An Analysis Of 'Ta-Nehisi Coates Between The World And Me'

In paragraph 33 he says, “And so enslavement must be casual wrath and random manglings, the gashing of heads and brains blown out over the river as the body seeks to escape.” These descriptive details make the audience grieve for the experiences that slaves were exposed to in America. The explicit scene unveils the truth of what happened everyday during slavery. Coates message was to inform America about what slaves faced and how their experiences shaped Black America today. Coates also uses pathos to emphasize the exhausting and difficult work that slaves were expected to do. He says in paragraph 33, “the spirit was blood that watered the cotton” and “ the soul was the body that fed the tobacco.” Coates sheds light on the hard work that slaves did, that ultimately helped America thrive. The statements evoke a sense of disbelief towards the forced blood, sweat and tears that America is built on. His message was that slaves’ negative experiences shaped America’s success

“Between the World and Me”, by Ta-Nehisi Coates, is a letter written to his son about what it means to be black and how tough it is to be a part of this race in the United States of America. In this book, Coates talks about his life in the black community, starting from childhood memories all the way to present day. Coates also tries sends a message, which is that his son should not lower his guard and be completely confident about who he is, instead he should be afraid about what the world is capable of doing to a black man. In this work, Coates disagrees on what it means to be black or white in America.

Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Between the World and Me has been compared favorably with James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time. The book begins with a letter to his nephew which Coats mimics in writing to his son. Themes of ‘Bodies’ related to racial identity, the experience of being black in America, and how to break down racial barriers are very prominent in both books however they vary slightly.

Between the World and Me is a letter by Ta-Nehisi Coates to his fifteen-year-old son Samori. Coates writes about his life growing up in the ghettos of Baltimore, which he learns how to survive the streets. His father was very strict and his mother wouldn’t let him go, but Coates now realizes that black parents (in general) are often like that because they do not want lose their children. For Ta-Nehisi Coates, growing up black in Baltimore would mean growing up poor. As a young man, Coates saw school as a useless part of life, though he pursued his studies in order to attend Howard University. At Howard University he went through an enlightenment as he saw the diversity of black people at Howard, and he studied black writers and history.

Ta-Nehisi Coates writes the book Between the World and Me , originally a letter to his son about struggles and reality of being a black boy in America. Though Coates wrote this letter to his son, us too like him needed to grasp the depth and cost of losing our black body in country that was built to destroy it. Coates writes, “ Here is what I would like for you to know: In America, it is traditional to destroy the black body--it is heritage.” The most powerful message encountered in the Coates work Between the World and Me is the concept he narrows in on, which is losing our black body to the systems in which America created to destroy our bodies. Coates writes, “And you know, if you did not before, that the police departments of your country have been endowed with authority to destroy your body.” He describes it as if even in our innocence and humanity, we can still lose our body due to overreactions, misunderstandings, and immature policy of the country we live in. Coates questions himself with the pursuit of how to live in his black body knowing it could be destroyed at any moment. As he narrows in on this question, he realizes that it is unanswerable, but also rewards him with constant interrogation and girded him against the fear of living without his body. He says, “How do I live free in this black body? [...] The question is unanswerable, which is not to say futile.

Ta-Nehisi Coates text Between The World and Me, which is posted as a letter to his son seeks to prepare him to live in a society were according to Coates blacks are not treated fairly. He starts by mentioning the fear of the black community in America, and the violence occurring. Coates tone is not very optimistic throughout his writing. He refers to “between the world and me” as a phrase that describes whites attitude towards blacks and how the white community maintained themselves as the ruling class, by looking down at non-white individuals. Many readers might view Coates as a pessimistic individual and may not concur with his ideology towards life and religion, however the truth he speaks about is not sugar coated it is straight to the point just as he is seeing it, which makes his writing interesting to read.

The book Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates, Coates writes a letter, addressing his son. He composed this message to his fifteen-year-old son, who that year had learned of the unjustified murders of numerous black individuals, including Eric Garner and Michael Brown; killed by police officers who received no punishment for their actions. Coates describes to his son many realities, that he has experienced firsthand, with which a black person must contend. He details his difficult childhood, living in fear – fear of the streets, fear of the police, fear of losing his body. In his letter, he illustrates how Howard University, the Mecca, and his experiences and interactions there shaped him. Another incident he discusses as one that

Between the World and Me In the book Between the World and Me, Ta-Nehisi Coates writes a letter to his 15-year-old son who is trying to make sense of his position in this racially injustice society. In the letter, Coates traces all his personal experiences through his childhood in Baltimore, his time at Howard University, encounters with the police, and even “the streets.” The explanation of how America’s violent background has now shaped the conditions for the modern black man in American is the most powerful message encountered in Coates’ Between the World and Me.

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates, may be addressed to Coates’ son. However, the messages within the book are relevant and important towards our society. While Coates mentioned many themes, the most powerful message was the concept of race. He states that race and racism are man-made concepts created in an attempt to establish a social hierarchy favorable towards “white” supremacy. These very notions are what our “free” country was built upon and are still dealing with today. The police brutality, the hate crimes, the mass incarceration, these are continuous tactics against our community to promote the racism and supremacy within America. This message forces you to think and wonder, “How could you be considered a free country, when every concept is based this unnatural theory?”

Between the World and Me examines the history and present circumstances of racial inequality and segregation in America. Coates directs the book to Samori to give his audience personal insight into the various stages of a black man’s life. From his childhood, to his college experience, to his complicated role as a father, Coates gradually unfolds a critical account of the relationship between black and white communities. He calls those who “believe themselves to be white” the “Dreamers” and criticizes them for the indifference toward black people 's experiences. He wants the audience to reflect upon themselves and realize that they are part of the problem.

A major issue in today’s age is the idea of “White America”. Ta-Nehisi Coates brings forth the ideas of white America often throughout his book, Between the World and Me, as well as the struggles he has as a black American. For many years, people have been pushed or pulled to America in hopes of finding the American dream everyone talks about. The dream of coming to America and exploring the new frontier. Eventually, to become wealthy and become an upper class citizen are all factors of achieving the dream. Although, little do they know that the dream is not obtainable by everyone. Coates asserts the American dream revolves around being white. Often times, blacks will begin to “act white” in order to achieve this American dream or achieve

In "Between the World and Me", author Ta- Nehisi Coates writes a beautiful 2nd person letter to his son, Samori. In what is essentially a mini- biography, Coates details his life, from growing up in his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland, to going to college at Howard University. Through beautiful and at times painful storytelling, Coates is able illustrate his life experiences to his son, describing how his life was growing up, and how his life lessons could be passed down to his son, even though they grew up in vastly different time periods. Many themes became present in Coates' novel/ letter, but one was especially powerful for me personally. By being able to educate himself, Coates in able to learn both academic and real world topics.

Ta-nehisi Coates' book, Between the World and Me, completely enlightened me on what is it to look at America through the eyes of a black individual. I could never say I know what it feels like to be discriminated against in the biblical portions black America faces throughout every day of their lives. Coates delivers his message by deliberately describing every punch and blow black people have to overcome in order to live in America.

Rosa Parks once said, “Racism is still with us. But it is up to us to prepare our children for what they have to meet, and, hopefully we shall overcome.” Between The World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates, Coates writes a letter to his son explaining what his life was like growing up in America as an African American man, and he also tries to give his son some moral advice on how to take charge of living as a man in a black body. Spike Lee directs a film on Malcolm X, who was a black activist and a leader of the struggle for black freedom. Both the book and film discuss slavery, civil rights, and police brutality. Coates and Malcolm X advocate that the malicious history of slavery has contributed to the shaping of modern day racism in America.

“There are wounds that never show on the body that are deeper and more hurtful than anything that bleeds.” Traumas are exactly like that. Sometimes it can be so poisonous that any decisions you make could be impacted with that trauma. However it is also positive in a sense that you can look back at it and learn from it. It is important for authors to recount past traumas in their work because the readers can get a better understanding and learn from them. Through the use of pathos, repetition, and rhetoric, these authors are able to clearly pass the ideas of how we all need to remember the institution of slavery as many still carry traumas and suffered great injustice from it.