Play Book Tag discussion

A father's letter to his son on navigating the world in a Black body. Unfortunately timeless in its message and an ever poignant message about race in America.

It is interesting how we continue to have the same discussions and arguments around race and destruction of the Black body. Right now, people are arguing "but the cops were black!" in regards to the murder of Tyre Nichols and that comes up in this book as well even though it was published in 2015. Coates doesn't go in depth about why that point is moot, but to say they are a tool of a system established by white people. However, he doesn't need to because the book isn't to teach white people about systemic racism, rather it is a letter for his son. Still, I think white people can get something out of this book if they listen.

It's difficult to read these stories over various decades in American history and realize we still grapple with the same issues, like we are trapped in a racial Groundhog's Day.... not sure what else I can add to that.

Edit: to clarify, obviously this book was published widely so although it is a letter for / to his son it was meant to be read beyond that. But I guess I keep the intended audience in mind in cases like this to remind myself what the book should do versus what I want it to do... if that makes sense. He doesn't expand on some of his personal observations in terms of whiteness and its impact, but in my opinion it isn't necessary when considering his intent.

I really like this author's writing, though I do prefer his non-fiction. Have you read anything else by Coates?

Hannah wrote: "I really like this author's writing, though I do prefer his non-fiction. Have you read anything else by Coates?"

Not yet. My book club read The Water Dancer, but I couldn't get it for some reason and the feedback on that one was a very mixed bag.