The novel satirizes the dominant strains of discussion related to the publication and reception of African-American literature, and was later adapted by Cord Jefferson into a film titled American Fiction, starring Jeffrey Wright.

Despite Ellison finding the book full of cliches and lazy stereotypes, it becomes a bestseller and makes Jenkins an instant critical darling.

Using the assumed identity of a black convict named Stagg R. Leigh, Monk quickly composes a satirical response to Jenkins' text, based in part on Richard Wright's Native Son (1940) and Sapphire's Push (1996).

The plot is an exaggerated story of a young black man who has several babies by different women whom he abuses as he falls into a life of delinquency and crime with his friends.

To Ellison's shock, his agent is able to quickly get a publishing deal for Fuck, earning him half a million dollars in advance fees.

Throughout the process of selling and optioning the film, Ellison fashions a persona as the convicted "author" Leigh in order to maintain his credibility.

[9] American filmmaker Cord Jefferson, however, presented a compelling case for an adaptation and the changes to the plot and story in the script satisfied Everett.

[10] After several years of production, the film adaption was released in 2023 under the title American Fiction, written and directed by Jefferson and starring Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, Erika Alexander, Sterling K. Brown, and Leslie Uggams.