,REFLECTIONS ON ,TA-,NEHISI ,COATES' ,BETWE5 ! ,WORLD & ,ME 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,*RI/OPH] ,Z4 ,HOBSON 

,TEXT 3 

,IT HAS TAK5 ME TWO YE>S TO WRITE AB\T ,TA-,NEHISI ,COATES' BE/-SELL+ BOOK ESSAY ,BETWE5 ! ,WORLD & ,ME1 AN EXPLORATION ( ! 5DANG]M5T ( ! ,BLACK BODY 9 ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES4 ,I B\<T ! BOOK %ORTLY AFT] ITS ,JULY #bae PUBLICATION BUT DIDN'T READ IT = A YE>1 & IT'S TAK5 ANO!R YE> TO WRITE AB\T IT4 ,P>T ( ! REASON IS ?AT IT IS MODEL$ P>TLY ON ,JAMES ,BALDW9'S FAM$ ,! ,FIRE ,NEXT ,TIME 7#a#i#f#c7--! %ORT FIR/ SECTION ( ,FIRE IS WRITT5 AS A LETT] TO ,BALDW9'S NEPHEW1 ,COATES' BOOK AS A LETT] TO HIS SON1 & ,COATES USES MANY SIGNATURE ,BALDW9 PHRASES 70MY C\NTRYM510 0,AM]ICAN 9NOC5CE10 BO? ON #h74 ,I WAS !N WORK+ TO F9I% A BOOK ON ,BALDW91 WAS AW>E RI<T AWAY ( DIFF]5CES BETWE5 ,COATES' IDEAS & ,BALDW9'S1 & DIDN'T WANT TO BE DI/RACT$4 ,MA9LY1 ?\<1 ,I N[ REALIZE1 ! REASON = DELAY WAS AMBIVAL5CE--!RE IS SO MU* ?AT IS RI<T1 TRUE1 & BEAUTIFUL AB\T ,COATES' WORK1 & SO MU* ALSO ?AT IS BL9D & WRONG1 ?AT IT'S DIFFICULT TO SORT \T BO?4 ,I'LL TRY TO DO SO BEL[4 

,?\< ADDRESS$ TO HIS SON1 ,COATES' BOOK IS ALSO AIM$ AT A SECOND AUDI5CE1 ?R\< ! FIGURE ( A ,T,V 9T]VIEW] :O1 ,COATES FELT1 EXPECT$ ,COATES TO ANSW] TWO QUE/IONS1 0:AT IT MEANT TO LOSE MY BODY0 & 0:Y ,I FELT ?AT :ITE ,AM]ICA'S PROGRESS1 OR RA!R ! PROGRESS ( ?OSE ,AM]ICANS :O BELIEVE !Y >E :ITE1 WAS BUILT ON LOOT+ & VIOL5CE0 7#e-#f74 ,SO1 IMPLICITLY1 ! BOOK IS AIM$ BEYOND ,COATES' SON TO ANSW] ?OSE QUE/IONS = :ITE ,AM]ICANS1 MORE EXACTLY = ?OSE1 :ITE & ,BLACK1 :O >E HIP 5\< TO RECOGNIZE :IT5ESS AS A SOCIAL CON/RUCTION--LIB]ALS & RACIAL PROGRESSIVES4 ,IT IS MEANT TO /ATE ?REE BASIC PO9TS1 EA* ( :I* HAS ITS [N /R5G?S & PROBLEMS4 

,5DANG]M5T & ,PLUND] ( ,BLACK ,BODIES 

  

,! FIR/ & MO/ FUNDAM5TAL IS :AT ,COATES PRES5TS AS ! 5DANG]M5T ( ,BLACK BODIES BY POLICE & O!RS4 ,COATES' DISCUSSION IS PHRAS$ LESS AS EXPOSITION ?AN AS EXPRESSION ( A BASIC LIFE ORI5TATION = ,BLACK ,AM]ICANS4 ,AFT] REF]R+ TO ,]IC ,G>N]'S & O!R KILL+S1 ,COATES TELLS HIS SON1 0.<,Y.>\ KN[ N[1 IF Y\ DID NOT BE=E1 ?AT ! POLICE DEP>TM5TS ( Y\R C\NTRY HAVE BE5 5D[$ ) ! AU?ORITY TO DE/ROY Y\R BODY0 7#e74 ,LAT]1 ,COATES PUTS ! PO9T 9 HI/ORICAL P]SPECTIVE3 0,! PLUND] ( BLACK LIFE WAS DRILL$ 9TO ?IS C\NTRY 9 ITS 9FANCY & RE9=C$ ACROSS ITS HI/ORY1 SO ?AT PLUND] HAS BECOME AN HEIRLOOM1 444 A DEFAULT SETT+ TO :I*1 LIKELY TO ! 5D ( \R DAYS1 WE MU/ 9V>IABLY RETURN0 7#a#a#a74 0,PLUND]10 C]TA9LY1 9CLUDES BO? SLAV]Y & SUP]EXPLOIT$ LABOR & ! UNCONTROLL$ KILL+ ?AT IS ,COATES' MA9 FOCUS4 

,?IS1 ,COATES' MA9 PO9T1 IS C]TA9LY AN ABSOLUTELY BASIC SURVIVAL PO9T = ANY ,BLACK P]SON1 ESPECIALLY Y\NG MALES1 AS P>TLY EXPRESS$ 9 ,BRYAN ,/EV5SON'S 0,A ,PRESUMPTION ( ,GUILT0 7,NEW ,YORK ,REVIEW ( ,BOOKS ,JULY #a#c1 #b#a#g2 ONL9E3 WWW4NYBOOKS4COM_/>TICLES_/#b#a#g_/#g_/#a#c_/PRESUMPTION-(-GUILT_/74 ,BASICALLY A DISCUSSION ( LYN*+ & UNEQUAL JU/ICE EV] S9CE ! ,CIVIL ,W>1 ! >TICLE />TS ) A P]SONAL ANECDOTE4 0.<,S.>EV]AL YE>S AGO0--NOT GIV+ A DATE IMPLIES ?IS C\LD HAPP5 AT ANY TIME--,/EV5SON GOT \T ( HIS C> TO EXPLA91 HE SAYS LAT]1 :Y HIS OLD ,HONDA WAS P>K$ 9 A SWANK NEI<BORHOOD1 & FAC$ A MAN :O ?REAT5$ TO 0BL[ MY HEAD (F40 ,SUPPRESS+ ! IMPULSE TO RUN1 ,/EV5SON RAIS$ HIS H&S1 BEGG$ ! MAN NOT TO %OOT1 & SAID OV] & OV]1 0,IT'S ALL RI<T1 IT'S OKAY40 ,! MAN1 ,/EV5SON GOES ON1 0WAS A UNI=M$ POLICE (FIC]4 ,AS A CRIM9AL DEF5SE ATTORNEY1 ,I KNEW ?AT MY SURVIVAL REQUIR$ C>EFUL1 /RATEGIC ?9K+0 & ABSOLUTE SUBMISSIV5ESS4 ,IT'S A F\NDATIONAL PO9T ?AT ,I MYSELF HAVE EMPHASIZ$ TO ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN /UD5TS ,B,S'+ !IR BRAVADO & ?AT IS ! TOPIC ( 0! CONV]SATION0 HELD BY MILLIONS ( ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN P>5TS ) !IR TE5AGE OR Y\NG] *ILDR54 ,?AT IS ,COATES' KEY PO9T4 

,! PO9T ALSO HAS A BASIC WEAKNESS3 ,AS ,COATES PRES5TS ?+S1 ONLY & SOLELY ,BLACK PEOPLE >E T>GET$ 9 ?IS WAY & ONLY & SOLELY !Y W5T ?R\< ! HI/ORY ( 0PLUND]0 ALREADY M5TION$4 ,ASIDE FROM ONE UNEXPLA9$ REF]5CE TO ,AN?ONY ,BAEZ 7DI$ 9 #aiid AFT] BE+ PLAC$ 9 A *OKEHOLD BY ,NEW ,YORK POLICE71 ,COATES NEV] M5TIONS ! 5DANG]$ ,HISPANIC BODY1 /REET PEOPLE'S BODIES1 HOMELESS & DI/URB$ PEOPLE'S & Y\NG :ITE PEOPLE'S BODIES2 HE NEV] M5TIONS ! EXPLOITATION ( O!RS BESIDES ,BLACK PEOPLE2 HE EXPLA9S :AT HE CALLS 0! KILL+ FIELDS0 ( 7ONLY7 ,BLACK NEI<BORHOODS ONLY & SOLELY ?R\< ! HI/ORY ( ,AFRICANS 9 ,AM]ICA--OMISSIONS ?AT >E RELAT$ TO HIS UND]LY+1 MU*-MODIFI$ ,BLACK ,NATIONALISM1 DISCUSS$ LAT]4 

,F9ALLY ON ?IS PO9T1 ,COATES CAN BE IRRESPONSIBLE 9 MATT]S ( FACT4 ,HIS MA9 /ORY ( POLICE KILL+ IS ( ,PR9CE ,C>M5 ,JONES1 A FRI5D FROM HIS ,H[>D ,UNIV]SITY DAYS :O WAS LAT] 7#b7 FOLL[$ & %OT BY AN UND]COV] POLICE (FIC] 7#g#e-#h#e1 #a#c#e-#e#a2 SEE ALSO ,WA%+TON ,PO/ ,JAN4 #a#i1 #b#f2 ONL9E3 SE>* 0,PR9CE ,JONES0"40,WA%+TON ,PO/074 ,AS F> AS ,I CAN TELL FROM LIMIT$ *ECK+1 ?IS /ORY IS FACTUALLY CORRECT & TRUE1 & IT C>RIES ! MA9 WEI<T ( ,COATES' PRES5TATION4 ,BUT ,COATES ALSO REF]S BRIEFLY1 & 9ACCURATELY1 TO ! NONPOLICE KILL+ ( ,JORDAN ,DAVIS1 ! TE5AG] %OT 9 A ,FLORIDA GAS /ATION P>K+ >EA 9 #bab BY A :ITE MAN1 ,MI*AEL ,DUNN1 AFT] AN ESCALAT+ >GUM5T OV] L\D HIPHOP MUSIC4 ,AT ,DUNN'S TRIAL 9 ,FEBRU>Y #b#a#d1 ! JURY DEADLOCK$ ON FIR/-DEGREE MURD] BUT CONVICT$ ,DUNN ON F\R LESS] C\NTS = %OOT+ 9TO ! C> ,DAVIS WAS RID+ 9 ) ?REE FRI5DS4 ,COATES' SUMM>Y IS3 0,DE/ROY+ ! BLACK BODY WAS P]MISSIBLE--BUT IT W\LD BE BETT] TO DO IT EFFICI5TLY0 7#a#a#b74 ,BUT ,COATES NEV] M5TIONS ?AT AT RETRIAL ON ! MURD] *>GE 7,SEPT4-,OCT4 #b#a#d71 ,DUNN WAS CONVICT$ ( FIR/-DEGREE MURD] & S5T5C$ TO LIFE )\T P>OLE 7PLUS #i YE>S ON ! PREVI\SLY-DECID$ *>GES74 ,ALL ?IS HAPP5$ N9E MON?S BE=E ,COATES' BOOK WAS PUBLI%$ 9 ,JULY #b#a#e4 ,I DON'T ?9K ,COATES SUPPRESS$ FACTS 9T5TIONALLY2 ,I DO ?9K ?AT1 SATISFI$ BY HIS [N GLIB EXPLANATION & NEV] EXPECT+ A CONVICTION1 HE NEV] FOLL[$ UP4 ,BUT ?IS IS NOT S]I\S J\RNALISM1 ON ! P>T ( A R5[N$ J\RNALI/4 

0,! ,DREAM0 & 0! ,DREAM]S0 

  

,COATES' SECOND MAJOR IDEA1 %AP+ ! :OLE BOOK1 IS ?AT ( :AT HE CALLS 0! ,DREAM0 & 0! ,DREAM]S0 7#a#a1 #b-#b#a1 #a#a#a1 & LAT]71 OBVI\SLY REF]R+ TO ! 0,AM]ICAN DREAM10 :I* ,COATES SEES AS A :ITE DREAM1 OR ?AT ( 0?OSE ,AM]ICANS :O ?9K !Y >E :ITE0 7#f71 & A W>N+ TO ,BLACK ,AM]ICANS NOT TO %>E IT4 0,! ,DREAM ( ACT+ :ITE1 ( TALK+ :ITE1 ( BE+ :ITE10 HE W>NS HIS SON1 0MURD]$ ,PR9CE ,JONES AS SURE AS IT MURD]S BLACK PEOPLE 9 ,*ICAGO4444 ,DO NOT DR9K FROM POISON0 7#a#a#a74 ,COATES' VIEW ( 0! ,DREAM0 IS AN EXPANSIVE1 ALMO/ UTOPIAN V]SION ( ,AM]ICAN MAT]IAL PROSP]ITY3 ,! ,DREAM IS 0P]FECT H\SES ) NICE LAWNS4 ,IT IS ,MEMORIAL ,DAY COOK\TS1 BLOCK ASSOCIATIONS1 & DRIVEWAYS10 & MU* MORE ALONG ?OSE L9ES1 BUT = ,BLACK PEOPLE1 IT 0HAS NEV] BE5 AN OPTION BECAUSE ! ,DREAM RE/S ON \R BACKS0 7#a#a74 ,COATES REPEATS & V>IES ?IS IMAG]Y ( SUBURBAN PROSP]ITY MANY TIMES LAT]1 :ILE1 AS ,I'LL DISCUSS1 HE DOESN'T 9CLUDE ANY?+ AB\T ,AM]ICAN IDEALS ( FRE$OM OR ! LIKE4 

,?IS IDEA1 LIKE ,COATES' PICTURE ( ! 5DANG]$ ,BLACK BODY1 HAS TWO SIDES4 ,ON ONE1 IT'S CLE> ?AT ,U4,S4 WEAL? HAS BE5 BUILT BY ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN LABOR 7& ?AT ( O!R M9ORITIES & POOR :ITES1 ?\< ,COATES NEV] SAYS SO7 & ?AT ! GREAT MAJORITY ( ?OSE :O BELIEVE 9 ,AM]ICAN PROMISES REMA9 OBLIVI\S TO ?IS FACT--UNAW>E1 AW>E BUT 9DIFF]5T1 OR APPROV+4 ,?IS IS :AT ,BALDW91 9 T]MS ,COATES E*OES 7ABOVE7 CALLS ,AM]ICAN 09NOC5CE0 7,FIRE ,NEXT ,TIME #f71 ALWAYS A T]M ( CRITICISM = HIM4 ,ON ! O!R SIDE1 ,COATES NEV] MAKES CLE> :E!R 0! ,DREAM10 AS A PICTURE ( H[ ! RE/ ( ,AM]ICA REALLY LIVES1 IS A *ILDHOOD IMAGE FROM ,T,V 7SEE #b7 OR AN ADULT REALITY1 AS :5 HE SAYS ?AT 0! ,DREAM]S >E PILLAG+ ,F]GUSON = MUNICIPAL GOV]NANCE0 7#a#c#a74 ,HE NEV] DI/+UI%ES BETWE5 :ITE RUL]S & ! RE/ ( ! GR\P1 SAY+ ( ! ,DREAM]S1 0,!Y HAVE =GOTT5 ! SCALE ( !FT ?AT 5RI*$ !M 9 SLAV]Y2 ! T]ROR ?AT ALL[$ !M1 = A C5TURY1 TO PILF] ! VOTE2 ! SEGREGATIONI/ POLICY ?AT GAVE !M !IR SUBURBS0 7#a#d#c74 ,MO/ PROBABLY HE DOES MEAN ALL :ITES4 

,SO1 F9ALLY1 ,COATES NEV] REF]S ANY:]E TO ! :ITE1 ,MEXICAN1 & O!R EXPLOIT$ LABOR ?AT ALSO BUILT UP ! C\NTRY OR TO ! FACT ?AT MILLIONS ( !SE PEOPLE1 TODAY1 DO NOT LIVE 9 0P]FECT H\SES ) NICE LAWNS0 7#a#a71 BUT /RUGGLE 9 L[-PAY+ JOBS1 OR ON WELF>E1 OR DISABILITY--LIKE ! #b PEOPLE1 ALMO/ ALL :ITE1 MO/LY UNEMPLOY$ OR DISABL$1 :O WAIT$ 9 L9E AFT] L9E AT A FREE \TDOOR M$ICAL CL9IC 9 ,WISE1 ,VIRG9IA1 OV] A REC5T BOIL+ SUMM] WEEK5D 7,NEW ,YORK ,TIMES ,JULY #b#d1 #b#a#g74 ,COATES MI<T SAY IT'S !SE PEOPLE'S FAULT = BELIEV+ 9 0! ,DREAM10 & ONE CAN C]TA9LY NOTE ! RACISM BEH9D REG>D+ ,BLACK CRACK ADDICTS 9 ! #a#i#hS AS MON/]S & :ITE WORK+ CLASS OPIOID ADDICTS TODAY AS WAYW>D ,AM]ICANS4 ,BO? TRUE1 BUT ,COATES NEV] ADMITS ?AT !SE PEOPLE EXI/1 & SO IS OV]SIMPLIFY+ 9 A WAY A S]I\S WRIT] %\LD NOT4 

,MORE BROADLY1 ,COATES' PICTURE ( 0! ,DREAM10 AS MY QUOTATIONS 9DICATE1 IS ONLY ( A DREAM ( MAT]IAL WEAL?1 NEV] ONE ( RI<TS1 DEMOCRACY1 FRE$OM1 SOCIAL TRANS=MATION1 9CLUSIV5ESS1 &1 YES1 ANTI-RACISM1 IDEALS ,COATES W\LD PROBABLY REG>D AS EMPTY RHETORIC4 ,& HE NEV] ACKN[L$GES ! C\NT]-TR5DS TO 0! ,DREAM0 AMONG :ITES & O!RS1 ! ?READS ( ECONOMIC & MORAL RADICALISM ?AT PRODUC$ ! ,ABOLITIONI/S 7EASY TO CRITICIZE TODAY1 BUT UNIV]SALLY SE5 BY ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS ( !IR TIME AS H]OES & M>TYRS71 ! ,I,W,W & SOCIALI/ & LABOR RADICALISM FROM ! #a#h#hS TO #a#i#dS 7(T5 RACI/1 IT IS TRUE71 OR ! CIVIL RI<TS & ANTIW> MOVEM5TS ( ! #a#i#fS4 ,COATES REF]S TO ! CIVIL RI<TS WORK]S SEV]AL TIMES 7MI/AK+ !IR WILL+NESS TO SUFF] AS A BELIEF ?AT SUFF]+ IS 5NOBL+1 :I* HE REJECTS71 BUT OMITS OR DISC\NTS ! BROAD IDEAS ( CREAT+ A NEW WORLD ?AT DROVE MU* ( ! CULTURE ( ?AT TIME4 

,BLACK ,ID5TITY 9 ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES 

  

,! LA/ MAJOR PO9T ,COATES RAISES IS AB\T ,BLACK ,AM]ICANS' RI<TFUL PLACE 9 ,AM]ICA1 AS WELL AS 9 ! WORLD4 ,9 CONTRA/ TO IDEALS ( ,BLACK SEP>ATISM OR EMIGRATION 9 ! PA/1 ,COATES /ATES ?IS PLACE AS A FUNDAM5TAL FACT3 0,:AT ,I TOLD Y\10 HE SAYS TO ,SAMORI1 HIS SON1 REF]R+ TO A CONV]SATION AB\T ,]IC ,G>N] 7#b#a#d71 0IS :AT Y\R GR&P>5TS TRI$ TO TELL ME3 ?AT ?IS IS Y\R C\NTRY1 ?AT ?IS IS Y\R WORLD1 ?AT ?IS IS Y\R BODY1 & Y\ MU/ F9D SOME WAY TO LIVE )9 ! ALL ( IT0 7#a#a-#a#b74 ,?IS IS TRUE & MOV+1 & ON ?IS ISSUE1 ,BLACK PEOPLE'S PLACES & HOPES 7OR LACK ( !M7 9 ! ,U4,S41 ,COATES' DISCUSSION ISN'T M>K$ BY A PATT]N ( TRU? & OMISSION1 AS ON ! ISSUES M5TION$ ABOVE1 BUT BY ! REAL1 & FUNDAM5TAL1 QUE/IONS HIS VISION RAISES4 

,! ADVICE TO ,SAMORI IS 9 P>T ! RESULT ( AN 9TELLECTUAL ODYSSEY ?AT ,COATES SUMM>IZES 9 A MAJOR SECTION 7#b#a-#g#a71 :I* TOOK HIM FROM A ,BLACK ,NATIONALI/ H\SEHOLD 9 ,WE/ ,BALTIMORE TO ,H[>D ,UNIV]SITY 9 ! #a#i#iS1 A PLACE HE ALMO/ ALWAYS CALLS1 ) CAPITALS1 0,! ,MECCA0 7#a#d & LAT]7 & !N \T 9TO ! WORLD1 & FROM A NAIVE ,AFRICANISM TO A BROAD] HUMANISM1 :ILE LEAV+ HIS WORLD-PICTURE *ANG$ BUT CONSI/5T 9 BASICS4 ,?AT PICTURE MOVES FROM SEE+ ,AFRICA & ITS CULTURES AS A LO/ IDEAL TO SEE+ ,BLACK ,AM]ICANS AS A GR\P TORN FROM ,AFRICA TO BECOME1 H]E1 A PEOPLE SELF-CREAT$ 9 & UNIQUE TO ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES4 0,!Y MADE US 9TO A RACE10 ,COATES SAYS ( :ITE ,AM]ICANS & ! ,U4,S4 SY/EM 9 ! BOOK'S CONCLUSION4 0,WE MADE \RSELVES 9TO A PEOPLE4444 .<,WE.> HAVE VOYAG$ ?R\< DEA?1 TO LIFE UPON !SE %ORES0 7#a#d#i74 

,! CONCLUSIONS ,COATES DRAWS FROM ?IS VISION--ESS5TIALLY1 ONE ( ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS AS A PEOPLE 9 BUT NOT ( ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES1 A PEOPLE DESPITE ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES-->E HIS [N4 ,HE REJECTS AS WI%FUL ?9K+ ! R$EMPTIVE VISION ?AT ANIMAT$ ! ,CIVIL ,RI<TS MOVEM5T &1 9 ,! ,FIRE ,NEXT ,TIME1 ,BALDW91 :O SAID1 9 ! CONCLUSION TO ?AT WORK1 0,IF WE444DO NOT FALT] 9 \R DUTY N[1 WE MAY BE ABLE1 H&FUL ?AT WE >E1 TO 5D ! RACIAL NI<TM>E1 & A*IEVE \R C\NTRY1 & *ANGE ! HI/ORY ( ! WORLD0 7,FIRE #a#e74 ,COATES1 9 CONTRA/1 AS NOT$ E>LI]1 BELIEVES ! C\NTRY WILL RETURN TO ! 0DEFAULT SETT+0 ( VIOL5CE AGA9/ ,BLACK PEOPLE 0LIKELY TO ! 5D ( \R DAYS0 7#a#a#a74 ,REF]R+ TO ,K+'S WORDS 7P>APHRAS+ ,!ODORE ,P>K]71 0,! >C ( ! MORAL UNIV]SE IS LONG1 BUT IT B5DS T[>D JU/ICE10 ,COATES C\NT]S BY TELL+ HIS SON ?AT 9 HIS EXP]I5CE1 0ITS MORAL >C B5T T[>D *AOS !N CONCLUD$ 9 A BOX0 7#b#h71 & HE CAUTIONS1 0,Y\ MU/ RESI/ ! COMMON URGE T[>D ! COM=T+ N>RATIVE ( DIV9E LAW0 7#g71 AN 9DIRECT DISAGREEM5T BO? ) ,K+ & ) ,BALDW91 :O (T5 US$ BIBLICAL & ,GOSPEL MUSIC PROMISES 9 HIS WORKS4 

,COATES DIFF]S NOT ONLY FROM ,K+ & ,BALDW91 BUT FROM ! TRADITIONAL ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN IDEA ( COMMUNITY ADVANCEM5T OV] TIME1 :AT MI<T BE CALL$ A TRADITIONAL ,BLACK /RATEGY = FRE$OM2 & YET1 HIS IDEAS 7IT SEEMS TO ME7 DOVETAIL ) A LOT ( ! ?9K+ ( Y\NG] ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS TODAY1 SU* AS ?OSE ,I TEA*4 ,?IS IS WOR? SOME DISCUSSION4 ,9 ITS POLITICAL DIM5SION1 ! 0BLACK /RATEGY = FRE$OM0 JU/ M5TION$ HAS ONLY R>ELY BE5 ONE ( REVOLUTION>Y *ANGE1 BUT MO/ (T5 HAS BE5 ONE ( APPROPRIAT+ IDEAS FROM ! ,U4,S4 ,DECL>ATION ( ,9DEP5D5CE & ,CON/ITUTION AS TOOLS ( /RUGGLE1 A /RATEGY 9 USE FROM ,D\GLASS 9 ! #a#h#eS TO ,BR[N VS4 ,BO>D ( ,$UCATION 9 #a#i#e#d1 & BEYOND4 ,9 ITS MORE FUNDAM5TAL COMMUNITY S5SE1 ?IS 0/RATEGY = FRE$OM0 HAS BE5 A /RUGGLE TO LEAVE EA* NEXT G5]ATION A LITTLE FRE]1 ) MORE ( AN ECONOMIC & POLITICAL TOEHOLD 9 SOCIETY1 ?AN ! LA/1 &1 ALONG ) !SE EF=TS1 A COMMUNITY ATTITUDE V>Y+ FROM A W>Y1 EMBITT]$ OPTIMISM TO A DET]M9ATION TO 0KEEP ON KEEP+ ON40 

,COATES DOESN'T BELIEVE 9 ANY SU* OPTIMISM AB\T A*IEV+ RI<TS-- ,PR9CE ,JONES IS HIS ANSW] TO ?AT BELIEF4 ,IF HE BELIEVES 9 ANY?+1 IT IS ! PREC>I\S SURVIVAL ( ! EMBATTL$ ,BLACK BEAUTY HE CELEBRATES 9 HIS EVOCATION ( BECOM+ A PEOPLE4 ,&1 SO F> AS ,I CAN TELL FROM ! LIMIT$ SAMPLE ( MY [N /UD5TS1 MANY ( TODAY'S ,BLACK Y\? ALSO DON'T %>E EI!R R$EMPTIVE VISIONS ( FULL FRE$OM--:I* !Y MAY F9D DIFFICULT EV5 TO GRASP 9 #b#a#g--OR IDEAS ( F9D+ FULL] RI<TS OV] TIME4 ,RA!R1 FIFTY YE>S AFT] ! /ALL$ & ULTIMATELY HALT$ CIVIL RI<TS REVOLUTION1 ) JOBS & BETT]M5T ALSO /ALL$1 & ALMO/ NO JU/ICE 9 ! LONG *A9 ( POLICE & O!R KILL+S S9CE ,TRAYVON ,M>T91 MANY SEEM TO BELIEVE 9 A FUTURE ?AT WILL NOT *ANGE 9 ANY BASIC WAY1 9 :I* !Y & !IR *ILDR5 WILL SEEK TO LIVE 9 DIGNITY & P]HAPS GA9 AN IMPROV$ SOCIAL POSITION--BUT NOT REAL RI<TS--& WILL REMA9 PREP>$ TO FI<T DISCRIM9ATION1 BUT WILL NEV] BE TRULY EQUAL OR FREE4 ,SO1 IF ?IS SKET* IS AT ALL ACCURATE1 MANY FEEL AS ,COATES ALSO DOES4 ,IT IS ?IS FACT AB\T ! Y\?1 9 MY EYES1 ?AT MAKES ,COATES' DIS5*ANTM5T AB\T GREAT] FRE$OM TRULY SIGNIFICANT4 

,I MYSELF BELIEVE 9 A V]SION ( ,BALDW9'S VISION2 ?AT IS1 ,I BELIEVE 9 AN AN>*I/ VISION ?AT IT IS POSSIBLE = ORD9>Y PEOPLE--IF !Y TOO BELIEVE 9 ! POSSIBILITY--TO JO9 TOGE!R ACROSS RACE1 ACROSS G5D] & SEXUALITY1 & ACROSS BORD]S1 & TO REBUILD ! WORLD4 ,BUT ! *ALL5GE = ! AN>*I/ VISION IS TO %[ ?AT IT IS ANY?+ MORE ?AN :AT MO/ WELL-9T5TION$ PEOPLE SEE IT AS1 AN UNREALIZABLE IDEAL4 ,I BELIEVE IT IS MORE1 BUT MY BELIEF IS A MATT] ( MORAL HOPE1 NOT EVID5CE1 & SO ,COATES MU/ BE ALL[$ HIS CONTR>Y VISION1 ) ALL ! PROBLEMS & OMISSIONS 9 HIS PRES5TATION2 ESPECIALLY AS IT CORRESPONDS SO CLOSELY TO ?AT ( AT LEA/ SOME ( TODAY'S ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN Y\?4 

7,S\RCE3 ,RETRIEV$ ON #a#a? ,AUGU/ #bba FROM UTOPIANMAG4COM47 

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,JANU>Y #a#g1 #bbb 3 ,REFLECTIONS ON ,TA-,NEHISI ,COATES' ,BETWE5 ! ,WORLD & ,ME -- ,ADD$4 

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