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4.43 AVERAGE
4.43 AVERAGE
A series of essays written for The Atlantic, with new introductions and autobiographical additions from Coates. As with everything else he writes, they're all a must read.
Above all, it must be said that essay #6 "The Case for Reparations," is itself a five-star with an exclamation point. Coates near the end of this book agrees that it was his best writing. Interview and essay. Fantastic piece. I couldn't get through a paragraph without stopping to share aloud what I had just learned.
Then read #8 "My President Was Black," and then #2 "American Girl" about Michelle. These three essays stand out to me in this order after finishing this gauntlet of a book over three weeks.
Then read #8 "My President Was Black," and then #2 "American Girl" about Michelle. These three essays stand out to me in this order after finishing this gauntlet of a book over three weeks.
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Everyone should read it, and if it makes you angry because you don't think it could possibly be true... Read it again... And ask why you're so angry.
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Even if you've read some or all of the eight Atlantic essays before, this book is worth reading for the new material alone. Coates' writing is impassioned and insightful as always.
This book is essential reading. It gave me clarity on the current state of American politics. I was definitely aware of the undercurrent of racism that carried Trump to an electoral victory in 2016, but this book makes it plain that we all have a responsibility to talk about it. We can't ignore it. We can't dance around the issue. We can't let Democrats rely on a strategy of appealing to "white working class voters."
Instead, we should be talking about why it's wrong to surrender to racist ideas. When someone talks about how liberals are "anti-white" and "whites founded the USA," etc., ask that person questions like this:
"Is there anything besides your whiteness that you are proud of?"
"Are there things in this world that you care about more than being white?"
"Now separate those values from race. Think about these things that you care about and why they are important to you. Will a vote for a politician who promises to punish "immigrants, Muslims, blacks, or gay people" address those things that are important to you and award you for those qualities that are more important to you than being white?"
These line of questioning might seem naive. Perhaps it is. But this country needs to talk about racism and how it infects our politics. Today politicians are using racism to seize power, and then they use that power to enrich themselves and the rich people who fund them, while nearly all voters are screwed over. It needs to end.
Instead, we should be talking about why it's wrong to surrender to racist ideas. When someone talks about how liberals are "anti-white" and "whites founded the USA," etc., ask that person questions like this:
"Is there anything besides your whiteness that you are proud of?"
"Are there things in this world that you care about more than being white?"
"Now separate those values from race. Think about these things that you care about and why they are important to you. Will a vote for a politician who promises to punish "immigrants, Muslims, blacks, or gay people" address those things that are important to you and award you for those qualities that are more important to you than being white?"
These line of questioning might seem naive. Perhaps it is. But this country needs to talk about racism and how it infects our politics. Today politicians are using racism to seize power, and then they use that power to enrich themselves and the rich people who fund them, while nearly all voters are screwed over. It needs to end.
