Book Corner: Between The World And Me By: Ta-Nehisi Coates
Welcome again to Harper Therapy’s Book Corner. In these past few weeks our world has been shifted to a position of awareness. Our society has revealed, in the loudest voice possible, an ongoing issue…racism, systemic racism and trauma inducing injustice. It has been a time to take a stance, amplify the voices that are not usually heard and educate ourselves in the areas that we need in order to be part of the change in social justice.
In that spirit, our Book Corner is focused on a thought provoking piece of work, by the acclaimed columnist, journalist, comic book writer (Black Panther), author, father, Ta-Nehisi Coates. The book Between The World And Me, is a letter to the author’s son after the murder of his fellow Howard University alumn and friend, by an undercover police during a “mistaken identity” case. The police were looking for a 5’6” heavy set man while the murdered friend was 6’2” athletic build, and the only thing they had in common was the color of their skin.
The book is thought provoking and raw. The title is inspired by Richard Wright’s poem “Between The World And Me” when he felt a curtain falling between him and the world he knew after witnessing the lynching of a Black man. It starts with a poignant question; what does the term “people” really mean, in the statement “a government by the people and for the people” when Black people were not seen as people when the statement was made (and still are not). And later on poses the statement that “race is the child of racism, not the father, and the process of naming people has not been a matter of genealogy or physiology, so much as one of hierarchy.” He then moves on to explain that the term “white” is a modern concept not based on color of skin but based on those who could pillage life, liberty, labor and lands, those who could flay backs, chain limbs, destroy families, rape mothers, sell children and were adamant in denying Blacks the right to secure and govern their bodies… This, our fellow readers, was one of the heaviest and profound statements in the book because it forces us to truly examine the history of our country and ourselves, and offers us the opportunity to view the world from a different perspective.
Mr. Coates continues with these profound questions and statements that invite us to question and challenge the status quo. It addresses the impact on the Black community of school zoning, government backed loans, ancestral wealth, authority of law enforcement to destroy Black bodies when comparable crimes have been committed by White bodies and they have come out without a scratch, the impact of the streets in the process of survival. It is an invitation to introspection.
To understand how Black parents love their children with what he calls “an obsession” because if they don’t discipline them, the police will, therefore they resort to severe body punishment. As a parent, his statement on “…either I beat you, or the police, because you are all I have and you come to us in danger because of the color of your skin…” was core shaking
I want to end this portion of the blog with Ta-Nehisi Coates’ quote: “Racism is not merely a simplistic hatred. It is, more often, broad sympathy toward some, and broader skepticism toward others…” Let us think how many times we hear the news and our first question is “what was he/she actually doing?” That question my friend is the first step of racism, being skeptical of the reasons why someone was killed by a law enforcement agent in a country where for all other intents and purposes people are to be considered innocent until proven guilty. This is Mr. Coates plight and conversation with his son…Black bodies are presumed guilty until proven otherwise, and these Black bodies are in danger because of the societal construct in which we live in.
If you have read this far, we thank you. If you have read this far, we believe you are willing to take steps into becoming more than a non-racist individual, you are striving to become Anti-Racist. The therapeutic side of this book corner includes the initial steps toward becoming Anti-Racist. Let’s list the zones that we must walk through in this process of self-actualization and growth:
Fear Zone – when we deny racism as a problem, avoid the hard questions, prefer comfort, and only talk to others that look or think like me.
Learning Zone – recognize racism as a present and current problem, seek out the uncomfortable conversations, understand my own privilege in ignoring racism, educate myself in the topics of race and structural racism, acknowledge our bias, listen to others that are different than me.
Growth Zone – promote and advocate for policies and leaders that are Anti-Racist, sit with the discomfort, speak out/speak up when we see Racism in action, educate myself and others on how Racism impacts our profession, don’t let mistakes deter you from becoming better, yield your position of power to those marginalized.
We invite you to join the conversation during these times. The book shared above is only a start. There are many other books that can guide you, below are such a few to start:
How To Be An Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi
Raising Multiracial Children by Farzana Nayani
White Fragility: Why It’s Hard For White People To Talk About Racism by Robin Diangelo
So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
Stamped From The Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi
We hope we have shed some light on a conversation that can be confrontational and difficult to have. These are the conversations that can make or break us as individuals, couples and families. If you was to continue working on how conflict impacts your emotional well-being, feel free to call us at 813-434-3639. Let Yiara Blanco, at Harper Therapy, be your home for Hope Growth and Healing!
