Between the World and Me 2

In the second part of Ta-Nehisi Coates's Between the World and Me he discusses the tragic shooting of Prince Jones whom was killed by police. He goes on by saying how angry and sad he is and how even in church surrounded by comfort and prayer, he felt none of this. He was very confused and disappointed in the actions of what took place. Additionally, he goes on by discussing how the role of the victim and the role of the police officer were portrayed based on their bodies. He says that without question, the officer wasn't charged or questioned with anything. It was a highly racialized process that took place and all of the victimization went towards the police officer. Last time in class we discussed some important topics pertaining to the book and I chose the idea of body and fear and how they go hand in hand. Coates says that race, being bone deep features, and racism is society's way to categorize them and make it less of a biology and more of a hierarchy. He says, "The reality of race as a defined, indubitable feature of the natural world. Racism- the need to ascribe bone-deep features to people and then humiliate, reduce, and destroy them. Inevitable follows from this inalterable condition" (7). The idea that, race and racism has never been about biology and much like hierarchy and that also brings up the point of fear. That, just based off of this idea of who you are, society will categorize you in that way. It is highly upsetting and the way that the crime went down, is a terrifying thing.

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