Between The World And Me - Ta-Nehisi Coates

I didn’t enjoy this book, not in the classic sense at least. But that is 100 percent a reflection of me and the growth I still need to do and not Ta-Nehisi Coates.

“Between the World and Me,” is as hypnotic as it is challenging, and even though the subject matter is difficult, if you can’t read about Coates’ life, experiences and hopes for his child and not find shared humanity and empathy – there’s little hope to fix what ails us.

While we have mirrored experiences — coming of age, going to college, scoring first jobs in journalism-related fields, finding love and exploring the world — Coates experienced those things through a lens that I didn’t: being a Black man in America.

Like many white people, the past few months have opened my eyes to nuances of American life that I was simply blind to — or willfully ignored — previously. And “Between” helps further my understanding of systemic oppression, sanctioned discrimination and unconscious bias.

I was disappointed to see that Coates began writing a version of this autobiographical “letter” to his son in 2013 after a meeting with Barack Obama, because it shows how little has changed in almost the decade since. This is probably not a surprise to people of color, but it was a sobering reality to me.

Regardless of what some “friends” have shared on social media, the fact that Oprah is a billionaire, Obama served two terms as president and Kamala Harris is the nominee for vice president does not mean America has “solved” racism.

If we, as white people, cannot challenge our perceptions and misperceptions, reflect on our long-held beliefs – and acknowledge that some are wrong – the cycles of injustice and suppression will continue.

This book made me uncomfortable, sad and angry, but it also, at times, made me smile and feel hopeful, because people like Coates are sharing their experiences so that we can be better, if not for ourselves then for the generations to follow.

My education reading list thus far has included “White Fragility,” “Don’t Call Us Dead,” and “Between the World and Me.” They are all very different, but I would recommend each one.

Rating (story): 4/5 stars

Rating (narration): 3/5 stars

Format: Audiobook (library loan)

Dates read: August 12 – August 15, 2020

Multi-tasking: Not recommended.