👶👶👶 Between the World and Me, by Ta-Nehisi Coates

I struggle with how to review this book. The importance of its contents is unquestionable, especially in light of all that has recently occurred in these United States; and yet, I feel as if I have no right to impose my judgement on such a work. Because I am not Black, and that was clearly this author’s intended audience, I feel as though it would be presumptive of me to weigh in my opinion.  After all, as Ta-Nehisi Coates points out, I am a part of the American Dream, one that he never felt privileged to.  

However, as I recently finished an astonishing novel by Elie Wiesel, his quote stayed with me, and I feel as though it directly applied to this novel: “Action is the only remedy to indifference, the most insidious danger of all."  The truth in these words struck me, as I digested the fact that so much oppression in this world is simply because of indifference.  The idea that if something doesn’t affect me, I shouldn’t be concerned with it at all, is a dangerous attitude to possess. I realized as I read, that if the multitudes adapt this attitude of impassivity, it’s no wonder there is so little change in our current state of affairs. I feel so strongly that we must all learn as much as we can from each other’s struggles, so that we may better understand one another’s plights, and come from a place of empathy.  Wouldn’t our world be a better place if we just took a stroll in others’ shoes every once in a while?  Therein lies the importance of this book.

It’s not that this book is unputdownable, by any means. In fact, I would argue that it is so negatively charged, that at times, I had to take a break.  However, it is eloquently written, and holds tremendous truths. I didn’t get the sense that Coates was attempting to give his son a solution to these injustices, but instead, he offered his son the harsh realities that would befall him.  I am not implying that his words have no validity.  On the contrary, his words are so poignant, that he could make a tremendous difference on so many levels, to so many individuals. The bitterness in his tone turned many readers off, but I will argue that this attitude is not unfounded by any means. Though I can also understand that sometimes a glimmer of hope, as fleeting as it may seem, is all that is necessary to convey an important message.I struggle with how to review this book. The importance of its contents is unquestionable, especially in light of all that has recently occurred in these United States; and yet, I feel as if I have no right to impose my judgement on such a work. Because I am not Black, and that was clearly this author’s intended audience, I feel as though it would be presumptive of me to weigh in my opinion.  After all, as Ta-Nehisi Coates points out, I am a part of the American Dream, one that he never felt privileged to.  

However, as I recently finished an astonishing novel by Elie Wiesel, his quote stayed with me, and I feel as though it directly applied to this novel: “Action is the only remedy to indifference, the most insidious danger of all."  The truth in these words struck me, as I digested the fact that so much oppression in this world is simply because of indifference.  The idea that if something doesn’t affect me, I shouldn’t be concerned with it at all, is a dangerous attitude to possess. I realized as I read, that if the multitudes adapt this attitude of impassivity, it’s no wonder there is so little change in our current state of affairs. I feel so strongly that we must all learn as much as we can from each other’s struggles, so that we may better understand one another’s plights, and come from a place of empathy.  Wouldn’t our world be a better place if we just took a stroll in others’ shoes every once in a while?  Therein lies the importance of this book.

It’s not that this book is unputdownable, by any means. In fact, I would argue that it is so negatively charged, that at times, I had to take a break.  However, it is eloquently written, and holds tremendous truths. I didn’t get the sense that Coates was attempting to give his son a solution to these injustices, but instead, he offered his son the harsh realities that would befall him.  I am not implying that his words have no validity.  On the contrary, his words are so poignant, that he could make a tremendous difference on so many levels, to so many individuals. The bitterness in his tone turned many readers off, but I will argue that this attitude is not unfounded by any means. Though I can also understand that sometimes a glimmer of hope, as fleeting as it may seem, is all that is necessary to convey an important message.

Read 9/22/16