Published in 2015, "The Sellout" was the latest in Paul Beatty’s body of work that explores racial identity in America and the pervasive historical effects of racism. Beatty’s other notable works include "The White Boy Shuffle", "Tuff", and "Slumberland". Beatty has stated his motivation for writing the novel was that "[he] was broke". Although "The Sellout" was not written in response to any specific event, the novel was released during a time of racial reckoning surrounding multiple instances of police brutality and the Ferguson, Missouri protests.