In Paul Beatty's novel "The Sellout," the author explores the contrasts between the experiences of American blacks and other oppressed populations around the globe. He highlights a noticeable difference in their approach to history and memory. While many oppressed groups are determined to remember their struggles and the injustices they faced, American blacks often seek to erase these painful memories from their collective history.

This theme underlines a sense of conflict within the African American experience, where the desire for healing and progress sometimes clashes with the necessity of remembering past injustices. Beatty suggests that this tendency to wish for a void in the historical record can lead to a lack of understanding and connection to the past, making it difficult to fully address present issues.