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laurieb755 's review for:
Between the World and Me
by Ta-Nehisi Coates
I had to read this book slowly. The first part of Ta-Nehisi Coates' book was difficult for me to understand. I took in his plethora of emotions and feelings but I had to work at deciperhing his words – how he strung his sentences – and that slowed me down.
The second and remaining parts of his book were easier for me to read (perhaps I was accustomed to his writing style) but certainly not easier to read for what he had to say. This is a powerful open letter to his son that goes beyond a parent's concern for his child. For me as a freckle-faced, red-headed, third generation "white" American taking in his words and concerns for his son, my response was and remains intense. I never before understood the complexity of history and its impact on non-white lives. I do not know what to do with this new information. I know that one person cannot and does not speak for others; perhaps he speaks only for himself but perhaps he states what hundreds of others feel but do not have the words to describe?
I do know that Ta-Nehisi Coates is a powerful writer and his book should be read by students, adults, politicians, the curious, the sympathetic and the skeptical. In this era of presidential politicking, where elected representatives have the honor of serving and representing "we the people", the country is being bombarded by the likes of Trump and Cruz, and I question so much about this country where I was born, raised and live. The worst side of humanity is being brought out by these characters – curiously all white men – who have the indecency to offer themselves up as candidates of "we the people". It is confusing, confounding, and disillusioning.
The second and remaining parts of his book were easier for me to read (perhaps I was accustomed to his writing style) but certainly not easier to read for what he had to say. This is a powerful open letter to his son that goes beyond a parent's concern for his child. For me as a freckle-faced, red-headed, third generation "white" American taking in his words and concerns for his son, my response was and remains intense. I never before understood the complexity of history and its impact on non-white lives. I do not know what to do with this new information. I know that one person cannot and does not speak for others; perhaps he speaks only for himself but perhaps he states what hundreds of others feel but do not have the words to describe?
I do know that Ta-Nehisi Coates is a powerful writer and his book should be read by students, adults, politicians, the curious, the sympathetic and the skeptical. In this era of presidential politicking, where elected representatives have the honor of serving and representing "we the people", the country is being bombarded by the likes of Trump and Cruz, and I question so much about this country where I was born, raised and live. The worst side of humanity is being brought out by these characters – curiously all white men – who have the indecency to offer themselves up as candidates of "we the people". It is confusing, confounding, and disillusioning.