Another book from work's book club.
This book is a letter from black American journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates to his son. It talks about his life and the injustice of America to black people. It does so viscerally - makes it clear that in the end, it's about violence, about permanent fear that the police will kill you with impunity.
It's a journey through Coates's life, powerfully told. It covers the events of his life, and his struggle to come up with a coherent philosophy. It made me think about things from a different angle. He highlights how strange it is that America builds up MLK as a hero so much, sets up as role models people who are beaten and killed rather than fight back against violence with violence. How convenient this kind of message is to those in positions of privilege!
It's not a terribly hopeful book. It doesn't give up, it wants to fight on, but victory is not near.
Posted 2018-03-14.