This past Thursday in class we where discussing what is actually the what in What is the What. In the book Valentino speaks of the story his father told him about how the Dinka people chose to receive the cattle from God, and that the "what" was given to the Arabs. Later in the story this situation arises once more. Valentino's father encouraged him to come to the US. Valentino didn't really know what to expect of the US aside from what was shared about it. In this case this represented the unknown "what." His father could have told him to stay in his native country and try to tough things out there, but instead he told him to choose the what. I believe that the "what" represents taking chances and embarking on something that can bring a positive change. In this book we see that these people where hit with roadblocks and for some they did not let this stop them from achieving their dreams. They continued to press forward and do what they had to do so that they would be able to help their family back at home.
I agree to you in our analysis of the 'what'. I believe that it was intended to be somewhat ambiguous and refer to the unknown that was awaiting the Lost Boys and also the religious context as told in the story early on in the novel.
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