In “Letter to My Son,” Ta-Nehisi Coates, a national correspondent for The Atlantic, argues that it is difficult to live in America as a black individual. According to Coates, “...the American galaxy, where bodies were enslaved by a tenacious gravity, was black and that the other, liberated portion was not” (Coates 4). This means that blacks are being mistreated, while other races are not and get to have their own kind of freedom. He supports this claim by mentioning the Americans bringing humanity to the edge of oblivion. He stated this when he said that Americans had achieve their status, and it “was not through wine tastings and ice cream socials, but rather through the [destruction] of life, liberty, labor, and land” (Coates 1). Then, he
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That situation destroys the black body since they need to follow substantial orders and can not have their own free will. Towards the end of the letter, Coates reveals the society that black people encounter within their everyday lives. His purpose is to inform his son, Samori, not to believe that he is going to have the same respect as everyone else and for him to be prepared for how he is going to be treated. Coates establishes a formal tone to his son and for Americans that has been discriminating people of different color skins. Although he is writing to his son and for others that have the perception of acting differently towards those who have color, his message extends to everyone, generally adults. This work is significant because it shows the truth behind African-Americans’ history and culture, giving more information about their struggles, and through a viewpoint of an African American’s feelings and …show more content…
I agree with some of the points Coates makes in his letter. The first point I agree with Coates on is the idea that “police departments… have been endowed with the authority to destroy [the black] body” (Coates 2). I believe that police officers have fear in black bodies, and that is why, based off of articles, they are most likely to shoot black people. Officers can use any minor excuses against blacks, and they can still get arrested from it. Another point I agree with Coates on is “... the portion of the American galaxy, where bodies were enslaved by a tenacious gravity, was black and that the other, liberated portion was not” (Coates 4). This means that most bodies that were enslaved were blacks, while other races were not enslaved and get to have their own freedom. I acknowledge this quote since I know that African Americans had a history for being enslaved. Mostly black people were enslaved, considering that those who started the slave trade were racist and white. I feel that in today’s world, most people had forgotten about the memories of torture and pain and the whites having the higher ranking. Since that it is a serious situation, it should be an information people should care about and not the kind they should skim through. In his letter, Coates’ purpose is to inform his son not to believe that he is going to have the same respect as everyone else and
That situation destroys the black body since they need to follow substantial orders and can not have their own free will. Towards the end of the letter, Coates reveals the society that black people encounter within their everyday lives. His purpose is to inform his son, Samori, not to believe that he is going to have the same respect as everyone else and for him to be prepared for how he is going to be treated. Coates establishes a formal tone to his son and for Americans that has been discriminating people of different color skins. Although he is writing to his son and for others that have the perception of acting differently towards those who have color, his message extends to everyone, generally adults. This work is significant because it shows the truth behind African-Americans’ history and culture, giving more information about their struggles, and through a viewpoint of an African American’s feelings and …show more content…
I agree with some of the points Coates makes in his letter. The first point I agree with Coates on is the idea that “police departments… have been endowed with the authority to destroy [the black] body” (Coates 2). I believe that police officers have fear in black bodies, and that is why, based off of articles, they are most likely to shoot black people. Officers can use any minor excuses against blacks, and they can still get arrested from it. Another point I agree with Coates on is “... the portion of the American galaxy, where bodies were enslaved by a tenacious gravity, was black and that the other, liberated portion was not” (Coates 4). This means that most bodies that were enslaved were blacks, while other races were not enslaved and get to have their own freedom. I acknowledge this quote since I know that African Americans had a history for being enslaved. Mostly black people were enslaved, considering that those who started the slave trade were racist and white. I feel that in today’s world, most people had forgotten about the memories of torture and pain and the whites having the higher ranking. Since that it is a serious situation, it should be an information people should care about and not the kind they should skim through. In his letter, Coates’ purpose is to inform his son not to believe that he is going to have the same respect as everyone else and