Between The World And Me Analysis

“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.

Not only being a gangster of the streets can be a reason for having your body taken, but also illegally selling cigarettes and simply walking home with a hood on can both be reasons for someone to come and “take your body”. These ideas are clearly and evidently illustrated by Coates in his use of the names of unarmed African Americans like Eric Garner and Trayvon Martin, who were innocently killed by people claiming to be the protectors. Coates not only references the unneeded deaths of these and other African Americans, but he also refers to the way justice is taken after the incident...it isn’t. It’s like after every death of an unarmed black person the justice system wants to get back at the public and the

Reading the content in this book made me get a picture of what it was like to be a colored person in this time. My eyes were opened to the meaning of the word “nigga”. Nigga is such a derogatory term, yet now-a-days it is used by people so much. Kids in this generation use it as a term of endearment when they see their friends, or they say it when they are shocked by something. Frankly, I don’t believe they know how serious it really is. The fact that white people could look at a person and see less than a human being when they did nothing wrong distresses me. They (white people) treated them as if they were property and below them. Even though we don’t have racism to this extent

In part one of “Between the World and Me,” Coates gives constant examples on how the black community deals with the loss of their bodies and violence on the daily. He makes his argument by being brutally honest. He does not hold back when talking on the subject, making the reader feel somewhat convicted after reading. He uses the element of right timing throughout part one to show how intense racism still is.

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 by Ta-Nehisi Coates is a book that demands attention in today 's society where racism and hostility towards the black community are still very common. The book is written in the form of a letter to Coates’s son where he examines the black body and how it is viewed in the world by white americans. Coates gives insight into relevant social justice issues such as Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and Trayvon Martin and provides an intense reality depicting the life of those in the black community. Coates describes his life growing up and explains the ever changing realizations he comes to regarding the black body as he grows and develops. He takes the readers on a journey through his experiences and education, allowing us to directly see his opinions regarding the black body develop and reshape over time. Coates focuses in on his different forms of education and how they influenced his opinions on power and freedom of the black body. Ultimately through his life experiences and education Coates realizes that the black body can be viewed as simultaneously powerful and powerless within society.

The reading that I found most compelling to me was W.E.B DuBois excerpt titled “The Souls of Black Folk”. I find this reading compelling because DuBois was a huge advocate on togetherness and that people were being treated equal. During time that this reading was created, there were many obstacles African Americans were facing in that era that was not so promising for a bright future. The struggles they faced were, racial biasness, lack of representation and lack of educational attainment. DuBois presented the idea of double consciousness and the veil, which has specified a structure for how African Americans indulge in society. Nonetheless, he explains the delinquent issues of the twentieth century and that the problem is the color-line which divided race. The theories of life after the veil of cultural biasness and development of double-consciousness, the act of constantly looking at particular individuals through the scrutiny of others, while creating a broader viewpoint on how to roughly speak about cultural biasness in society. Moreover, the everlasting ideas proposes a specific duty of the progression of the race culture, the obstacles to overcome, and the potential necessities for forthcoming growth as society reached the twentieth century. Over time DuBois observe the years after trailing the Civil War and, The Freedmen 's Bureau’s role in Reconstruction. The catastrophes of the Department 's were not only directed toward the southern disapproval and general

Between the World and Me is an extended letter from Ta-Nehisi Coates to his son, Samori, about the countries systematic racism and discrimination against african americans. Coates writes this letter for his 15-year-old son the same year as the Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, and Michael Brown and the beginning of the “Black Lives Matter” movement. The letter is broken up into 3 sections where he shares his personal experiences as well as his thought and beliefs on the unjust treatment. The letter starts off with coates reminiscing about a time where he was on a talk show where the host asks Coates why he felt that “white America’s” Progress was built on destruction.

Between the World and Me, written by Ta-Nehisi Coates, is organized in the form of a letter to his 15-year-old son. Coates drew his inspiration for this book from James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time, which consisted of two letters addressing Baldwin’s nephew about civil rights struggle. Coates’ background tremendously impacted his perspective and arguments. He grew up in the dangerous black neighborhoods of Baltimore. He learned about race in America through a first hand experiences of violence in the streets, beatings from his parents, and the murder of one of his close friends. Fear is rooted into the central message that he wants to communicate to his son.

While reading Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates, it is impossible to not learn something. Coates’s writing is filled with his very distinct viewpoint on the world which he shares with the readers. His viewpoint of the world allows the readers to step into his shoes and see the world or a completely different perspective. Coates hits on many major points throughout his writing, but the main message that carries on throughout the entirety of the book is that it hard to live in America in a black body. Coates takes the message a step further by talking more specifically about the struggles of living in America in a black, male body.

Ta-Nehisi Coates writes to his son in his narrative Between the World and Me. He explains what it is to be living as a black person in America on an intellectual level. Coates also talks about his journey through life including attending the illustrious Howard University and gaining cultural literacy. Coates goes throughout his story telling of personal experiences as a black man, as well as referring to historical events. This narrative is very relatable to not only myself, but many young African Americans in the same position as me.

And just as Coates’ parents wanted something better for him, so does Coates want a better life for his son. Additionally, the fact that Coates is writing a 152 page “letter” to his son speaks volumes toward the amount he cares for him- since I have started college in the fall my parents have sent me nothing, not that it bothers me in the slightest. Coates’ letter, however, is not simply a “wish you were here” postcard with a picture of palm trees from somewhere warmer than wherever the receiver is. It is a picture of a typical white suburb in America where all the houses look the same: white. There are no houses of other colors because they are not allowed.

Throughout this semester we have read many interesting pieces that all tie into one big topic. In the book “Between the World and Me” Coates writes a letter to his fifteen year old son Samori. He goes on to tell him all about his upbringing in the ghettos of Baltimore where he learned the codes of the streets in order to survive, but never truly embraced them. Coates goes on to tell how his father was so hard on him growing up, but soon realized growing up in an African American family that they usually were more strict with their children because they didn’t wanna lose them.

Often as citizens who are comfortable in our environments and experience privilege we often forget that there are others around us who are not as fortunate or people that live very different lifestyles from us. In Between the World and Me Ta-Nehisi Coates writes a letter to his son expressing a sense of fear and a warning of the world that he will soon experience on his own. As he looks around and sees what is going on in the World he can’t help but think about how unfortunate it is and a wave of fear as he recalls back to his own memories growing up. How difficult times were and how he never truly felt as if he belonged on had a place wherever he was, except when he was around people similar to him. It is as if something was between him and the world, which I think we can relate to today’s society,

As I get reminded of my life as a young child, I can see mostly positive memories that I can consider it positively bland. On the other hand, Richard Wright’s life as a child is very harsh but interesting. At times I can see, feel, and hear the reality and relatability that is brightened in his emotions as a four year old. Evocative descriptions of the thought processes Wright went through gives the book a style that brings me into his perspective at some ages. For instance, his thought processes as a four year old seem very likely to mine at that age. This gives me very strong relatability and moral support for Wright’s life and goals. The main difference in his life and mine is that the world was full of things that make it close to impossible for Wright to reach his dream of being an African American writer. There was a lot of hate and discrimination that swarmed him in the story of his life. Despite this, Wright shows the struggles of his life to bring out empathy, he shows his values and how they changed in his life, and he implies that his life could have been better if things were to change in society at that time.