In “Between the World and Me” Coates is writing a letter to his 15 year old son, Samori. He explains how one of color should live in America explaining his personal experience and history. He does this by explaining his childhood in Baltimore and how he never embraced the code of the streets. He also explains the understanding of why colored parents are so strict with their children, for the reason to protect them. Being colored in Baltimore meant that you were raised in a lower neglected neighborhood and treated in a negative way. Growing up Coates believed that working hard in school was useless, however, he furthered his education in order to attend Howard University. Howard was where his view of colored individuals grew and he saw the
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This to Coates is a heritage because of different reasons from the Jim Crow Laws, racial profiling, police brutality, and the thought of individuals chasing the American Dream. Coates explains how being white and black are interchangeable. Whites just turn their face to anything that makes them feel uncomfortable and believe that if they obtain the American Dream it is because of their hard work not because of their skin color. Coates explains to his son that he can't just be “good” but he has to be “twice as good” also carry the actions of other black people, knowing what is allowed and what isn't, and having to understand that being of color you would have to struggle more than whites. He understands that his son will grow up differently, however, he wants to explain to his son that being of color is dangerous in the world he will grow up in. It bothers Coates that he cannot do anything to help his son from being treated any better than he will, he understands and accepts the fact that his son will live with the struggle of being a colored person in America, where whites are superior and those of color must always try …show more content…
In his first letter he speaks of his nephew, James. James reminded Baldwin of his brother and father strong temperament, which is why he goes on to explain to James to NOT follow their footsteps, because it caused mistreatment of their white countrymen. Baldwin also explains to james to not feel defeated or vengeful towards whites. Regardless of their ignorance towards their misconduct, he must take a different positive approach, because his parents raised him with love and he must pass it on. In his second letter, Baldwin expresses on religion in 3 parts. At the age of 14 he was tired of the torment and crime that was present in the community. His only option was to get away from it was through sports, join the crime path or join a church. The oppressive environment setup limitations for him and those of color. This lead him to choose the path of his religious father and joining the Christian Church. This cause him to feel that it was his purpose in life to preach the word. Later, he became frustrated with the Christianity, because of the assumption that God is white. He thought that the reason god was white was because white is the superior race. In the second part of his letter the Islam Moment was seen as an attempt to improve the situation of colored individuals. The Islam Movement believed that colored people were the most powerful until they were overpowered by whites. However, one day the colored would
This to Coates is a heritage because of different reasons from the Jim Crow Laws, racial profiling, police brutality, and the thought of individuals chasing the American Dream. Coates explains how being white and black are interchangeable. Whites just turn their face to anything that makes them feel uncomfortable and believe that if they obtain the American Dream it is because of their hard work not because of their skin color. Coates explains to his son that he can't just be “good” but he has to be “twice as good” also carry the actions of other black people, knowing what is allowed and what isn't, and having to understand that being of color you would have to struggle more than whites. He understands that his son will grow up differently, however, he wants to explain to his son that being of color is dangerous in the world he will grow up in. It bothers Coates that he cannot do anything to help his son from being treated any better than he will, he understands and accepts the fact that his son will live with the struggle of being a colored person in America, where whites are superior and those of color must always try …show more content…
In his first letter he speaks of his nephew, James. James reminded Baldwin of his brother and father strong temperament, which is why he goes on to explain to James to NOT follow their footsteps, because it caused mistreatment of their white countrymen. Baldwin also explains to james to not feel defeated or vengeful towards whites. Regardless of their ignorance towards their misconduct, he must take a different positive approach, because his parents raised him with love and he must pass it on. In his second letter, Baldwin expresses on religion in 3 parts. At the age of 14 he was tired of the torment and crime that was present in the community. His only option was to get away from it was through sports, join the crime path or join a church. The oppressive environment setup limitations for him and those of color. This lead him to choose the path of his religious father and joining the Christian Church. This cause him to feel that it was his purpose in life to preach the word. Later, he became frustrated with the Christianity, because of the assumption that God is white. He thought that the reason god was white was because white is the superior race. In the second part of his letter the Islam Moment was seen as an attempt to improve the situation of colored individuals. The Islam Movement believed that colored people were the most powerful until they were overpowered by whites. However, one day the colored would