The American Trophy: Racism
In his essay, “Letter to My Son”, Ta-Nehinsi Coates claims that in the U.S. the American Dream premised on the inequality between blacks and whites. Fear and pain is a tool to stop black Americans from achieving the Dream.
According to Coates, the Dream doesn’t apply to all Americans, specifically blacks.
Coates discusses that the Dream, “Rests on our backs, the bedding made from our bodies. And knowing that the dream persists by warring with the known world.” (3) weren’t meant for blacks to have because it belongs only to whites. The Dream’s ideology of living a higher quality of life blinded the conflicts between blacks and whites. Blacks struggle for racial acceptance and respect from whites, however, the Dream pressured blacks to give up their desires to persist the inequality. But blacks continued to chase the Dream because it gives an impression that if they worked …show more content…
Coates describes the black men he once knew were, “powerfully, adamantly, dangerously afraid” (5). This physical image interprets how most people react from seeing a black man, the biggest difference is noticing that they’re bigger and stronger people. Their appearance are seen as a threat because it makes their ability of causing harm higher than those who don’t look like blacks. But Coates suggests behind the intimidating presence was their “armor against their world” (5). Blacks defend their appearance because it represents the confidence and boldness used to protect themselves from people’s fears. A strong body isn’t always seen by physicality and its strength. However, this shows how vulnerable blacks feel about their bodies. Blacks represent themselves and behave in certain place and way. Every conversation and movement is a cautious action because it’s a way to avoid pain upon their fears. In other words, Coates’ vulnerability never left his mind, the pain has always stayed in his
In his essay, “Letter to My Son”, Ta-Nehinsi Coates claims that in the U.S. the American Dream premised on the inequality between blacks and whites. Fear and pain is a tool to stop black Americans from achieving the Dream.
According to Coates, the Dream doesn’t apply to all Americans, specifically blacks.
Coates discusses that the Dream, “Rests on our backs, the bedding made from our bodies. And knowing that the dream persists by warring with the known world.” (3) weren’t meant for blacks to have because it belongs only to whites. The Dream’s ideology of living a higher quality of life blinded the conflicts between blacks and whites. Blacks struggle for racial acceptance and respect from whites, however, the Dream pressured blacks to give up their desires to persist the inequality. But blacks continued to chase the Dream because it gives an impression that if they worked …show more content…
Coates describes the black men he once knew were, “powerfully, adamantly, dangerously afraid” (5). This physical image interprets how most people react from seeing a black man, the biggest difference is noticing that they’re bigger and stronger people. Their appearance are seen as a threat because it makes their ability of causing harm higher than those who don’t look like blacks. But Coates suggests behind the intimidating presence was their “armor against their world” (5). Blacks defend their appearance because it represents the confidence and boldness used to protect themselves from people’s fears. A strong body isn’t always seen by physicality and its strength. However, this shows how vulnerable blacks feel about their bodies. Blacks represent themselves and behave in certain place and way. Every conversation and movement is a cautious action because it’s a way to avoid pain upon their fears. In other words, Coates’ vulnerability never left his mind, the pain has always stayed in his