Week 4 reading journal 2
the white boy shuffle

The novel begins with Gunnar's earliest memories of being a black juvenile beach bum in Santa Monica and chronicles the hilarious exploits that lead him to become a young adult regarded as the black messiah. Gunnar begins his own history by telling the history of his male ancestors. Some of his ancestors are involved in significant moments of history, such as Euripides Kaufman who is the youngest slave in history to purchase his own freedom and who is instrumental in helping to provoke the American Revolutionary War. Other relatives such as Swen Kaufman have the dubious distinction of being the only known black man to run to the American south and into slavery.