Analysis Of Between The World And Me

As I finished reading “Between the World and Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates, I was left in a bit of a trance. Before entering this class, I can say I haven’t really read any African American Literature. Even though being from a predomanlitly black area of Atlanta originally , I always strived away from black literature. The literature is so strong and brings such emotions when reading. I always wanted to believe we lived in a perfect world, with little to no harm. However, as I struggle to read through Between the World and Me , I realized maybe was thinking of the world a bit to optimistically. According to Ta-neishi Coates , at the end of a White house meeting ,Obama said to him “ Don’t Despair”. Coates has a strong opinion of the president critiquing …show more content…
Coates claims that throughout history men and women were shackled, tortured, raped in order to show harm. However, in recent times , police brutality and shooting have taking over life experiences. He further defines that these are senseless shooting over things such as- loud music, selling cigarettes, and trying o enter a home. Coates speaks of the idea of how black bodies danced freely in clubs even though they could be beaten in the streets. There is value in struggle, but no guarantee of survival. Coates proclaimed, “ None of us were promised to end the fights on our feet, fist raised to the sky. We could not control our enemies number , strength, nor weaponry…but what we must never do is willingly hand over our own bodies or the bodies of our friends” (Coates, pg. 69). Through out history, violence has been a common racial divide in America. Violence has been centered on certain people and areas because of the deemed violent connation of the people. Being a black man or women in present day America means one must struggle everyday. It is difficult at times to think about all you must worry about. You most be cognate of the police, neighbors, friends, and random people. Everywhere we turn , we must make sure to keep people happy or at least not upset. No matter what we do , there is always harm not to far away. As stated by Coates, “The truth is that police …show more content…
Every person says if they work hard and do the right things- “insert wish” will become possible. However, Coates argue that this “Dream” might not be as conceivable as we like to believe. The Dream sounds like a positive theme of the book because it talks about a comfortable life, parties, desserts, smiling people. However , Coates explains how the “Dream” is more evil then good. Coates proclaims,” But, oh , my eyes. When I was a boy, no portion of my body suffered more than my eyes. The dream seemed to be the pinnacle. The dream seemed to be the end of the world for me….what more could possibly exist beyond the dispatches , beyond the suburbs?”( Coates, pg. 116). Coates speaks about this dream being very easily achieved by white families but built on the marginalization of minority. The suburbs and the golden life requires people to forget and be ignorant to the struggles of racial divide in this country The dreamers are in a deep slumber because they will not wake up and see the problems in the world or the idea of white supremacy. This is the most dangerous concept. The naiveness and blindness of people to realizes the struggles in other people’s life. Growing up in mostly urban areas, I have always been open to seeing the ideas of struggles. Even though , I might have never struggled or been in situations, I was never naïve to them. Especially now that my family lives in San