Black Identity And The American Dream - 1756 Words

â€Å"The soul was the body that fed the tobacco, and the spirit was the blood that watered the cotton, and these created the first fruits of the American garden† (Coates 104). In Between the World and Me,† and within this quote alone, Ta-Nehisi Coates argued not only the importance of black identity, but also how and why black identity was so deceivingly shaped in response to the dark history behind it. Through Coates’ recollections and fair warnings to his son, the relationship between black identity and â€Å"The Dream† becomes clearer. In spite of the â€Å"white supremacist† trademark that comes stamped upon â€Å"The Dream,† Coates provides impermeable evidence as to why black identity is not only more invested in history than white identity, but more importantly why it is the investment to be made in â€Å"The American Dream.† The history of black identity is commonly associated with slavery, violence, and segregation. While Coat es brought these associations to the table aware of how unjust they were, he found that the more alarming correspondence lied within the reasons why. It is undeniable that history has given â€Å"blackness† various underlying connotations—impoverished, uneducated, and as being the â€Å"below of [the] country† (Coates 106). The influence began as early as the onset of the Civil War, when â€Å"stolen† black bodies were an accepted form of currency and even America’s finest leaders were experts of the trade (Coates 101). America became no stranger to destroying the black body in theShow MoreRelatedThe Idealistic Centerpiece of American Heritage Essay1492 Words   |  6 Pagesfinding an American identity due to the color of their skin and standard of living. The struggles of those that now called America home were on all platforms; social, economic, and cultural. Some were created more equal than others and this was the grim reality faced by many et hnic minorities. 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