One sentence summary
Between the World and Me is a powerful, poetic and necessary exploration of life as a black man in America by Ta-Nehisi Coates.
Book genre
Non-fiction, Semi-Autobiographical Memoir, Political Essay.
Main topic of the book
Between the World and Me is an exploration of the lived experiences of being a black man in America. The book focuses on issues of racism, inequality and power in the United States.
Key ideas
- The American Dream: Coates challenges the idea of the ‘American Dream’, instead describing the body of African Americans in America as inhabiting a “dream which is not a dream” as a result of systemic racism.
- The Power of Whiteness: Coates explores how the power of whiteness has controlled and shaped the lives of African Americans from slavery to the present day.
- The Body and Power: Coates argues that the body of African Americans is seen as a threat to the power of whiteness, and has been subjected to violence in a multitude of forms.
- The Dream Of Freedom: Coates argues that in order to pursue true freedom, African Americans must reject the ideal of the American Dream and instead embrace the “plurality of dreams” of their true selves.
Main parts of the book and a short summary
- Introduction: The book begins with Coates reflecting on his life and the danger it has been to be a black man in America. This introduction serves to set up the key themes of the book.
- Part One: The first part of the book is an exploration of the immense history of violence and oppression that African Americans have faced in the US. In this section, Coates challenges the notion of the American Dream and argues that this dream remains out of reach for African Americans, due to the power of whiteness.
- Part Two: In Part Two, Coates reflects on his own past experiences and considers how his life has been impacted by racism and systemic inequality in the US. He argues that this inequality and the power of whiteness have created a “Dream which is Not a Dream” for the African American population.
- Part Three: In the final section of the book Coates argues that the oppressive power of whiteness must be rejected in order for African Americans to pursue true freedom. He argues that in order to achieve this freedom, they must reclaim the dreams of their own selves.
Key takeaways
- Racism remains a powerful force in the US and has been utilized to keep African Americans from pursuing the American Dream since slavery.
- African Americans have had their own dreams consistently marginalized and oppressed by the power of whiteness.
- In order to pursue true freedom, African Americans must reject the ideal of the American Dream and instead embrace the “plurality of dreams” of their own.
Author’s background and qualifications
Ta-Nehisi Coates is an American author, journalist and activist. Coates is a graduate of Howard University and is best known for his writings on race, politics and culture in the US, which have earned him numerous awards and accolades.
Target audience
Between the World and Me is suitable for a wide range of readers, particularly those interested in understanding the lived experience of being a black man in America. The book is accessible to young adults and can also be read by those who are unfamiliar with the work of Coates.
Publisher and first publication date
The book was first published in 2015 by Spiegel & Grau, an imprint of the Penguin Random House publishing group.