Analysis Of Ta-Nehisi Coates Between The World And Me

Ta-Nehisi Coates, the author of Between the World and Me, he discussed in a letter to his son addressing the feeling of an African-American living in America. He makes it clear that the African-American body is always vulnerable. Coates communicated with his son about his childhood in the ghettos of Baltimore and how he had managed to live in such harsh environment. A child in a different country also experienced similar occurrences and learned to coped with the street rules. The author includes many examples of African-American bodies under attack and it also relates to what some Asian-Americans experienced. Not everyone would be able to digest this book without bias and prejudice. The interpretation of the book about vulnerability of African-American

bodies is not the same to someone that is white compared to someone that is of a different race. The white folks that think people who make awareness about racism are usually the most racist are consider colorblind.
African-Americans and Asian-Americans cannot survive in the United States without the understanding of the difference in the body pigments. The so called, “white-Americans” believe that their white identity is superior and should dominate any race. Only protecting their own home; their own rights; their own education; and their own safety. Asian-American are egg yolk color so not quite white therefore parents are constantly quieting any fears and or attempts to speak out against discrimination thinking that silence is safety. People with skin color other than white have been taught since birth by white supremacy to keep our mouths shut and they are inferior. Some police officers are part of the same system of power that view African-Americans as dangerous threats.
Coates makes it clear that the African-American body is always vulnerable. Either verbally or physically on gunpoint with police brutality and shootings. The crowd at a football game yelled, “kill that nigger!” (Coates 139). “Nigger is the ultimate expression of White racism and White superiority no matter how it is pronounced” (Nigger 1). The word, “nigger,” carries much of the hatred and disgust directed toward African Americans. Prince Jones was on his way to see his fiancée but was killed by a PG County officer and again their bodies were under attack. “The officer returned. He handed back my license. He gave no explanation for the stop.” (Coates 76). This reminded me of a teacher telling me a story of his son driving with an African American friend. His son was pulled over and the officer had asked how he was doing and if he was safe. The police were targeting African American drivers/passengers because they suspect they are dangerous. Every police officer has their own experiences and sometimes it could be that they are just trying to do their job. It is disappointing to think that the police, people who are there to protect us, could harm us as well because of differences in body pigment.
“The fear was there in the extravagant boys of my neighborhood, in their large rings and medallions, their big puffy coats and full-length fur-collared fathers, which was their armor against their world” (Coates 14).

As a child growing up in the streets of China, I understood the "toughness" that covers that fear. The part of China where I used to live was similar to Baltimore. Some people had to hang out with gangs so they could protect themselves against the violence. As a child growing up in the streets of China, I understood the "toughness" that covers that fear. The part of China where I used to live was similar to Baltimore. It was creating an illusion that we were strong so we wouldn't get beaten or robbed. Some people disguised themselves by hanging around gangs so they could protect themselves against the

violence.
Asian-Americans are also discriminated but it is more verbal and less nonviolent. The most common is stereotyping and generalization: “Chinks, gooks, Asians are good at math, they have small eyes, and being described as a “banana” meaning we are white on the inside, but yellow on the outside. The word “Chinaman” is a step down from using the word “chink” or for people that are afraid to stay that word so they refer to them as “Chinaman.” Chinese people have strong ethical culture, and they worked more efficient and was more well-behaved. Therefore, it caused layoff in other workers. Anger and hatred were widely spread among those workers who lost job to the Chinese immigrants. “Chinks, gooks and Chinaman” words also have historical context such as “colored people” and it has become a racist term with history to back it up.
Coates and his son came out of the escalators of the theater and a white woman pushed his son and said, “Come on!” (Coates 94).

As Coates stood up for himself and his son, a white man came up undefended her and said, “I could have you arrested!” (Coates 94). Meaning that the white man could take their bodies. This story reminded me of an Asian-American that had experienced a similar situation. He was just walking down the street with his friends and family. A white woman was annoyed that they took up a large portion of the sidewalk and said, “go back to China.” When he confronted this woman, she pulled out her phone and threatened to call the police, and yelled the racist remark again. There is constant struggle to be recognized as American Citizens and the protection of their

bodies.

There are multiple types of discrimination subjected towards African Americans and Asian-Americans and they have to shelter their own bodies. There are many racial slurs that create separation among the whites, African-Americans, and Asian-Americans. People live in a world where there are still police officers still view African-Americans to be dangerous to society. The meaning of white or in Coates words, “believe myself to be white,” is a model of status quo that allows for dominance and it ultimately puts colorblind lens over their eyes.