Attitude Quote by Paul Beatty
“In White Boy Shuffle, I combined my seventh-grade teacher, Mr. Takemoto, who really saved me - I don't think I've ever told anyone this - and my first basketball coach, Mr. Shimizu, into one character. Something about the way they talked about things, and their attitudes, had a huge impact on me. Not that I necessarily agreed with them. It was important to me to just put them there to stay grounded.”
About This Quote
Source Book: In White Boy Shuffle by Paul Beatty, 1996
The narrator merges two influential male figures from his youth into a single character to stay grounded, despite not fully agreeing with them.
In simple terms: He combines teacher and coach into one lasting influence.
Key Takeaway
Identify mentors who ground you.
Themes
identity
mentorship
grounding
Mood
reflective
nostalgic
Type
literary
personal essay
When to use this quote
- adolescence
- self‑reflection
- creative writing
Key Concepts
psychology
personal narrative
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you honor mentors without idealizing them?
- What parts of their attitudes shape you?
A Different Perspective
The character may oversimplify complex influences.
![“I'll say this, and it'll sound like bullshit, but it's not: I don't really pay attention to this stuff [Man Booker Prize] very much. I think part of it is I can see myself wondering who's doing what and getting jealous, and none of that's healthy for me. So I just don't really.” quote by Paul Beatty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/830/paul-beatty-6684_attention_i-ll-say-this-and-it-ll-sound-like-bulls_289719.jpg)
![“There are always so many things happening [to us] at one time. We read Isherwood's A Single Man in class, and we had to ask: How is he talking about all this stuff: teaching, being lonely, all his memories, all at the same time? He's telling us: This is where my head is at, let me be…” quote by Paul Beatty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/642/paul-beatty-6684_asks_there-are-always-so-many-things-happenin_425418.jpg)
