Coates Racism Is A Visceral Experience
Question #1:
What does Coates say about race? What does he mean when he says “racism is a visceral experience”? How does he show this?
Visceral: characterized by or proceeding from instinct rather than intellect. (dictionary.com)
“Racism— the need to scribe bone-deep… rendered as the innocent daughter of Mother Nature” (7).
In this quote, Coates highlights that racism is a concept— not a set in stone idea— that society has inscribed features that are irremovable and created for the sole purpose of degrading African Americans. This affirms Coates claim that racism is a visceral experience, as he highlights that the concept of assigning a race is “inalterable condition” that is thus portrayed as a result of nature, not simply social categorization.
What does Coates say about race? What does he mean when he says “racism is a visceral experience”? How does he show this?
Visceral: characterized by or proceeding from instinct rather than intellect. (dictionary.com)
“Racism— the need to scribe bone-deep… rendered as the innocent daughter of Mother Nature” (7).
In this quote, Coates highlights that racism is a concept— not a set in stone idea— that society has inscribed features that are irremovable and created for the sole purpose of degrading African Americans. This affirms Coates claim that racism is a visceral experience, as he highlights that the concept of assigning a race is “inalterable condition” that is thus portrayed as a result of nature, not simply social categorization.