Blog 2

In this section of the book, you start to see more of what molded the author when he was growing up. He talked about the school system and how it was a joke. I have no idea what schools were like where he grew up, but I could believe that they didn't help save kids from the streets as much as most people thought. He also talked about the people that influenced him growing up. Since his dad always encouraged him to read, a lot of his role models were black authors. Coates said that the library was where he most felt free. I think that is so important to figure out when you are growing up. Finding what it is that makes you feel the most like you, because it is different for everyone. It meant a lot to him.

One of Coates' biggest role models growing up was Malcom X. A lot of the reason for this is because Malcom X was everything that Coates wished he could be. Everyone has a role model like that. This reading is where I feel like I have connected with Coates the most because no matter how differently we grew up, there are still some things inside of us that aren't all that different. I liked that. Hopefully I can keep some of this connection as Coates further explains his great desire of trying to get to the bottom of how all of this oppression came to be.