ONeill

Sarah ONeill
Professor Jackie
English 101
December 18, 2015
Stereotypes Obstructing Progression
The novel Angry Black White Boy, written by Adam Mansbach, is a satire that tackles racial
issues with a daring examination of stereotypes, cultural appropriation, and the struggle of the
identity within oneself, among many other issues that plague society. Mansbach introduces Macon
Detornay, a college-aged, Caucasian who finds himself struggling to understand the inequalities and
evils the white race has inflicted on the black race. Through his internal conflict, Macon begins to
identify more with the African American race and rejects his Caucasian race. At a young age, he
begins to submerge himself in the black culture through hip hop music and graffiti art and becomes a
surface-level expert on the history of African Americans. His disdain and disgust for the treatment
of African Americans cultivates a resentful and radicalized version of Macon, leading him to rob
several stereotypically profiled Caucasian men. Once Macon was arrested and out on bail, he
becomes a controversial leader of a movement against race, declaring an ill-conceived Day of
Apology that results in mayhem and chaos, eventually causing Macon to question his claimed
identity. Through this identity crisis, he attempts to morph into a stereotypical southern white man
named Uncle Macon, negating all of the ideals he so fervently stood for. Adam Mansbach uses
exaggerated stereotypes to highlight how strong of a hold stereotypes have on our society within all
classes, races, gender and other categorized groups. Although stereotypes are not always seen as
negative, all stereotypes have a negative effect on society by influencing people to conform to
societal pressures, imposing cultural ideals, and triggering pain and resentment.

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Mansbachs use of stereotypes demonstrates that individuals feel the need to conform to
the expectations of a stereotype, causing one to question their self-identity and feel ashamed they are
not living up to the societal norm. Mansbach proves this by describing the problems of a group of
African American actors, The Peoples Cooperative Gorilla Theatre, that resorted to practicing plays
in the middle of the night. When asked why they practiced so late the leader of the group explains,
There isnt a whole lot of support in the community not since we expanded our focus beyond
African-American playwrights. Its hard enough to get black people to go to the theater to begin
with, but do you know what its like trying to convince the Frederick Douglas Playhouse to let you
do The Importance of Being Earest or Rosencrantz and Guildenster are Dead (Mansbach 86)? The
group wants to embrace all types of plays but feels they must hide this desire within as it is seen as
not socially acceptable from fellow African Americans. They could conform and only perform
African-America playwrights but they describe themselves by shouting, We aint monochromatic
people (Mansbach 86)! The interests and desires they identify with cannot be muffled by the
stereotype that African Americans should only perform certain types of plays. However, this standard
created by fellow African Americans pressures them to hide their desires. Society is often plagued by
shame, guilt, and embarrassment of the characteristics that go against the grain of what is determined
as the norm. Macon also experiences confusion with his identity while trying to be accepted by
people. As Macon struggles to feel like he belongs to a race, he questions his own authenticity as to
what he truly stands for and if he could avoid the evils of his race. Macon runs from the pressures
of leading a movement against racism, finding himself in the South, where he is recognized and
abducted by a group of white supremacists that want him to prove his loyalty to the white race. When
he tries to explain that he has abandoned his fight against his own race, the southern racists are not
convinced, causing Macon to morph into the stereotypical identity of a southern, white racist Uncle
Macon, which meant outrunning himself, becoming the New Macon with such ardor and velocity
that theyd stop hating him, could not hate him because he was what he should be now, a redeemed

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sinner, a new fishing buddy He would be Uncle Macon, the citified, backward-thinking, but fastlearning, loveable, spineless, chameleon-changing, credit-to-his-race, great-with-kids, helpless,
have-mercy-on-poor Uncle Macon (Mansbach 321). As he tried to become the person he believed
was needed in that moment, he even punched an African American man the group had taken hostage.
He describes this personality as what he should be now, not by what he truly believes, feels, or
thinks. This new identity was who he believed he should be according to societal pressures. His
newest identity continued being questioned and in the end he could not out run his true self. He
would die for what he stood for, despite what he wanted. Society applying so much pressure through
stereotypes causes people to question their desires and be more susceptible to the pressures of
imposed ideals.
Mansbach uses extreme contradictions surrounding stereotypes, emphasizing the conflict
each race faces to avoid thinking in stereotypes and becoming a stereotype based on cultural ideals.
Through Macons emersion in the hip hop culture, he stereotyped the white attendees at a hip hop
club by thinking, He was no older than these knucklehead new-jacks, but they were a generation he
despised for their presumption and their ease, the way they sauntered into hip hop like it was their
parents living room and thrown their legs up on the coffee table. Hip hop hadnt extorted them for
any dues in return for the right to claim it as their own (Mansbach 70). Mansbach is showing here
that Macon feels a group of people cannot be a part of a genre associated with a race that is not their
own. Macon looks upon these individuals with disdain for thinking they even deserved to be there
without any knowledge of how or why these backpack rap kids become fans of hip hop. At no
point did Macon question the non-white attendees of their intentions of attending the hip hop club.
Macon hated and stereotyped these people without any knowledge of each individual. His ideals
could prevent non-African American people from feeling they can express their love of hip hop, thus,
solidifying the wall between blacks and whites. Imposed ideals do not just come from complete
strangers but, at times, from loving parents that have expectations, both consciously and

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unconsciously, that enforce standards on their children. In an article by Michelle Salemi, she
reported, families and communities are the first point of entry into how people see or experience
much of the world, which can foster the first beliefs on racism (para 6). Macons roommate, Andre,
attended a predominantly white prep school and often felt he was the token black kid. With the
school being predominantly white, his mother felt he needed a reminder of what she believed to be
the ideal for her black son. Andre recalls attending, A lecture on Knowing Your Rights given by
some haggard ex-panther at a weekend retreat his mother had sent him on because she worried he
wasnt black enough (Mansbach 38). Even with possible good intentions by his mother, Andre
expresses the memory with a negative tone that his mother didnt feel he was black enough. These
types of pressures can cause feelings of shame and confusion for not being seen as though the
characteristics a person currently possess are acceptable. The retreat itself also appeared to feed into
multiple stereotypes by teaching that African Americans may not be knowledgeable of their rights
and implying that they will likely encounter an injustice with the police at some point. These
stereotypes can drive a defensive response from African Americans and will more likely be retaliated
with counter defenses from police, cultivating the stereotypes from both groups. It also highlights
that actions by some police officers have created a sense of distrust in the system. The viscous circle
of stereotypes encourages societys unrealistic standards on groups of people, which often causes
anger and resentment, continuing to provoke the separation of races.
Many people have experienced deep pain and terror by the stereotypes that invoke racism,
causing resentment, rage and the inability to forgive. Mansbach demonstrates the pain people have
endured with many characters in his novel. The novel introduces an elderly African American
character named Dudley whose intentions are to go out on the infamous Day of Apology to hear
white people apologize to African American strangers for all of the unfair thoughts and/or actions
that they have ever had towards African Americans. This broadcasted day gave Dudley hope for
justice. Mansback writes, As Silly as he felt, Dudley couldnt wait to hear the words. It would be a

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moment of uplift like when Joe Lewis beat Schmeling. Dudley had given up on seeing real justice in
his lifetime long ago. But when it glinted for a moment, like a gold in a prospectors pan, he still got
giddy (Mansbach 243). Manbach illustrates that Dudley feels this Day of Apology is a stride
towards the fight against racism at a critical time in the world by comparing it to a fight between an
African American and a German Arian for the World Weight Championship Title. This historical
fight occurred at a very detrimental time in history, during the reign of Adolf Hitler amidst his
campaign against less superior races, and shortly before the start of WWII. Mansbach creates a
scene where it appears Dudley is ready to accept the apology, however, he responds to the apologizer
with, Pardon me for saying so in front of young ears, but I dont give a goddamn. I dont forgive
you and neither does anyone else. Being as old as I am makes you honest, son, and the truth is,
theres not enough forgiveness in this world for white people. No, sir. Only God is that forgiving
(Mansbach 243). Mansbach indicates that Dudley experienced more justice by the punch response
he would throw than the apology he received. After living in a time when racism was dominating the
nation, Dudley likely encountered gross behavior from white people that he felt was unforgiveable.
Racism during that time was seen as though African Americans were less superior to white people
and it was permitted and even embraced by a majority of the nation. When these continued
inequalities resurface in society today, many stereotypes discredit these feelings of outrage. Rhea
Boyd, MD, author of the The Baltimore riots: We should look beyond stereotypes article, states,
Labeled as looters and thugs, even in the very moment a community mobilizes to denounce
their victimization, they are simultaneously recast as criminals, undeserving of the autonomy to
freely express public discontent (para 4). African Americans are not able to express their outrage
without negative consequences from the media and public. This response elevates the feelings of
discrimination and infuse the anger and pain that already exists. Stereotypes cause the resurfacing of
the pain Africans Americans experienced for so long and still experience in less obvious ways. There

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cannot be complete forgiveness until all races completely remove racial profiling and stereotypes
from their culture.
Angry Black White Boy utilizes wit and boldness to tackle the important topic of stereotypes
and how they can negatively affect people and obstruct the advancement of society. All stereotypes,
both positive and negative, create walls between groups of people. The African American should be
great at sports and not focused on academics and the Asian American cant play sports and should
focus on his/her studies. The Caucasian American thinks they are superior to domestic work and the
Mexican American will do any labor for a dollar. Lastly and the most prevalent and hurtful today, is
all Middle Eastern people are radical Muslim and, therefore, terrorists. These are gross examples of a
society where we struggle to find individualism from preconceived ideals of our race. Even when
someone perceives a stereotype as positive it puts an unrealistic expectation on a person to become
the ideal, though race itself was never a choice by the individual. Stereotypes are hindering the
progression of society to move forward and become a unified and truly equal civilization.

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Works Cited

Boyd, Rhea, MD. The Baltimore riots: We should look beyond stereotypes. KevinMD, LLC 2015.
Web. 2 May 2015
Mansbach, Adam. Angry Black White Boy, Or, the Miscegenation of Macon Detornay: a Novel. New
York: Three Rivers, 2005. Print.
Salemi, Michelle. Experts Say Parents Infect Their Children with Racial Ignorance. Medill Reports
- Chicago, Northwestern University, 2001-2014. Web. 3 May 2012