...an author often reflect themselves in their work. Nawal El Saadawi’s protagonist, Firdaus, in Woman at Point Zero and Ta-Nehisi Coates’ stream of consciousness in his memoir, Between the World at Me both depict an experience of institutionalized oppression. El Saadawi utilizes numerous references to the Christian ideology of a Christ-figure and of rebirth through baptism by depicting Firdaus’ experiences of escaping numerous abusers throughout her life. In contrast, Coates alludes to Malcolm X’s, his childhood idol, tendency to defend what he believed was right and just, even if it went against societal standards instilled by the same Christian Bible. Through Coates’ self-proclaimed identification with Malcom X’s life and...
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...I had the pleasure of reading Between the World and Me in my sophomore year in high school. After Toni Morrison called Ta-Nehisi Coates “The Next James Baldwin”, my mother made sure to get a copy for the whole family to read. At first, I was a bit annoyed simply because being forced to read sometimes puts a negative aspect on the material itself. But, as soon as I started diving into this book, the pages began to fly. The concept alone, a father writing a letter to his son about the world and how to navigate it as a black man, spoke to me personally as I was going through situations with my own father. This book was unlike anything I had read prior. After hearing Coates depict Howard University, the Yard, and all of the knowledge he learned...
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...Within the last pages of the book, Ta-Nehisi Coates revisits his final stories and connects them to bigger lessons, morals, and ideas. In the beginning, he explains the significance of the African American race during the Civil War. The betrayal, the lies, and the switching sides as the African Americans were either threatened to fight alongside their masters or risked their lives fighting against them. After that, he moves along by telling stories of how the realtors of the world try to control the race of people moving in and out of neighborhoods. The ghettos remain ghettos and the suburbs remain suburbs. As the times have changed, this too has changed, yet Coates reminds his son that this is not something he should have to deal with. Coates then goes on to explain that the only reason why people commit these awful acts or try to is for “the reduction of the black body.” (111) The reason that people corner the African American race into ghettos is...
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... Ed. D January 24, 2016 The Case for Reparations This article is written by Ta-Nehish Coates an American writer, journalist and editor. Coates is a National correspondent for the Atlantic, were he writes about cultural, social and political issues. More so in regards to African- Americans. Coates has also worked for the Village Voice, Washington City Paper and Times. Ta-Nehisi Coates also published a Memoir “The beautiful Struggle” in 2008, and released his second book in July 2015 “Between the world and me.” Coates was born in Baltimore, Maryland to Father Paul Coates a Vietnam War Veteran, former Black Panther, Publisher and librarian, and Mother Cherly Coates, who was a teacher. The Case for Reparation intricately traces the history of racism in the United States from long after slavery ended, to recent examples of housing discrimination. Coates writes about decades of racist policies and deliberate injustices-from Jim Crow to redlining. Not to leave out the unfair housing policies and GI bill. I found this article to be most educational, informative, and well written. I am one who knew very little about the history of slavery that went back as far as 1619. Once I started reading this article I could not put it down. This article had me feeling a shame of myself for not knowing my history. I loved the way Ta-Nehisi Coates writes and speaks. I have to say I was very intrigue with Coates that I got on you-tube and listen to a few of his interviews. His Father and family...
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...Ta-Nehisi Coates’ novel Between the World and Me is powerful in its examination of the black experience in America. Everything Coates says in the novel relates back to the present day struggles that African Americans often encounter in the world. While the purpose of the novel was to educate Coates’ son on the struggles of equality and liberty in America, the most important message in Between the World and Me is that racism is systematic, and race is a resulting concept. It is easy for one to associate racism with hate, to chalk it up to a consequence of evil, but according to Coates, “there is nothing uniquely evil in these destroyers.” One cannot be evil simply because of the color of their skin. However, the evil that spews from racism...
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...“Between the World and Me” is a book by Ta-Nehisi Coates about the history of Americans taking advantage of the fact that they have created a system of oppression and discrimination against black people. The narrative is expressed in the form of a letter addressed to his son, through a collection of stories and experiences, from the author’s perspective as someone who lives under the repressive system. Coates’ principal message to the audience is that despite the fact that American society is set up in opposition to the success of black people, black people must not stop struggling to continue to fight for equality. The first takeaway I got from this book is that it has a largely negative focus on the relationship between “Americans who believe that they are white,” and black people. From my personal perspective, while it is important to understand the negative, Coates failed to provide the audience with a balance. There are some positive instances in the relationship between white and black people, in...
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...In Between the World and me by Ta-Nehisi Coates he begins with describing the youth of himself when he was a teenager in the streets of Baltimore . For most of the part he was a boy who grew up in violence everywhere especially near his schools. He questions about the ideals in the government and how it does not apply to the people and himself because he sees a lot of violence that makes him think that is meant for him and his community. Another example is when he describes the boys and girls having fear to the streets and to be able to overcome that fear they would have to put their anger to promote violence and gain superiority . I find it interesting in how Coates describes his struggle in portraying his skin color as a survival kit for...
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...What is the American Dream? The American Dream is a national aspiration of the United States that sets the standard of ideals in which freedom includes the opportunity for prosperity and success, as well as growth and longevity for those who work hard, showcase determination, and who are resourceful. But how does the American Dream look? Most Americans picture a small town white boy, who is a senior athlete in high school, that receives a football scholarship to play in college. Then he later graduates and starts running a business that turns into a multimillion dollar company. Its sounds so simple, but what is the black American dream. Is it to struggle all your life and learn to embrace the struggle to get out the struggle. Then you must...
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...Between the World and Me has solidified the empathy needed for White Americans to “ultimately stop themselves.” What the book doesn’t do, however, is give us the tools to do this, the tools needed to spread the message to unbelievers and recreate the empathy that Coates displays so well. Of course, this was not the purpose of the book; it’s the purpose of Coates’ essay “The Case for Reparations,” where he uses historical research and evidence to make the argument for American slave restitution. In the piece, Coates provides the necessary tools for White Americans to believe and push the progressive notions warranted in order to make a difference in the African American community, and it accomplishes this with little visceral empathy—just research, history, and logic—differing from Between the World and Me. And so, wherever “The Case for Reparations” falls, Between the World and Me rises in its place, and vice versa, making them perfect companions for each other, a companionship key for white readers,...
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