In "The Sellout" by Paul Beatty, the author critiques the societal tendency to scapegoat marginalized groups, such as the homosexual and biracial communities, suggesting that the country has a deep-seated need for targets to blame and demean. This highlights a broader commentary on how society deflects self-examination by focusing on external symbols of difference, often resorting to violence and prejudice as a means of maintaining its own distorted identity.

Beatty's incisive language reveals a nation unwilling to confront its historical injustices, instead opting for distractions that mask its failures. By invoking imagery of violence and trivial pursuits like baseball, he underscores the absurdity of this avoidance, calling for a genuine reflection on the past rather than the superficial engagement with identity that keeps the status quo intact.