Paul Beatty's 'American Prophet': Satire of Black Identity

The French translation of Paul Beatty's novel 'The White Boy Shuffle', published as 'American Prophet' by Passage du Nord-Ouest, is reviewed. The novel follows Gunnar Kaufman, a black poet from Los Angeles whose ancestors include figures who altered key moments in American history. Beatty uses irony and humor to critique community and identity, with the protagonist advocating collective suicide as a paradoxical successor to Martin Luther King. The review highlights Beatty's sharp satire of racial politics, ghetto life, and the absurdity of communal belonging.