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happylilkt's review against another edition
5.0
Coates's musing letter to his son is blunt, bleak, and beautifully written.
In this very short book Coates shares his thoughts on "the black body" and "the struggle" with "the dreamers" AKA "the people who think they are white" (the latter being a phrase borrowed and acknowledged, I believe, from James Baldwin). These are all powerful ideas woven throughout his meditation on their place in a world tainted by racism and exploitation.
One small recurring thread throughout is Coates' atheism. He alludes to it often it in a confident yet baffled tone. He is resigned to and confident in his lack of faith—yet he seems almost wistful in acknowledging the power of faith so common among those he loves. (And understandably full of contempt for the hypocrisy of religion in those who "grind the faces" to elevate themselves above those "below.")
So, while this was, as others have said, a depressing little book, it was depressing, beautiful and true, which I am bold enough to say even though I do not share Coates' lack of theology. I do believe there is a soul beyond the body and that those who (figuratively or literally) crush these (or any) bodies will not be justified before their maker. But I agree with Coates that there is opportunity for meaning in struggle and beauty in this brief and fragile life.
Highly recommended.
In this very short book Coates shares his thoughts on "the black body" and "the struggle" with "the dreamers" AKA "the people who think they are white" (the latter being a phrase borrowed and acknowledged, I believe, from James Baldwin). These are all powerful ideas woven throughout his meditation on their place in a world tainted by racism and exploitation.
One small recurring thread throughout is Coates' atheism. He alludes to it often it in a confident yet baffled tone. He is resigned to and confident in his lack of faith—yet he seems almost wistful in acknowledging the power of faith so common among those he loves. (And understandably full of contempt for the hypocrisy of religion in those who "grind the faces" to elevate themselves above those "below.")
So, while this was, as others have said, a depressing little book, it was depressing, beautiful and true, which I am bold enough to say even though I do not share Coates' lack of theology. I do believe there is a soul beyond the body and that those who (figuratively or literally) crush these (or any) bodies will not be justified before their maker. But I agree with Coates that there is opportunity for meaning in struggle and beauty in this brief and fragile life.
Highly recommended.
dellaposta's review against another edition
5.0
I've liked just about everything I've read by Coates, and this was no different. I found the book fascinating as both a narrative of personal intellectual evolution and as a (brief) survey of ideas, themes, and theories in the history of race in America. This is something I will probably end up reading several times.
wad3mil3sgarru2's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Gun violence, Violence, Alcohol, Hate crime, Genocide, Grief, Racism, Racial slurs, Police brutality, and Death
hannahflora's review against another edition
3.0
This is a book that definitely needs to be read twice to soak in everything!
brittpetersonmarx's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.0
wietse111's review against another edition
5.0
Een heel bijzonder boek. Een essay over zwart zijn in Amerika, geschreven voor z'n tienerzoon. 5 sterren omdat het simpelweg prachtig geschreven is. Krachtige, rijke zinnen. Poëtisch en tegelijkertijd rauw.
Het knapste vond ik hoe dit binnen kwam terwijl ik de ervaringen van Coates zelf totaal niet herken. Ben geen Amerikaan, ben niet zwart en ben geen vader. Maar toch voelde het tijdens het lezen bijna alsof ik het wel kon snappen.
Het knapste vond ik hoe dit binnen kwam terwijl ik de ervaringen van Coates zelf totaal niet herken. Ben geen Amerikaan, ben niet zwart en ben geen vader. Maar toch voelde het tijdens het lezen bijna alsof ik het wel kon snappen.
yaakovakiva's review against another edition
5.0
A must read. Beautiful writer, important words, concise and digestible. I'm grateful for having read it.