Blog #6

This section of the book is sort of where Coates reflects on everything he said and everything he feared. He fears lots of things, but he has learned to accept these things as part of the life of a black man. Life for him comes with so many disadvantages compared to mine. I have the ability to go through life on a level playing field. When I go places, I can blend in because most people are just like me. Coates has the disadvantage of sticking out wherever he goes, and there are more people watching him and judging his every move. These are problems, and the sad part while reading this book as Coates didn't have much hope for these problems. He mentioned that our parameters used to be limited by technology, but we have since conquered that. I think what he was getting at was that now our parameters are now limited by ourselves. Humans have invented many amazing things throughout history to help make everyday life easier. However, solving problems that we have with each other is far more complicated.

The feeling of hopelessness throughout this book is a common theme that keeps reappearing. Coates is telling his son about the realities that he will, without a doubt face someday. One thing I thought he might come up with at they end would be some sort of hope or theory that would help unify us all. However, Coates doesn't really doesn't do that. I do not blame him either. I don't think it's really a solution he could come up with if he wanted to. The solution has to start with us, looking in the mirror. Then, maybe someday, we can realize that we're not so different after all, especially in the eyes of our Lord

Blog 5

In this section, Coates talks a lot about the shooting of Prince Jones. He talked about how it all went down and how everything didn't add up to be justified. From the cop's reason for shooting him to the reason he was being followed in the first place, there was no good explanation for any of it.

Throughout everything that Coates says, I feel like what he is trying to get at is that life is so fragile. It can be here, molded and shaped for years, and then in an instant, it can be gone. He paints the picture of everything that could have been invested in Prince his whole life: all the miles to go to games, piano lessons, all the discipline, all the love. All of that can be spilled on the sidewalk in a few seconds.

The black community knows this far too well. They know that no matter how much they teach their children to be good, follow the rules, and respect authority, it might not even matter in the end. Who could expect to be shot by an under cover cop that followed you around dressed as a drug dealer and never showed is badge? There is never a feeling of safety, and that is so disheartening. In my head after I read this, I pictured a black father holding his new born son for the first time, and while there was a lot of joy in his heart, I couldn't help imagine there also being an overwhelming sense of fear as well knowing that his son could grow up someday to be another statistic. That mindset has to be the pinnacle of hopelessness.