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Coates reflects on his own experiences as a black man in America from "summary" of Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
In America, the black body is vulnerable. It is vulnerable to the violence that is ingrained in the history of this country. From the days of slavery to the present day, the black body has been subjected to violence and oppression. This violence is not just physical, but also psychological and emotional. It is a violence that affects every aspect of a black person's life. Growing up in America as a black man, I have experienced this violence firsthand. I have felt the weight of racism on my shoulders, the constant fear of being seen as a threat simply because of the color of my skin. I have seen how society views me, how it dehumanizes me, how it reduces me to a stereotype. I have felt the anger and frustration that comes with knowing that no matter what I do, I will never be seen as equal. Despite this, I have learned to survive. I have learned to navigate a world that is not built for me. I have learned to protect myself, to guard my body and my mind from the violence that surrounds me. I have learned to find strength in my community, in the shared experiences of other black people who understand what it means to live in a country that does not value their lives. But even as I navigate this world, I am constantly reminded of the fragility of my existence. I am reminded of the countless black lives that have been lost to violence, of the families that have been torn apart, of the communities that have been devastated. I am reminded that no matter how hard I try, I can never escape the reality of being a black man in America. So I write this letter, not just to my son, but to all black people who must navigate this world. I write this letter to bear witness to our experiences, to acknowledge the pain and the struggle that we face every day. I write this letter to remind us that despite the violence and the oppression, we are still here. We are still fighting. And as long as we have each other, we will continue to resist, to survive, to thrive.
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