Throughout my life I have had mixed experiences when it comes to race relations in America. Most of my experiences when it comes to race have been good. However, I have also had some negative experiences associated with race. One negative experience-e I have had as a result of my race happened when I came to college. I had been working at a Target back home and decided to transfer to a store closer to Cabrini. When I transferred stores I learned that I was one of the few White employees that worked there, which I was completely fine with. However, I learned that some of my coworkers did not feel the same way about working with me. They talked about me constantly and referred to me as “white girl.” Many of them did not even bother to learn my
…show more content…
During these conversations they have made comments like “you people,” and when I have asked what they meant by that they have made remarks about me being “spoiled or privileged” because I am white. I feel that the experiences that I have had dealing with race in some ways do relate to the author’s contentions about being black and/or white in America. I believe that we live in a society that has predetermined judgments about those that are of different races than ourselves.
II. Why do you think the author suggests that the black experience of having to be watchful is a "stealing of time"? What does it mean to have time stolen?
In “Between the World and Me,” Coates says “It struck me that perhaps the defining feature of being drafted into the black race was the inescapable robbery of time, because the moments we spent readying the mask, or readying ourselves to accept half as much, could not be recovered.” I believe that these words are a very powerful piece from this book. Coates describes the black experiences as a “stealing or robbery of time.” The robbery of time is not measured by one’s lifespan. It is measured in moments that occur in his or her life. Therefore, I believe that to have time stolen means that when you spend too much time worrying and trying to perfect every little detail you are likely to miss out on important moments in your life. These moments are very important experiences that you are not able to get back if you miss out on
During these conversations they have made comments like “you people,” and when I have asked what they meant by that they have made remarks about me being “spoiled or privileged” because I am white. I feel that the experiences that I have had dealing with race in some ways do relate to the author’s contentions about being black and/or white in America. I believe that we live in a society that has predetermined judgments about those that are of different races than ourselves.
II. Why do you think the author suggests that the black experience of having to be watchful is a "stealing of time"? What does it mean to have time stolen?
In “Between the World and Me,” Coates says “It struck me that perhaps the defining feature of being drafted into the black race was the inescapable robbery of time, because the moments we spent readying the mask, or readying ourselves to accept half as much, could not be recovered.” I believe that these words are a very powerful piece from this book. Coates describes the black experiences as a “stealing or robbery of time.” The robbery of time is not measured by one’s lifespan. It is measured in moments that occur in his or her life. Therefore, I believe that to have time stolen means that when you spend too much time worrying and trying to perfect every little detail you are likely to miss out on important moments in your life. These moments are very important experiences that you are not able to get back if you miss out on