Irony and its role in White Boy Shuffle
One of the most glaring things in White Boy Shuffle is its humor paired with a slightly disturbing undertone. While it is easy to get caught up laughing along with the hilarious narration of Paul Beatty, it's important to understand the importance of combining comedy with reality. A perfect example of this combination manifests itself in Beatty's depiction of basketball. To Gunnar, basketball was something that came naturally. At first, he learns only about the rules and how to play in an abstract sense. Even though a normal person wouldn't have a clue how to play ball, Gunnar grabs the rim, "the ball slamming through the hoop with an authoritative boom" (Beatty 74). Skoby and the rest of the boys are quick to point out how unusual it is for someone with his age or experience to be able to dunk. This whole scene seems all well and good, but also has an important message behind it. In most professional sports, the consensus is that hard work improves skills, and c...