Between the World and Me

To be honest, it has taken me days to write the review for this book. I have been writing and erasing. The topic is so big and so deep. Finally after almost a week here is the book review.

Between the World and Me is a short read, around 150 pages. It is one of those books which demands complete silence and attention when reading as the subject is so deep, Racism.

Written as a letter to his son, Ta-Nehisi Coates tells the story of African-American Racism. He starts by telling how he was treated growing up which is scary and depressing. The frustration and pain in his words is so honest that it feels like a knife cutting you somewhere deep inside. There is fear, there is discrimination and above all there is violence. It hurts to read what he, as a kid growing up in America had to face and how things haven't improved much.

The author does not provide any answer to the problem. He does not sugar coat and say things are getting better. He presents the reality as it is, bitter, brutal and bleak. When you read it, you realize that this is a big problem. Racism already has its deep footing in America and if something is not done about it, we will suffer more.

An outstanding read, this book should be read from a much broader perspective. Unlike books which promise hope and optimism, this book offers none, in fact there is pure bleakness and depression. When the subject is so dark itself, how can you expect something cheerful. Though it is a bleak read the message is powerful and needs to be understood.