"In Santa Monica, like most predominantly white sanctuaries from urban blight, "cool black guy" is a versatile identifier used to distinguish the harmless black male from the Caucasian juvenile while maintaining politically correct semiotics"
The evidence and acceptance of racism to and by the main character of the novel can be astounding at times. Because he grew up in an area where it is okay to be racist, as long as you don't do anything too bad, it is accepted. Through his writing, it is obvious that the main character is stereotyped by other people, but has given up on caring and made it into a joke.
"'The Odyssey? Ain't that some club over on Slauson and Normandie?'"
When the narrator is thrown to the ground by a couple of bullies, readers get a sense of how uneducated they really are. Not knowing a famous work like The Odyssey is one thing, but being only about fourteen years old and frequenting night clubs is another. In the city, many things that don't typically go do go, and sadly, oftentimes for young people, it is morality.
"We jaywalked, spit on the sidewalk, broke curfew, but strictly abided by the unwritten law prohibiting black boys over fifteen from sitting next to each other in the dark."
The main character is young and very ignorant, but still lives up to what he feels is the societal norm. By describing how he thinks white people have made an "unwritten law", he is neglecting the fact that he is, indeed, doing things to make people scared of him. Simple and annoying infractions, like jaywalking, spitting, and, later in the book, robbery, all add up to add to already negative stereotypes.
