The Multicultiboho Sideshow

by Alexs D. Pate

Young, unpublished African American author Ichabod "Icky" Word has summoned a police detective to his Minneapolis apartment under false pretenses. Word's true purpose is to capture the unsuspecting law officer -- a tired, overweight, middle-aged white man named Bloom-and to hold him hostage, while the frustrated writer regales his prisoner with a rambling tale of anger and woe ... and an explanation for the dead body wrapped in plastic in Icky's living room. Which is precisely what Icky Word does even as a team of SWAT sharpshooters maneuvers into optimum firing positions outside the building. The saran-wrapped corpse, Icky informs Bloom, was once Dewitt McMichael, a maker of dreams and cultural gigolo with the power to bestow a half-million-dollar "genius" grant on one lucky artist of color. The twisted roads that ultimately converged, bringing Word and McMichael together-and the bizarre circumstances that led to the latter's demiseare all part of a mad and maddening story that must be told; a mind-boggling chronicle of power, immorality, money, political stratification, racial discrindnation, brilliant creation and desecration that Icky is determined to vent in full ... even if it proves to be his last, desperate act on this Earth. Alternately sobering and screamingly funny, Alexs D.Pate's The Multicultiboho Sideshow is a blistering and remarkable work that spares nothing and no one-as it brings down everything it takes keen and caustic aim at, from the politics of art and death to the black man's rage and the white man's institutions. Young, unpublished African American author Ichabod "Icky" Word has summoned a police detective to his Minneapolis apartment under false pretenses. Word's true purpose is to capture the unsuspecting law officer-a tired, overweight, middle-aged white man named Bloom-and to hold him hostage, while the frustrated writer regales his prisoner with a rambling tale of anger and woeand an explanation for the dead body wrapped in plastic in Icky's living room. Which is precisely what Icky Word does-even as a team of SWAT sharpshooters maneuvers into optimum firing positions outside of the building. The saran-wrapped corpse, Icky informs Bloom, was once Dewitt McMicheal, a maker of dreams and cultural gigolo with the power to bestow a half-million dollar "genius" grant on one lucky artist of color. The twisted roads that ultimately converged, bringing Word and McMicheal together-and the bizarre circumstances that led to the latter's demise-are all part of a mad and maddening story that must be told; a mind-boggling chronicle of power, immorality, money, political stratification, racial discrimination, brilliant creation and desecration that Icky is determined to vent in fulleven if it proves to be his last, desperate act on this Earth. Alternately sobering and screamingly funny, Alexs D. Pate's THE MULTICULTIBOHO SIDESHOW is a blistering and remarkable work that spares nothing and no one-as it brings down everything it takes keen and caustic aim at, from the politics of art and death to the black man's rage and the white man's institutions.

256 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1999

About the author

Alexs pate is an Assistant Professor in African American and African Studies at the University of Minnesota, where he teaches courses in writing and black literature, including a course on “The Poetry of Rap.” He also teaches fiction writing at the University of Southern Maine’s Stonecoast M.F.A. program in Portland, Maine.

Reviews

[jimmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

overall a more or less enjoyable satire of the twin cities art scene in the 90s (with clear resonances with today's landscape) wrapped up in a whodunit and a scathing indictment of the failure of "multiculturalism" as a nebulous and undefined utopia that all too often results in assimilation as the unspoken goal rather than a genuine engagement with difference. a tad too preachy for me, though, as it were; i'm not a huge fan of fiction that tells so explicitly what it's supposed to be arguing rather than making its case as a story... so, glad i read this, perhaps of interest to other denizens of the twin cities, but not thoroughly impressed, a decent weekend read; 2.5 stars overall?

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is well-worth reading in the current atmosphere, following the despicable attack on African-Americans in South Carolina. The story, however, is set in Minnesota and features a parody of its foundations dealing with the arts community, particularly artists of color. Satire or not, I have to believe that Pate, who teaches at the University of Minnesota, is laying bare his own personal concerns regarding the struggles we still face as we strive for racial equity.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a marvelous surprise of a book. The craft is impressive and the story is captivating, but the way it manages to unfold is amazing. It is so different than what I thought I was getting into, so much fresher and more significant, and afterwards I wouldn't have wanted it to go any other way.

[Molly · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a Minnesotan, I was amused to try to piece together which satirical pieces belonged to what organizations (Shrubbery Foundation = Bush Foundation, etc.). But alas, I am not a good reader of satire, as I found myself more annoyed than anything else with the pervasive ego and didactic dialogue. The form of the book also felt lumpen: there was the action of the police kidnapping, the backstory that was often disrupted by said action, an incredibly long debate/discussion between the bohos, an improbable conclusion to the grant process (yes, part of the satire, I am sure), a zip-up closed / little wall-hitting, which made it actually feel as if it would have been more effective as a two- or three-act play than it would have been a novel. Beyond this, the language was riddled with cliche, when I feel it hadn't meant to be.

In contrast, I *did* enjoy West of Rehoboth, which I read shortly after having Alexs Pate as a professor.

[Greta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story told by an African American transplant to Minneapolis, and his artistic cohorts. A mystery wrapped in a hostage situation, death, laughs, tears and redemption. Alexs D. Pate does a good job of poking fun at what's typical about Minnesotans while the seriousness of the central story of raw conflict intensifies.

[Shreela Sen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found this the singularly most distasteful book I came accross. Other reviewers here mention that it is a Satire, something I TOTALLY FAILED to figure out by myself. Maybe this book is not intended for international audience. I was just dumbfounded by a book rationalizing a planned murder.

[Elisa Gusdal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kudos to Alex again!

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

The satire is biting and so real. Pate really takes on "diversity" and "multiculturalism" and asks what it really means and why it's important. I read the book in one sitting. That's RARE for me!