“It’s illegal to yell ‘Fire!’ in a crowded theater, right?” “It is.” “Well, I’ve whispered ‘Racism’ in a post-racial world.”

I’m going to start this review by pointing out that I have created a new guide on my Instagram @thebacklistborrower that highlights reviewers from diverse backgrounds, as this book touches on a lot of topics that, as a white woman, I can’t best speak to and, while I will give my impressions, there is so much to speak to that only a black reviewer can.

CW: Racism, violence, suicide

The Sellout is about an unnamed Black character only ever referred to as “The Sellout” or “Bonbon”, and Hominy Jenkins, the last surviving Little Rascal. Both live in the “agrarian ghetto” of Dickens, which one day is quietly dropped from state maps. Despairing over his loss of recognition that came with the loss of Dickens, Hominy attempts to commit suicide, but is rescued by The Sellout. In exchange, Hominy pledges himself a slave to The Sellout, much to The Sellouts alarm. The Sellout then pledges to get Dickens back on the map in a favour to Hominy, and he does this by segregating the local high school and a local bus.

A 2016 Man Booker and National Book Critics Circle Award, this book is a biting satire of post-racial america. Reading the book made me very uncomfortable. I was often asking myself “is this funny? Is this supposed to be funny? What does it mean if I think this is/isn’t funny?”. I stopped 50 pages in to read some reviews as I just didn’t know what to think. The discomfort, however, was good. This book isn’t supposed to be comfortable. It is supposed to point out everything wrong with the “post-racial” society of 2015, and is very transferrable to 2021 as well.

Of course as a Man Booker winner, I don’t need to tell you that this is a well-written book. But it is complicated, and uncomfortable, and trying to explain it when asked “what are you reading?” is challenging. Please check out my new guide for other’s opinions on the book, as it shouldn’t surprise anybody that this was also a polarizing book.