jan. 18, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

The beautiful Supreme Court Justice asks her colleagues to consider what the words "separate" "equal," and "black" really mean. How would you answer her? Do your answers explain the shooting of Bonbon's father?

On page 274, the beautiful Supreme Court Justice from the Upper West Side asks her colleagues to consider what the words "separate" "equal," and "black" really mean. How would you answer her? Do your answers explain the shooting of Bonbon's father?


Posted Jan. 24, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
rebeccar

Join Date: 03/13/12

Posts: 548

RE: The beautiful Supreme Court Justice asks her colleagues to consider what the words "separate" "equal," and "black" really mean. How would you answer her? Do your answers explain the shooting of Bonbon's father?

I think the word "black" is particularly interesting since I never heard anyone refer to President Obama as half white - or even "half black" for that matter, so it makes Mark Twain's character of Roxy (one-sixteenth black, so a slave) and her son, Chambers (one thirty-second black, so a slave by law) still a relevant conversation.


Posted Jan. 25, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
joanp

Join Date: 06/13/11

Posts: 102

RE: The beautiful Supreme Court Justice asks her colleagues to consider what the words "separate" "equal," and "black" really mean. How would you answer her? Do your answers explain the shooting of Bonbon's father?

Separate means no mixing or interaction between races. Equal means accessibility and sameness of opportunity for all. Black was best explained by the three stages of blackness described by the author. One, being accepted on the fringes of whiteness. Two is finding idealized blackness and pro-blackness. Three is " a collective consciousness that fights oppression and seeks serenity". Oh, how I've thought about this. Bonbon's father was shot because he was a stage three black man.


Posted Feb. 02, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
jww

Join Date: 05/31/11

Posts: 166

RE: The beautiful Supreme Court Justice asks her colleagues to consider what the words "separate" "equal," and "black" really mean. How would you answer her? Do your answers explain the shooting of Bonbon's father?

What joanp says! Great explanation.


Reply

Please login to post a response.