Mikayla Coyne Blog Post #7

The discussion that we had in class on Friday about the novel, Between The World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates made me think a lot after class about what we were talking about. I think that by Coates addressing his son, it brings a sense of intimacy that I don't think would be there otherwise if he was talking to someone else or if he was not addressing anyone at all. I think that by talking to his son, he will want to teach him important lessons and stories from his past that his son can learn from. Not only did the discussion we had in class on Friday make me think about the topics he was addressing, but also by the questions he was asking throughout the text. I think that by sharing personal stories, it helps not only make the reader have a better view on the situation, but also for the reader to understand more where he is coming from and really be able to understand the emotions that he is having while writing this and looking back on his past. Coates brings up a lot of interesting points that I do not think a lot of readers think of day to day. For example, “The streets transform every ordinary day into a series of trick questions, and every incorrect answer risks a beatdown, a shooting, or a pregnancy” (22). I have never heard this before. But, after thinking about it, I understand it. You have the capacity to make decisions on where to go in life, just like on the streets. And sometimes, those decisions can lead to very negative consequences. Coates brings in important references from history, like Malcolm X and then analyzes what they did and incorporates them into his argument. "I loved Malcolm because Malcolm never lied, unlike the schools and their facade of morality, unlike the streets and their bravado, unlike the world of dreamers' ' (36). Coates brings back in previous points that he talked about previously and shows how Malcolm X compares to them. Overall, I have enjoyed reading this novel and I can't wait to read more of it.