Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

2015, BCP Literary, Inc.

Hi friends, I'm far behind in book posting, but I'm still here, reading! I know my book posts aren't as popular as lifestyle posts, but I like to keep a record for myself. I picture myself when I'm around 80, reading through my thoughts about these books. Unless they've been lost somewhere in the datasphere, that is. Does anyone know how I can save all this stuff into the future?! Maybe I'll end up wishing I'd stuck to my little handwritten notebook after all.

None of the books I've read lately are joyful, but “knowledge and understanding provide the power of Hope.” (Kathryn Lang)

Between the World and Me is a hard-hitting look at writer Ta-Nehisi (prounounced tah nah HAH see) Coates' experience of growing up black in the United States, presented in the form of a letter to his son.

Coates is a great writer and every line counts, such as when he talks to his son about the often ignored violent and racist history of our country (the USA):

"To acknowledge these horrors means turning away from the brightly rendered version of your country as it has always declared itself and turning toward something murkier and unknown. It is still too difficult for most Americans to do this. But that is your work." (98)

Coates deals in the hard truth and it's hard to face. Here, he talks about what he calls the Dreamers, whites who don't want to see outside the privilege of race or even acknowledge it:

"They have forgotten the scale of theft that enriched them in slavery; the terror that allowed them, for a century, to pilfer the vote; the segregationist policy that gave them their suburbs. They have forgotten, because to remember would tumble them out of the beautiful Dream and force them to live down here with us, down here in the world. I am convinced that the Dreamers, at least the Dreamers of today, would rather live white than live free." (143)

What about the future? Coates advises his son to continue the struggle but to realize nothing can change the Dreamers except themselves:

"Hope for them. Pray for them...but do not pin your struggle on their conversion. The Dreamers will have to learn to struggle themselves, to understand that the field for their Dream, the stage where they have painted themselves white, is the deathbed of us all." (151)

I find Coates' ability and/or willingness to try to face the truth breathtaking. Breaks may be required during reading to take it all in, but if you can face it, his writing style is accessible, and hearing his point of view necessary. I call it a must read, but I don't think you'll all agree.

Coming soon (or at some point!) in another post, The Message by the same author.