Between the World and Me
Between the World and Me
By Ta-Nehisi Coates
Audience: 11th grade U.S. History
Audience: 11th grade U.S. History
Level: Mixed range, non-honors
Level: Mixed range, non-honors
Purpose: To explore the racial division in American history.
Purpose: To explore the racial division in American history.
Global Context
Global Context
Fairness and Development: What are the consequences of our common humanity? Students will explore rights and responsibilities; the relationship between communities; sharing finite resources with other people and with other living things; access to equal opportunities; peace and conflict resolution.
Fairness and Development: What are the consequences of our common humanity? Students will explore rights and responsibilities; the relationship between communities; sharing finite resources with other people and with other living things; access to equal opportunities; peace and conflict resolution.
Statement of Inquiry
Statement of Inquiry
When we are divided politically, economically, socially, and culturally, we create a chasm between the other and ourselves that can be crossed with effective communication and collaboration.
When we are divided politically, economically, socially, and culturally, we create a chasm between the other and ourselves that can be crossed with effective communication and collaboration.
Inquiry Question
Inquiry Question
How do we create a bridge between the other and ourselves?
How do we create a bridge between the other and ourselves?
How does discrediting the idea of race as an established and unchangeable fact change the way we look at our history? Ourselves? The way we define "US" and "THEM?"
How does discrediting the idea of race as an established and unchangeable fact change the way we look at our history? Ourselves? The way we define "US" and "THEM?"
Between the World and Me, by Ta-Nehisi Coates, is a compelling, disarming book written as an open letter to his fifteen-year-old son, Samori. At the heart of this book is Coates' love for his son and desire to offer him hope, but instead we witness a sobering and pessimistic outlook about the racial legacy that divides us. His purpose in writing this letter is to unequivocally and emphatically extol one message to his son:
Between the World and Me, by Ta-Nehisi Coates, is a compelling, disarming book written as an open letter to his fifteen-year-old son, Samori. At the heart of this book is Coates' love for his son and desire to offer him hope, but instead we witness a sobering and pessimistic outlook about the racial legacy that divides us. His purpose in writing this letter is to unequivocally and emphatically extol one message to his son:
“Here is what I would like for you to know: In America, it is traditional to destroy the black body—it is heritage.”
“Here is what I would like for you to know: In America, it is traditional to destroy the black body—it is heritage.”
Through a series of six letters, he weaves snapshots of his personal experiences, American historical racial context, and present day assaults on African-Americans to prove this position and as a warning to his son that this is his inheritance as a black man in America. One would expect a father to offer his son wisdom, hope, and optimism for his journey into manhood; Instead, he apologizes and asks his son to embrace the struggle:
Through a series of six letters, he weaves snapshots of his personal experiences, American historical racial context, and present day assaults on African-Americans to prove this position and as a warning to his son that this is his inheritance as a black man in America. One would expect a father to offer his son wisdom, hope, and optimism for his journey into manhood; Instead, he apologizes and asks his son to embrace the struggle:
"I am sorry that I cannot make it okay. I am sorry that I cannot save you. But not that sorry...The struggle is really all I have for you because it is the only portion of the world under your control.”
"I am sorry that I cannot make it okay. I am sorry that I cannot save you. But not that sorry...The struggle is really all I have for you because it is the only portion of the world under your control.”
However, as indicated by the title, there is another purpose: Coates is demanding another conversation, one between the world and him. By opening up his very intimate, searingly painful, and uncomfortably harsh initiation of his son into the trials and injustice that will be his future, the reader does not experience the usual hedging, filtering, and softening used to bridge and open up the conversation about racial injustice. Instead, unless you are a black man or a black son, you are an outsider and the reason for why he must have this sobering conversation with his son. His words and condemnation of those outside of the conversation while eloquent are harsh, and harbor a pessimism about the possibility for change.
However, as indicated by the title, there is another purpose: Coates is demanding another conversation, one between the world and him. By opening up his very intimate, searingly painful, and uncomfortably harsh initiation of his son into the trials and injustice that will be his future, the reader does not experience the usual hedging, filtering, and softening used to bridge and open up the conversation about racial injustice. Instead, unless you are a black man or a black son, you are an outsider and the reason for why he must have this sobering conversation with his son. His words and condemnation of those outside of the conversation while eloquent are harsh, and harbor a pessimism about the possibility for change.
"But do not struggle for the Dreamers. . . . Do not pin your struggle on their conversion. The Dreamers will have to learn to struggle for themselves.”
"But do not struggle for the Dreamers. . . . Do not pin your struggle on their conversion. The Dreamers will have to learn to struggle for themselves.”
Strangely enough, while not stated explicitly, the capacity for the reader to create a bridge is where we can find hope. When it is only the victim of injustice that speaks for justice, justice will not endure. It is only when a bridge is built where the "other" becomes an advocates that justice can survive. If we read "Between the World and Me" from the position of being an outsider, we cannot join in the battle. It is only when we realize that Coates' son is our son that we can join in. The hope lays in shifting the conversation from US against THEM to creating a WE.
Strangely enough, while not stated explicitly, the capacity for the reader to create a bridge is where we can find hope. When it is only the victim of injustice that speaks for justice, justice will not endure. It is only when a bridge is built where the "other" becomes an advocates that justice can survive. If we read "Between the World and Me" from the position of being an outsider, we cannot join in the battle. It is only when we realize that Coates' son is our son that we can join in. The hope lays in shifting the conversation from US against THEM to creating a WE.
What obligation do we have to share the weight and build a bridge?
What obligation do we have to share the weight and build a bridge?
Coates does not offer hope, only struggle. Where can we see hope? What is our struggle, and how do we carry some of the burden?
Coates does not offer hope, only struggle. Where can we see hope? What is our struggle, and how do we carry some of the burden?
How can we find answers to these very complex issues of racial division and human justice?
How can we find answers to these very complex issues of racial division and human justice?
You can enrich your understanding of this text by considering a few other text that expand on the concept race and belonging.
You can enrich your understanding of this text by considering a few other text that expand on the concept race and belonging.
