“Expressions and Oppression” Memoir Study

Book Club Meeting #1

Instructions: After completing your assigned reading (as agreed within your Book Club groups), take thorough
notes on the following in order to prepare for discussion. These notes may be point form, or full sentences,
contain images, etc… They should be geared toward opening many avenues for shared discussion within your
groups.

Your completed and polished notes should not exceed five pages.

1 - What barriers of Oppression does your Rough Notes/Answers:

memoir outline? How does the author’s lived
experience suggest: -Black identity
A) Ownership of this oppression -Police brutality
B) Authenticity of the lived experience this -Systemic racism
Oppression entails? -Black body
-American dream
-Education disparities

Final Summary/Product:

"Between the World and Me" is written by Ta-Nehisi Coates and explores the experiences of Black individuals in
America, particularly through the lens of the author's own life. The book explores various barriers of oppression faced
by Black people in the United States.

As for the ownership of oppression and the authenticity of the lived experience, Coates draws on his personal
narrative to convey the emotional and psychological effects of systemic racism. He writes the book as a letter to his
teenage son, sharing his own struggles and conflicts about being a Black man in America. This narrative choice
emphasizes the personal connection to the larger social issues, making the oppression visible and real. He additionally
demonstrated the authenticity of his lived experience by sharing his own experiences, fears, and insights. He did this
because he aims to convey the depth and complexity of the Black experience in a way that resonates with readers. The
use of personal narrative also adds credibility to his perspective, as it is rooted in his own encounters with racism and
oppression. This approach generally challenges readers to empathize with and understand the authenticity of the
struggles faced by Black individuals in America.

2 - While you read, write down questions that Rough Notes/Answers:

you have about this section of the novel. What
were you wondering about while you were 1. Why did he choose to write to his son specifically? Why not
reading? Did you have questions about what was just have a private conversation
happening? What a character did? What was
going to happen next? Why the author used a 2. How did racism affect his perspective of life?
certain style? Or what the whole thing meant?
3. What does the title signify? And what did it reveal before
From these notes, try to develop “big idea” reading?
discussion topics that draw on themes 4. How are education goals, consequences of failing classes
conveyed in the section, notable character inflicted with race and class?
development, and the author’s use of 5. How did fear impact the black community
language. 6. How did reading help the author?
7. Why does the picture of the cop and black child upset him
When your group meets you should have 2-3 during the interview
solid discussion questions prepared, as well as
notes on your opinion on these questions, or
potential answers to the questions from your
point of view.

Final Summary/Product:

1. I think the author refers to this text as a “letter to my son”, out of fear. “the only people I knew were black,
and all of them were powerfully, adamantly, dangerously afraid.”(Coates, 14) He essentially confesses the
struggles and realities of being black in the United States, and wants to prepare his son for what's to come.
His son being a teenager at this point, means that he’ll be exposed to many situations that automatically
make him a target. This book serves as parental guidance because he wants his son to be educated on the
challenges he may face in life. In a way, this book can serve as lessons from his father, which would further
prepare him rather than leave him in fear. I believe Coates wrote a book rather than just a private
conversation because it assures that his words can be preserved for Samori to revisit anytime he wishes. In
addition, the author isn’t just sharing his thoughts with his son, it's also an education tool for people of
various backgrounds. This narrative style is much more powerful than a “regular” book, which really puts
other readers in perspective of the issues associated with race in America.

2. “Between the world and me” indicates an imaginary line between the private, internal world of Coates and
the external world, with its cultural norms and systemic challenges. The title of the novel sets the overall
tone and atmosphere for a story that's very personal and shows vulnerability. Reading this story felt like I
was reading someone’s personal diary since it was so raw and honest. You can sense his anger and
frustration about what it's like to have a black body and the differences with the American dream. His
personal experiences also reflect what it's like to live under the burden of a system that doesn't value your
body, but at the same time portrays themselves as a place of equal opportunity. This overall allows readers
to engage with the author's lived experiences and insights into the Black experience in the United States.

3 - How does the author’s writing help the reader Rough Notes/Answers:
understand the explicit or implicit nature of the
Oppressions highlighted within the text?
"Not being violent enough could cost me my body. But being too
Locate and analyze 2-3 important sections or violent could cost me my body.”
quotations in the novel. You should be
considering quotes that develop your “ The Dream smells like peppermint but tastes like strawberry
understanding of the text, reveal character, shortcake”
showcase theme, highlight tone and atmosphere,
reveal an important truth, or make use of notable “Black life is cheap, but in America black bodies are a natural
literary devices. resource of incomparable value.”

As you decide which passages or paragraphs are

worth going back to, make a note as to why you “To be black in the Baltimore of my youth was to be naked before
picked each one. Then jot down some plans for the elements of the world.”
how they should be shared. Take this opportunity
as if you are creating your own close “The crews walked the blocks of the neighborhood, loud and rude,
reading/annotation test for your group – really because it was only through their loud rudeness that they might feel
explore the meaning behind the words, and how any sense of security and power”
the author uses them to convey their truths.
Final Summary/Product:

This memoir illuminates the explicit and implicit nature of oppression demonstrated within the text. By adopting
the form of a personal letter to his son, Coates draws readers into an intimate narrative, which allows them to
experience the explicit realities of systemic racism through his own lived experiences. His detailed descriptions
and poignant storytelling bring to life aspects of racial injustices, whether it's from the fear of encounters with law
enforcement to the harsh realities of “the dream”. At the same time, Coates provides historical context that unveils
the implicit structures of oppression, revealing how deeply ingrained inequalities last through generations. "The
Dream," is a metaphor that serves as an effective tool for highlighting the collective misconceptions that society
norms are based on. By emphasizing the emotional and psychological aspects of both explicit and implicit
oppressions, the author's personal reflections on vulnerability and fear help readers gain a deeper understanding of
the relation between systemic forces and individual experiences in the ongoing fight against racism.

Quotes #1 - “But race is the child of racism, not the father.” (p.7)

● Essentially, he's challenging the idea that different racial categories are some kind of natural division among
people. Instead, he suggests that these distinctions were socially constructed to serve the purposes of racism
throughout history. This viewpoint runs through the book, encouraging readers to reconsider what they think
they know about race and to take a closer look at how societal structures have played a role in shaping these
categories. Coates comes across as a critical thinker, and the tone is serious and reflective, prompting readers
to engage more deeply with the realities of race and identity. The use of metaphorical language, comparing
race to the "child" of racism, adds a nuanced layer to his argument, making it more accessible and
thought-provoking.

Quote # 2 -

“To be black in the Baltimore of my youth was to be naked before the elements of the world, before all the guns,
fists, knives, crack, rape, and disease. The nakedness is not an error, nor pathology. The nakedness is the correct
and intended result of policy, the predictable upshot of people forced for centuries to live under fear. The law
did not protect us.” (p.17)

● This passage captures the harsh reality of Black Baltimore life, providing a direct look into the vulnerability
that people within oppressed communities struggle with. Being "naked before the elements of the world" is a
metaphor which clearly depicts how vulnerable one is to the constant dangers of violence, drug use, and
illness. Coates expertly uses emotive language to highlight the fact that this state of nakedness is intentional,
the result of racist institutional practices and past policies. Through this powerful quote, he reveals a central
theme of the text: the systemic oppression and struggles faced by the black community.

Quote # 3 - "Not being violent enough could cost me my body. But too violent could cost me my body.”
(p.28)

● This passage is dedicated to the struggles that young African American males face today. It evidently
provides insight into the constant threat of violence that shapes their daily lives and decisions, as well as
their quest for survival in a society that always fails them. Coates's use of parallel structure in contrasting
"not being violent enough" with "too violent" creates a compelling effect. And the repetition of the phrase
"could cost me my body" emphasizes the high risks involved in these choices. The tone is reflective and
somber, highlighting the systemic forces that coerce individuals into a dilemma where the fear of violence
persists regardless of their actions.

4 - Identify 2 “Answers” that are being Rough Notes/Answers:

 “Questioned” by the author in the first half.
You do not need to explain the “new” answer “How to live freely within this black body”
provided, but instead must simply showcase
what the author is suggesting should be “Is the dream accessible to Black individuals in a society built
“Unlearned,” and why. on a history of systemic racism and exploitation”

“How can America reckon with its fraught racial history

“Has society genuinely moved forward in terms of racial

equality or do the same oppressive structures persist beneath the
surface.”

Final Summary/Product:

#1

After attempting to find an answer through reading, writing, discussions, music, and education, he came to the
conclusion that there isn't one. His greatest fear, disembodiment, has been lifted, though, by his ongoing battle to
accept the cruelty of his country and his lack of control over his own body. Even though Coates is aware that there
is no solution, the struggle and inquiring are significant in this sense.

#2

One major issue is the question of whether Black people can achieve the American Dream in a culture that has a
long history of institutional racism and exploitation. In order to get readers to consider the narrative that says the
American Dream, with its promises of equality and opportunity, is achievable by all, Ta-Nehisi Coates delves into
this question. In light of past injustices, systemic racism, and ongoing societal inequalities, Coates challenges the
notion that everyone may realize their dreams by putting this question out there. This investigation invites readers to
reevaluate the obstacles that Black people encounter in pursuing the American Dream and to think about the ways
that deeply ingrained structural issues could stand in the way of true equality and upward mobility.

What is he suggesting we should unlearn?

1. Myth of color blindness:

Coates contradicts the concept that, in an attempt of equality, society should seek to be "colorblind" or
disregard differences between races. When someone has racial colorblindness, they also choose to ignore
racial injustices, past acts of violence, present suffering, and other factors that are perpetuated in a racist
society in addition to race or skin color. He claims that this idea, often used to decline the importance of
systemic racism, prevents a genuine appreciation of the racial disparities and injustices that remain. He argues
that in order to address the many problems Black people in America confront, it is essential to recognize and
comprehend race. Therefore, unlearning the myth of colorblindness is necessary to encourage a genuine and
open discussion about racial disparity.

2. Thinking “Good Intentions” is a solution

The author additionally questions the belief that racial injustices and inequality can be resolved by
well-intentioned efforts alone. As stated by Coates, structural racism is deeply rooted and calls for more than
just thoughtful changes. He contends that people must unlearn the belief that their good intentions excuse
them from actively participating in the destruction of systems that uphold inequity. In order to effectively
address racial issues, it is essential to acknowledge the necessity of systemic change and actually taking
action.
 5 - Using your own online research skills, locate Notes/Answers:
and identify one infographic that connects to the
second half of your memoir. Use your critical https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202105/1224409.shtml
thinking skills to find usable images from
reputable and trustworthy sources only. Copy
and paste the infographic in the
“Notes/Answers” column. Then, explain the
intended message/claims of the infographic, and
how it connects to your memoir. Also, include a
brief synopsis explaining why the source of
the infographic is trustworthy. (Make sure to
provide a link to show where you found the
infographic, as well).1

Final Summary/Product:

The intended message/claim of this infographic is to share the realities of police brutality in the United states. The
government and police often try to keep the truth hidden,or ignore it. Seeing the numbers and stats on this
infographic shocked me, because it's really worse than what it seems.

This essentially connects to the memoir, because Ta-Nehisi Coates addresses police brutality in several parts of the
book. He discusses that the “black body” went from being tortured, lynched, raped, to being the police’s ultimate
target. Now kids get shot for holding toy guns, people are shot for their music, put in deathly chokeholds just
because, and restrained when entering their own homes. Coates reflects on a personal level, the fears that black
people live in because of police brutality and its impacts on communities. The discussion of police brutality
contributes to the broader exploration of the dangers and challenges that come with being black in America.

This source is reliable because it's from a news outlet, “Global Times”. According to research news outlets are
considered primary sources and great to find out about occurring events.

Book Club Rubric

1
Prompt courtesy of Jaime DePippo