Subway As A Social Norm

Between the World and Me, written by Ta-Nehisi Coates, is written as a letter to his son about realities associated with being black in the United States of America. His tone is somewhat poetic and quite bleak, based on his personal experiences. The book is intense, it is an address to a nation that ignores its own blatant history of racism, a nation that does not prosecute police officers who kill innocent black citizens, a nation that supports a policy of mass incarceration. He writes about growing up in Baltimore, Maryland and details the ways in which institutions (school, police, and the streets) discipline, endanger, and threaten to harm black men and women. Between the World and Me is an intimate confession of the fears of a black American father.

“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.

The novel starts with Coates addressing his son, Samori.He begins recounting a time when he was invited on a talk show and the host asked him what it meant to lose his body, looking for an explanation as to why Coates “felt that white America’s progress, or rather the progress of those Americans who believe that they are white, was built on looting and violence.” This turned out to be a very heavy, intense, and loaded question. Coates went on to explain to his son that America was built on the oppression, abuse, and exploitation of black people, of their bodies, which only intensifies the hypocrisy of the democratic foundation that America prides itself on. The recent murders of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Renisha McBride, and other black people and “the destroyers who were rarely held accountable” prove that the disregard and mutilation of black bodies is embedded in America’s DNA, and no one gives it a second thought. The American “dream” that is built on the purity and innocence of wanting happiness was only ever made plausible by the oppression of black people, who still struggle to achieve that dream because they were abused into a life of silence and fear. “The Dream rests on their backs, the bedding made from their bodies.” Coates went on to explain how this history of exploitation and the fear that’s been rooted into the lives of black people in America followed him throughout his schooling and on the streets of his neighborhood. The schools that he was sent to discouraged black children, rather than encouraging growth and facilitating a healthy learning environment. The streets were carefully orchestrated for self defense. You had to protect yourself, because you knew the law wouldn’t. At Howard University, “the Mecca”, the excitement of witnessing the diversity that flooded the

In Between the World and Me , Coates immediately builds a relationship with the readers through Ethos. Through Coates novel he's seen first hand how us as a black community can care about materialistic things rather than what's really important. This is a text to world connection because in today's society, people especially the younger generation are the ones who are worried about the newest sneakers that are coming out or about the next party that's coming up rather than what's actually going on in society regarding their race or where they come from whether it affects them or not. This is a big issue because there are allot of things happening but people aren't aware of things that are happening in their own neighborhood unless it happens to someone close to them or possibly themselves. In the novel, Coates argues that “ black people” care about having the typical “American Dream” rather than fighting to be equal with the “White

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.

In Between the World and Me, African American author Ta-Nehisi Coates addresses his son regarding how to deal with the relationship between white America and his own life, as the two constantly conflict, according to Coates. During my reading of this book, I found that Coates had a very interesting perspective regarding this discussion. Coates uses the terms “the Dreamers” to refer to racist white people, and “the Dream” to refer to the image of white America; these serve as a threat to the existence of the black community. I could feel the vigor his passion through his intricate language and his blunt tone; I can respect his forthright, unapologetic narrative, despite the fact that I find some of his rhetoric slightly radical. Based upon the influences he’s had, the environments he’s lived in, and the experiences he’s had, his point of views are reasonable; his perspective is worth listening to in this discussion. Reading Between the World and Me specifically helped to deepen my understanding of racial disparity as a result of institutional racism.

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 had one clear purpose in writing this novel, Between the World and Me: to teach his son what it means to be a black man. He shows him the fear that young black men feel, the history of slavery and black oppression, as well as his own personal experiences with being influenced by Malcolm X. He also shares with him the joy he feels about getting an education and learning of more ways to be black. He also shared with him the story of Prince Jones’ murder and how his mother’s pride in her son after his death was so important. In this novel, Coates uses the archetype of the journey and the teacher to further his message and bring life to his work.

Between the World and Me is Ta-Nehisi Coates’ letter to his son and has been praised as masterful and prophetic. His words formed by past events in his life resonate with both African American readers who share similar experiences and white readers who see “the Dream” and its faults. Coates authoritative voice shares similarities with other African American including James Baldwin, Malcolm X and Barack Obama. However, where he strays from the rest of the pack is in his outlook of the situation in the future. When addressing his son, Coates explains, “The struggle is really all I have for you, because it is the only portion of this world under your control” (107). This quote accurately summarizes Ta-Nehisi Coates’ dour and pessimistic attitude towards life and, more importantly, shows that Coates believes that life is hopeless for everyone else as well.

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 choice of form for Ta-Nehisi Coates’ novel Between the World and Me is very interesting and powerful. Coates uses the form of a letter to his son to tell his story. This gives the author a chance to express the personal struggles he and other people of color were dealing with during his coming-of-age. While many Autobiographies are written in a first-person style with an almost essay-like format, Coates strays away from tradition and offers an exciting take on this genre and his life.

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 by writer Ta-Nehisi Coates depicts himself writing a letter to his son describing what it is like to grow up in a black body. He tells of the hardships that he went through growing up and what he did to deal with them. Coates gives his opinions on how the word treats African Americans, and believes that the the country can never fully repay them. In another one of his works The Case for Reparations he says how after a discussion, people may discover more about themselves. Coates believes that people are scared to learn about what they have done without even knowing it and the fact that it doesn’t directly affect them prevents them from doing anything.

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.

Two more days and my anxiousness has become a rope around my neck, tightening with each passing hour. It’s a very unpleasant sensation. I just want to get out.