Between The World And Me Themes

In the book Between the World and Me, written by Ta-Nehisi Coates, Coates addressed the issue of race and the harsh realities of being a black man in America. Coates wrote this book for his son to ensure that he was aware that life would be difficult and that he would have to struggle in order to survive. Coates recounts his experiences growing up in the ghettos of West Baltimore, his adventures at the Mecca, a racial profiling incident among other obstacles he faced throughout his life.
One of the major themes Coates highlighted was the issue of racial profiling. Coates recalled his encounter with the PG County police officers. The corrupt officers of PG county were renowned as it related to police brutality. Many African Americans, like Coates, constantly live in fear not knowing if the next police officer they see will target them for no other reason than the color of their skin or if they will even live to tell the tale. They feared the same people appointed to serve and protect them. Another important aspect identified was Coates’ perspective on the adage that says blacks have to be twice as good in order to succeed. Coates believes that black parents should stop telling their children to be twice
He made mention of the persons he encountered at Howard from different backgrounds, from all over the world. It is a common belief that HBCUs lack diversity, however, Coates proves that Howard has a wide array of individuals with new and different perspectives on life. I believe that Howard University is a melting pot that celebrates black excellence from all around the globe. Personally, as an international student from Jamaica and I identify with Coates as he expresses his views on different cultures and religions that vary across Howard’s campus. Although Coates may have attended Howard a decade before I did the Howard he described has stayed true to its