Book Review: Between the World and Me

I had to read Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Between the World and Me twice, because the first time I was running to keep up. The second time, to digest what I was reading.
The first time, the fire of Coates’ language tore through me as it illuminated his analysis of the American culture that perpetuates systemic racism.
I had to read it twice, because I am part of the culture that Coates identifies as believing myself to be White.
Because I am a middle-aged man who has benefited and prospered because of White privilege.
Because I am desperate to understand where our country started from and how it continues to perpetrate systemic racism at its core.
Because I believe that Black Lives Matter, not because it is the cause du jour but because I cannot abide to participate in a society where imbalances – economic, sociologic, political, gender-oriented – are maintained as the status quo.
Because I am angry, and I can’t begin to comprehend the depth of anger and fear that People of Color experience on a visceral level, on a daily basis.
Because I have never experienced prejudice, except in response to my own ignorant actions.
Because I want our society to be inclusive, because all the myriad voices are our culture, and not simply which voices that those in Power permit to speak.
I read it twice because I am ignorant and don’t want to be ignorant anymore.
Because Coates is righteously enflamed, and because I need to pay attention.
Because the book matters.
Because Black lives matter.
Because Between the World and Me deserves to be read again and again.