Between the World and Me Questions and Answers
Between the World and Me
What does the statement "Race is the child of racism, not the father" mean in Between the World and Me?
In Between the World and Me, the statement "Race is the child of racism, not the father" means that racism precedes and creates the concept of race. Ta-Nehisi Coates argues that racism has more power...
Between the World and Me
Who are the Dreamers and what is the Dream in Ta-Nehisi Coates's Between the World and Me?
In Ta-Nehisi Coates's Between the World and Me, the "Dream" represents the American Dream, a myth of prosperity and success rooted in meritocracy, which Coates critiques as a delusion benefiting...
Between the World and Me
What is the significance of the title "Between the World and Me"?
The title "Between the World and Me" is significant as it references a poem by Richard Wright, encapsulating the persistent threat of racial violence. It also echoes W.E.B. DuBois's notion of a veil...
Between the World and Me
Why did Coates's father discipline him with his belt?
Coates's father disciplined him with a belt as a response to his altercation with a school teacher, driven by a fear of police violence. He believed that harsh discipline at home would prevent Coates...
Between the World and Me
Prince Jones' Impact on Coates in Between the World and Me
In Between the World and Me, Prince Jones is a significant figure as a friend and classmate of Ta-Nehisi Coates at Howard University. Jones was tragically killed by a police officer under...
Between the World and Me
How does Coates's version of "the Dream" in Between the World and Me differ from idealized media versions?
Ta-Nehisi Coates's version of "the Dream" is for black Americans to have access to the same life, opportunities, and success given to white Americans. He acknowledges the difficulties of attaining...
Between the World and Me
What occurs when Coates takes Samori to the movies in Between the World and Me?
When Coates takes his son Samori to see Howl's Moving Castle, a white woman impatiently pushes Samori on an escalator. Coates confronts her, leading to a confrontation with a white man who threatens...
Between the World and Me
How did Coates's perception of the Mecca and his thinking change during his college years?
Coates's perception of his Mecca changes from childhood, to college, and beyond. In the end, Coates comes to believe that black history is white history: "Everyone of any import, from Jesus to George...
Between the World and Me
Analyze the importance of a chosen photo in Between the World and Me. Why might Coates have included it?
In order to analyze a single photo in Between the World and Me, you will likely need to think about the relationship between that photo and the other pictures in the book and that photo's...
Between the World and Me
How does Coates combat racism in "Between the World and Me"?
Coates confronts racism by first calling into question the notion of the American Dream by challenging his readers to interrogate what they are told and then to struggle against the institutions that...
Between the World and Me
What is the setting of "Between the World and Me" by Ta-Nehisi Coates?
The setting of Between The World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates is the United States, which is key to understanding the book's main themes of race, the American dream, and the Black body. Coates calls...
Between the World and Me
What role does fear play in the lives of Black Americans in Between the World and Me?
Fear profoundly impacts Black Americans' lives, stemming from systemic racism and encounters with law enforcement, highlighted by the Black Lives Matter movement. The fear of police violence creates...
Between the World and Me
In Between the World and Me, who can experience "the Dream"?
Only white people (with rare exceptions) are able to experience the Dream. The Dream is based on excluding black people and on denying the fact that black people don't have the same opportunities as...