Written by M.N.
Picture below: Author with his book
Information
Author: Ta-Nehisi Coates / Genre: Autobiography, nonfiction / Published: 2015
Summary
Written in the format of a letter to his son, the author answers the question of how one should live within a black body. He subsequently continues to talk about America’s idea of race and how it became this way, such as that a long time ago, race was defined as having distinct physical features. However, today, these features lead people to organize others into special groups and societies. Thus, the concept of race humiliates, reduces, and destroys others.
The author brings to light the dark history of America and speaks up about the abuse and violence that is a common occurrence for black people. With the beatings, detaining, and shame, only black people suffer as no one is held accountable- especially the people who are doing the destruction.
Throughout the author’s childhood, he describes his black community being afraid- more specifically of the past that had harmed them, and the legacy that still pervades them. And when there is fear, there comes violence. Black teenagers, especially, are the most vulnerable to stereotypes. For example, Coates talks about the streets and how failing there results in gangs stealing the soul. Failure in the education system also results in black people being sent to the streets where they lose their bodies and freedom. Life, therefore, was a never-ending cycle of inequality.
The author also draws the line between his world- which was filled with injustice and cruelty- to a white person’s world, which was filled with freedom. Black people were stuck in a world that they couldn’t escape from.
In conclusion, the author states that the question that covers the story is unanswerable, however, confronting the question makes one combat the ghosts and the history which plagued them in the past.
“Not being violent enough could cost me my body. Being too violent could cost me my body. We could not get out”
How the Book Relates to the Modern World
Between the World and me addresses key worldly themes such as the American dream and how it has impacted African Americans. He contrasts this Dream between white people and black people and how African Americans face a large barrier in society.
A central theme of the book is how America has destroyed the Black Body. Coates talks about slavery and how American history has hidden it from its people and from the rest of the world. He furthermore goes on to say that the concept of American democracy is untrue because of the negligence towards African American slavery.
Finally, he details the struggles of African Americans from the ghetto communities that they grew up with to the systematic racism they face from the government. The segregation that many blacks face today is still prevalent and continues to destroy the black body.
Rating
This book is definitely more serious than a typical leisure read. Also good for a school environment, Coates discusses topics that impact not only the African American community but the entirety of the U.S. I would recommend reading this if you are interested in learning about African American history and how it has affected the history of the U.S.
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