In “The Case for Reparations”, Ta-Nehisi Coates sets forth a powerful argument that the United States must find a way to atone for past injustices against black Americans. Rather than asking for money or anything of the sort, Coates basically argues that it’s the idea of reparations that counts. He believes that such is necessary for Americans to come to terms with the injustices that occurred, partially due to the belief in white supremacy, and to go through a spiritual renewal of some sort. Through various techniques, Coates supports the claim that paying reparations is both paying a moral debt and acknowledging past injustices. In the second passage of the essay, Coates uses North Lawndale as an example to support his argument to emphasize
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He quotes President Lyndon Johnson, who once said that “Negro poverty is not white poverty.” The quote emphasizes the ignorance of belittling such an ongoing controversy. Not only is it belittling, it emphasizes the selfishness – implying that blacks aren’t compared to be as important as …show more content…
Instead of an essay, the unfair treatment of blacks is clearly shown in the excerpt, though, what could be considered, racial profiling. Different from most novels, Claudia Rankine chooses to write her novel in the second person, allowing readers to become more engaged in the story on a more intimate level and create a personal connection; writing in the second person allows readers to easily place themselves in the story. In the excerpt, Rankine tells of an incidence in which your neighbor calls the police on a friend, whom you’ve asked to pick up your child while you go out to see a movie, has been talking on the phone and pacing in front of your house, and is described as “a menacing black guy.” Despite the length and lack of emotive language, Rankine does well to create an almost awkward mood toward the end of the excerpt, in which you tell your friend to “just go in the backyard” the next time that he must make a phone-call. Although it’s quite simple, the friend’s reply -basically saying that he has a right to “speak on the phone wherever he [wants]”- is the most effective for emphasizing that blacks are equal in rights and they have just as much rights as a white
He quotes President Lyndon Johnson, who once said that “Negro poverty is not white poverty.” The quote emphasizes the ignorance of belittling such an ongoing controversy. Not only is it belittling, it emphasizes the selfishness – implying that blacks aren’t compared to be as important as …show more content…
Instead of an essay, the unfair treatment of blacks is clearly shown in the excerpt, though, what could be considered, racial profiling. Different from most novels, Claudia Rankine chooses to write her novel in the second person, allowing readers to become more engaged in the story on a more intimate level and create a personal connection; writing in the second person allows readers to easily place themselves in the story. In the excerpt, Rankine tells of an incidence in which your neighbor calls the police on a friend, whom you’ve asked to pick up your child while you go out to see a movie, has been talking on the phone and pacing in front of your house, and is described as “a menacing black guy.” Despite the length and lack of emotive language, Rankine does well to create an almost awkward mood toward the end of the excerpt, in which you tell your friend to “just go in the backyard” the next time that he must make a phone-call. Although it’s quite simple, the friend’s reply -basically saying that he has a right to “speak on the phone wherever he [wants]”- is the most effective for emphasizing that blacks are equal in rights and they have just as much rights as a white