Despite being born and raised in the urban area of Maryland, Baltimore in September 30, 1975, where the odds are against the urban youth, especially males, Ta-Nehisi Coates was able to become a successful author and journalist because of the early exposure to writing and the opportunities created by his parents. Coates is the son of a war veteran and a former Black Panther father, and the son of a mother who happens to be a teacher. After leaving Howard University, he started writing for multiple publications to start off his career, and then he made his first big successful article for the The Atlantic, “This Is How We Lost to the White Man.” His success as a journalist allowed him to branch off to starting blogs, writing for other publications,
…show more content…
Being Black is often described as a race or culture type, but being black is an identity that has history and meaning that comes with it. The history that comes with being Black comes with the “need to ascribe bone-deep features to people and then humiliate, reduce, and destroy them—inevitably follows from this inalterable condition...But race is the child of racism, not the father” (Coates 7). Black and Stone explains this to be “the benefits, rights and privileges were given as a birthright only to male Euro-Americans. Indigenous persons, enslaved Africans, and female Euro-Americans were prohibited from equality and justice before the law” (Black & Stone 246). Coates wants the readers to understand that being is “noble” but that nobility comes with negative stereotypes, connotations and treatment, because of this Blacks constantly face subjection to “white supremacy”. America is a place where whites insulate their place at the top by oppressing Blacks through biased law enforcement, poor educational systems and a lack opportunities in America. Living in America as an African American comes with premature judgments making it almost very difficult for Blacks to be successful because of the constant negative associations. Like many Coates had aspirations to be something in life but he was one of the few who was able to make it out of the ghetto that whites try to trap blacks
Being Black is often described as a race or culture type, but being black is an identity that has history and meaning that comes with it. The history that comes with being Black comes with the “need to ascribe bone-deep features to people and then humiliate, reduce, and destroy them—inevitably follows from this inalterable condition...But race is the child of racism, not the father” (Coates 7). Black and Stone explains this to be “the benefits, rights and privileges were given as a birthright only to male Euro-Americans. Indigenous persons, enslaved Africans, and female Euro-Americans were prohibited from equality and justice before the law” (Black & Stone 246). Coates wants the readers to understand that being is “noble” but that nobility comes with negative stereotypes, connotations and treatment, because of this Blacks constantly face subjection to “white supremacy”. America is a place where whites insulate their place at the top by oppressing Blacks through biased law enforcement, poor educational systems and a lack opportunities in America. Living in America as an African American comes with premature judgments making it almost very difficult for Blacks to be successful because of the constant negative associations. Like many Coates had aspirations to be something in life but he was one of the few who was able to make it out of the ghetto that whites try to trap blacks