In this reading from Between the World and Me, Coates continues to search for his identity as a black man in the United States. As he continues to struggle with owning his body, Coates realizes that he himself had taken part in "plundering" the livelihoods of other minority groups. Coates writes, "But perhaps I too had the capacity for plunder, maybe I would taken another human's body to confirm myself in a community. Perhaps I already had. Hate gives identity." Coates finds himself in a situation where his stereotypes and treatment of the LGBT+ community confronts him. As he begins to fall in love with a woman whose identity lies within the LGBT+ community, he understands his previous ignorant and hateful behavior. He states that his hatred "illuminates the dream of being white, of being a man."
Coates realization of his own hatred towards a minority group, though he himself identifies as a minority, illuminates the deep complexity of prejudice. Coates' statement that his hatred was fueled by the dream of being white and being a man shows how powerful the current hierarchical structures are in the United States. Because society is so biased towards the white man's experience, even groups that have experienced persecution from white men resort to prejudice themselves. When struggling to find ones identity and place within society, Coates found it easy to isolate and hate other groups in order to elevate himself. However, when Coates' began to engage with members of the LGBT+ community, he understood the importance of "seeing" people.
Coates' story serves as a powerful reminder for me to begin to truly "see" people. It can sometimes be easy for me to resort to stereotypes of certain groups because of the culture and media surrounding me. Coates has shown me the importance of putting faces to the names and the stories that span headlines. By taking time to get to know people for every aspect of who they are, not just the harmful stereotypes, I can begin the process of empathy and healing which is desperately needed.
Coates realization of his own hatred towards a minority group, though he himself identifies as a minority, illuminates the deep complexity of prejudice. Coates' statement that his hatred was fueled by the dream of being white and being a man shows how powerful the current hierarchical structures are in the United States. Because society is so biased towards the white man's experience, even groups that have experienced persecution from white men resort to prejudice themselves. When struggling to find ones identity and place within society, Coates found it easy to isolate and hate other groups in order to elevate himself. However, when Coates' began to engage with members of the LGBT+ community, he understood the importance of "seeing" people.
Coates' story serves as a powerful reminder for me to begin to truly "see" people. It can sometimes be easy for me to resort to stereotypes of certain groups because of the culture and media surrounding me. Coates has shown me the importance of putting faces to the names and the stories that span headlines. By taking time to get to know people for every aspect of who they are, not just the harmful stereotypes, I can begin the process of empathy and healing which is desperately needed.
I liked what you said about needing to "truly see" those around us. I think that it is just so easy for us to fall into seeing minorities in a way that has been portrayed to us through the media or our parents, or some other sources, that we have prejudices without even really realizing it or meaning to. I think it is important for us to all constantly remind ourselves to see a person for who they really are, not what outside sources have lead us to believe about them just because of their race.
ReplyDeleteI would comply agree that Coates story is a very powerful reminder that everyone one should see people for who they are rather than just stereotyping people. Also, I completely agree that it is very easy for us to resort back to following into stereotype people. I struggle with it on a daily basis, and I comply agree that it is due to our culture and media that surrounds us.
ReplyDeleteYes! I hope you continue to learn to embrace the goal of being vulnerable and risk taking for the sake of knowing others better. We are constantly battling between being comfortable and actually growing. I'm thankful you're seeing the value in diverse relationships.
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