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  • Essay / Between the World and Me: Black Bodies and Cautious Optimism

    Racism and the fight for a non-oppressive society has been a task attempted by many, from extremist activists to educators to proactive civilians. Such prejudices serve as a confinement for those affected, filtering out opportunities in this so-called “free nation” for minorities. Although many people go to great lengths to avoid this sensitive topic, it is crucial that dialogue and discussion continue so that solutions and ways to address this systematic oppression are discovered and explored. In Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates, the theme of racism towards African Americans is explored. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The book details how America "intentionally destroys the black body" and refuses to acknowledge its oppressive habits that control institutions. white people. How can a father truly protect his own son from a nation so violent and hateful? It was only through education and encouraging a mindset of empathy and compassion that Coates found it appropriate to prevent a highly plausible reality of his son succumbing to the words of the oppressors. The first theme Coates explores is the nation's intentional means of oppressing the black body. recounting his own experiences from his youth, “Here's what I'd like you to know: In America, it's tradition to destroy the black body – it's a legacy. » Coates does this in an attempt to convey to his son the dangers of being black in America, having proof of how exactly the world is preying on the African American demographic. Destroying the black body is America's way of firmly establishing a power movement with white people. up. "...for America to vindicate itself, the story of the destruction of a black body must begin with its mistake, real or imagined..." By simply having a darker complexion, by simply existing, the Can African-Americans fear for their future? their lives for having done nothing wrong but simply existing as an individual with melanin in their blood. "The truth is that policing reflects America in all its will and fear, and whatever one may think of this country's criminal justice policy, it cannot be said to have been imposed by a repressive minority." The task of African Americans is to oppose this brutality, but it is absolutely necessary, as Coates' decision to write this shows. If he thought it was pointless to try to lead his son toward a more enlightened future, he would not spend the time writing this book for him. In the text, Coates reflects on his own desire to abandon burdens and achieve what he then considered the "American Dream." “For so long, I have wanted to escape into the Dream, to fold my country over my head like a blanket. But that was never an option because the Dream rests on our backs, the bedding made of our bodies. » The concept of the American Dream is flawed since it depends on the subjugation and oppression of African Americans, the only way this "American Dream" can thrive is through the repression of African Americans. It's not a dream, but a flaw. Why does America constantly reiterate this idea of ​​the “self-made man” when it fails to take into account the endless obstacles that perpetuate the inability of African Americans to effectively climb the social ladder unlike their predecessors? whites. Literature can be an outlet for one's desires, dreams, ambitions, etc. However, regarding this situation, Coates uses this mediato convey an important message about overcoming racial barriers for her son. This book, Coates' use of personal anecdotes, grand metaphors, and careful but thought-provoking diction that allows his message to shine through. “But all of our formulations – race relations, racial chasm, racial justice, racial profiling, white privilege, even white supremacy – serve to obscure the fact that racism is a visceral experience, that it dislodges brains, blocks airways, tears muscles, extracts organs, splits bones, breaks teeth. You must never look away from this. We must always remember that sociology, history, economics, graphs, tables, regressions all land, with great violence, on the body. Coates' attempt to enlighten his son about the dangers and misfortunes of being black in the United States reflects a deeper, tragic truth of African-American demographics. An indelible burden is placed on them, finding that balance between standing up for racial justice. . However, we must remain aware that, thanks to institutional sectors that contribute to the oppression of African Americans, their words of justice and their search for what is right can easily be silenced. There is something frightening about reading the words of warning to one's own son: "They had worked two or three jobs, sent their children to high school and college, and had become pillars of their community. I looked up to them, but I knew all the time that I was just meeting the survivors…” This structure parallels the racial hierarchy that has been established and continually reiterated throughout history. The passion and pain that can be read throughout Between the World and Me elevates Coates. ' impact, giving the opportunity to let his words marinate in the reader's mind. Although Coates encourages his son to recognize those elements that play a role in being African American, he does not encourage resentment and hostility. On the contrary, he pushes his son to behave in a way that is not so easy to achieve, to show compassion and understanding towards the oppressors. “By accepting both the chaos of history and the fact of my total end, I was free to truly think about how I wanted to live specifically, how can I live free in this black body?” One cannot truly understand the weight that must be carried unless one has experienced it oneself. Yet it is easy to denounce the various incidents and experiences that contribute to the mess that is America. However, not looking for answers in the conglomerate of injustices and aggressions is not the way to go according to Coates' text: “It is truly horrible to understand oneself as the essence of one's country. It shatters too much of what we would like to think about ourselves, our lives, the world we live in and the people around us. The struggle to understand is our only advantage over this madness. » To achieve total liberation from racial oppression, Coates insists on a transformed dialogue, not one filled with hatred and the desire to overtake white America. Although Coates' writings may be just one of many in African American literature, his choice to write a piece that requires an incredible amount of vulnerability comes to show the dedication to recognizing and overcoming racial barriers that many African Americans must engage with. "I wouldn't want you to go down in your own dream." I would like you to be a conscious citizen of this terrible and beautiful world. » As readers, we can gain insight into Coates' perspectives, his fears, his..