4 stars
A powerful exploration of what it is to be a Black man in modern America. Through a letter to his son, Coates lays out the different worlds Black men inhabit and the never-ending assessment of risk as they navigate those worlds daily.
Through an examination of history and reflections on his own personal experiences, Coates showcases the social concept of “race” and the ways it has been and continues to be used to divide people, the different codes one must learn to stay safe and succeed in different environments (street, school), and the ways our history is written and remembered.
Fantastically written. Coates writes with anger, sadness, frustration, fear, reflection, and hope. Despite its short length, there is a lot to unpack within the text.
Interspersed throughout the book are black-and-white family photos, continuing the book’s intimate themes of family, human connection, and fatherhood.
Powerful and affirming, at times bleak but with a few slivers of hope within.