Black Panther By Ta-Nehisi Coates: Thematic Analysis

Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution is one of the most

Ta-Nehisi Coates is a well-known author, journalist and educator. He supports African Americans and understands the black struggle. In the book, “Between the World and Me” by Coates, he delves into his journey as a child, explaining occurrences that lead him to his ending conclusion, being an African American is being placed at a disadvantage. The most powerful message sent is when he unleashes the theory about African Americans that states we are living in fear. Coates makes these connections through African Americans’ clothes, their ongoing disputes on “the streets”, and the beatings that the youths receive from their parents.

Police brutality is such an important topic for Black Americans, especially during present times. The great discussion about police brutality becomes heavily accomodated in America due to the heavy terror being carried out by white police officers against unarmed, Black Americans. “The officer carries with him the power of the American state, and the weight of American legacy, and they necessitate that of the bodies destroyed every year, some wild and disproportionate number of them will be black” (Coates). In distinction to the quote, corrupt police officers take the role of “America”, and the violence brought on to African Americans symbolizes the perpetual mistreatment of us living here in America. I think Coates was strong and symbolic when he discussed police brutality.

He discusses the stereotypes and perceptions that bleed fear and justify violence against Black individuals. Coates shows how people don't want to be associated with the black race because of just how much hatred and inequality shown towards them, making them lose their roots "People who believe they are white are obsessed with the politics of personal exoneration. And the word racist, to them, conjures, if not a tobacco-spitting oaf, then something just as fantastic—a strutting goof in a white robe" (Page 116) this quote shows how the few people who benefit from white privilege, basically flip sides turning into the racist and leaving their race

Many people forget that African Americans in this country have been enslaved for longer than they have been free. Coates reminds his son to not forget their important history and that they will continuously struggle for freedom over their own bodies. They must learn to live within a black body. These struggles can be seen in the racial profiling and brutality among police officers in cases such as Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, and countless of others. He goes on to describe his childhood and how fear was the root of black existence.

Even just by reading pages 5-12, I can tell that Ta-Nehisi Coates is a good writer because his essay is highly thoughtful and provocative, and the well-written narrative provides lots of powerful examples to depicts the racial struggle in the U.S. He told his son, “You must always remember that the sociology, the history, the economics, the graphs, the charts, the regression all land, with great violence, upon the body.” The concept of violence upon the body appears on every important point of my reading. This is more powerful than the examples of law enforcement and black Americans because it leads the reader to truly see the the fears provoked.

Honesty is essential in the quest for freedom. In Between the World and Me, Coates tells his son the truth, without fear, without repression, and without appeasement. Coates doesn’t write as a spokesperson for the black community, but he writes knowing that he will be a spokesperson not matter where he is or what he does. This a reality black people must deal with every day. Coates uses the language he does not because of the fact that it will be read as more than his words, but because they are his words regardless.

Black men fighting for a country that does not treat the way they should be treated also a belief that party demands from the government. They are convinced that black men should “not be forced to fight in the military service to defend a racist government that does not protect us” (Black Panther) because it is unfair to African Americans to fight when they are not respected for their color of their skin.

Dissertation First Chapter Draft: Violence between BP and different groups (US and Blackstone Rangers) and my argument that it revealed a lack of structure of control in the federal government and a disregard for federal and constitutional law by the FBI: On September 9, 1968, Director Hoover wrote in the pages of the New York Times, that the Panther’s are regarded as “the greatest [single] threat to the internal security of the country”, Hoover’s intention in this was to increase the tension and instability that had been sown in the ranks of the Black Panther’s even since the initiation of COINTELPRO-Black Hate in 1967. Hoover, and in effect the FBI, wished to create social unrest, part of this unrest was the incitement of violence between

In this article, Coates provides great examples of the strengths of his writing. He uses profound language and vocabulary to further explain the claims he makes while providing a detailed picture for the audience. He uses the primary source of the racism that Clyde Ross experienced. Coates focuses on sharing Ross’s story in this article displaying the true horror African Americans endured during this time. Because Coates does a great job of describing the situation Clyde Ross found himself in, it is difficult to argue against his point that reparations should be made.

“How Enfranchisement Stops Lynchings” by Ida B. Wells is an Investigative Article that aims to encourage individuals to protect the constitutional rights of black people. The Black Panther Party's “10-Point Program” is a list of demands aimed to highlight the criminal injustices and disparities black Americans face from the government, and to call other minorities to defend their rights. While “How Enfranchisement Stops Lynchings” uses Logos to state facts to support her argument and urge for government action. The Black Panther Parties' “10-Point Program” uses the authorial choice of historical reference to highlight the hypocrisy of the American Government. Both texts aim to promote racial justice and equity to influence their audience to

The Black Panther: A Nation Under Our Feet, Volume 1, written by Ta-Nehisi Coates, provides a detailed exploration of the society of Wakanda, exposing its problems with the monarchy that governs it. Despite Wakanda being the most technologically advanced society, it has obvious domestic issues that haven’t been addressed. T'Challa, the king of Wakanda, faces backlash from his own people because they do not believe in his leadership. To address these issues, it is necessary to implement a representative democracy, where people have a say in the decision-making process. Limiting T’Challa's power would help cease the rebellion and promote peace in Wakanda.

Remember: “Nothing about the world is meant to be.” Rogers critiques Coates’s book and ideology because there is no solution to the problem, and there is no possibility for change, which Rogers believes to be dangerous. According to Rogers, another fallacy in Coates’s writing is “For Coates, white supremacy does not merely structure reality; it is reality.” Further explaining that believing in white supremacy as the natural order of the United States closes the possibility for a path for change because it is unchangeable and therefore established. Though believing in the possibility of change, Rogers then asks, “what of those young protestors in the streets of Ferguson, Chicago, New York, and Charleston?”

This altercation started when Coates became bored and disruptive in the class where it led to law enforcement being present to have more control of the situation (Coates 2008, pg. 141). Although Coates was a very bright intellectual, it is obvious to see that he was not present when in class but was very engaged with the world of books and music, outside of the classroom. Young Coates was not aware of the power of “knowledge” alone. He did not understand that without “conscious” of what is to be fought for. His mind was more focus on the lust for making his mark that he had not considered society’s view of a black male and where the origin of fear

The Case for Reparations by Ta-Nehisi Coates is an article issue in June 2014. The article is about discrimination, segregation, and racism toward black Americans. Two and a half centuries ago American success was built on slavery. And in present day African American are being discriminated for the color of their skin that even now the wound that black Americans face in their daily life has never been healed or fully atoned for. In this article Ta-Nehisi Coates discusses the struggle African American went through and all the hard time they face in their daily