In his book "The Sellout," Paul Beatty explores the complex and fluctuating experience of being black in America. The notion of black identity is likened to a challenging job, where individuals oscillate between feeling invisible and overly scrutinized. This requires constant adaptation to find comfort in social settings that are often unpredictable.

Beatty also references Richard Pryor's experience in Africa, highlighting a profound irony: despite being black, Pryor was perceived as “white” by the locals, illustrating how cultural perceptions of race can be fluid. This underscores the idea that racial identity is not only about skin color but also deeply intertwined with societal expectations and context.