Exploitative White Society
I wanted to ponder more on what actually led Gunnar to suicide, and why he chose suicide of all ways to really leave his mark on the world. I think that the core issue that is left after thinking of all the reasons comes back to the idea that Beatty explores throughout the novel, and is shown through the degradation of Scoby's character- the idea that these characters are being controlled by the society that they live in. They are being used, manipulated, white society's play toys in the grander world. The choices that Gunnar and Scoby eventually are pressured into making, aren't theirs- furthermore, the ruthless society that they are thrust into does not have their best interests in mind, only profit and infatuation is at play here. Gunnar and Scoby do not have control, rather they are being controlled and taken advantage of because of their talents.
So why suicide? Simply, I believe that Gunnar sees it as the one thing that White Supremacist America does not have control over- although ironically the government will drop the atomic bomb. Like Mitchell said in class, it is almost as if he is testing this society that has used him and Scoby over and over again- challenging them, saying, if you truly care about us for more than just your own pleasure- come and save us. And well, they do not.
On a related side note, I really admire how Beatty directly is questioning the audience and their own actions throughout the novel. Some readers could very well fall into the "not-really-what-most-people-would-think-is-racism-but-is-racism-just-in-less-noticeable-exploitative-ways" mindest that Beatty through Gunnar directly comes face to face with. (Is reading this book an extension of the racism depicted in the novel?) The problem is that most White Americans do not understand how they are contributing to the White American Society that Beatty deals wit- the adoring white fans do not understand how odd it is to bus in black kids to make their team better, etc.
Another less related but kind of still related side note, we have talked about how blessed Gunnar is to have this avenue through basketball, but I think it is important to point out how Beatty is trying to send a message about how the only avenue we allow for black boys is through Basketball. In the words of an activist that I forget the name of, "White America ALLOWS us to have Basketball. Not the medical field, or teaching." This is not to degrade those that are in Basketball, its a great sport. But I do find the manipulative nature that some coaches take over their players to be questionable- especially when most of the time the coaches are white and the players are black. What is he trying to say about poetry then? (although I know there are actual times he is being totally exploited)
So why suicide? Simply, I believe that Gunnar sees it as the one thing that White Supremacist America does not have control over- although ironically the government will drop the atomic bomb. Like Mitchell said in class, it is almost as if he is testing this society that has used him and Scoby over and over again- challenging them, saying, if you truly care about us for more than just your own pleasure- come and save us. And well, they do not.
On a related side note, I really admire how Beatty directly is questioning the audience and their own actions throughout the novel. Some readers could very well fall into the "not-really-what-most-people-would-think-is-racism-but-is-racism-just-in-less-noticeable-exploitative-ways" mindest that Beatty through Gunnar directly comes face to face with. (Is reading this book an extension of the racism depicted in the novel?) The problem is that most White Americans do not understand how they are contributing to the White American Society that Beatty deals wit- the adoring white fans do not understand how odd it is to bus in black kids to make their team better, etc.
Another less related but kind of still related side note, we have talked about how blessed Gunnar is to have this avenue through basketball, but I think it is important to point out how Beatty is trying to send a message about how the only avenue we allow for black boys is through Basketball. In the words of an activist that I forget the name of, "White America ALLOWS us to have Basketball. Not the medical field, or teaching." This is not to degrade those that are in Basketball, its a great sport. But I do find the manipulative nature that some coaches take over their players to be questionable- especially when most of the time the coaches are white and the players are black. What is he trying to say about poetry then? (although I know there are actual times he is being totally exploited)
I agree that Beatty challenges readers to consider how they relate to this novel. I really enjoyed reading this book because of Gunnar Kaufman's wit and humor while navigating painfully tragic situations, though I'm just one more white person who thinks Gunnar is such a funny cool black guy. The fact that Beatty makes Gunnar so funny and so cool makes readers confront their own preconcieved ideas about race.
ReplyDeleteI really like the line with "White America ALLOWS us to have Basketball." Throughout the course of the book it is shown that Black people really do not have control over what they do in life. He writes poetry and plays basketball because he likes to do it, but then people try to exploit that to get money and to entertain themselves. He is never really taken seriously and the part where the other students and the professor are so astonished to see that he is in their classroom shows that they don't really care about what he wants. It is an extremely overdone scene, but Beatty did that too show how Gunnar wasn't treated as a person, but more of a pet.
ReplyDeleteI see Gunnar's choice of suicide as a last resort. When he makes his speech that first sparks this national movement to suicide he doesn't seem really invested in actually carrying it out. He seems like he has just given up and is tired. Due to the exasperation Gunnar feels, I think that he's reached his breaking point in terms of caring. He doesn't want to play white peoples' games any longer, so he simply sits back and welcomes the inevitable.
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