Ta-Nehisi Coates is a celebrated writer and journalist known for his insightful explorations of race, identity, and American history. His work, blending personal narrative with historical analysis, has earned him widespread acclaim, particularly in discussions of systemic racism and Black experience in the United States.

"Letter to My Son" is an excerpt from his award-winning book Between the World and Me (2015), written as a powerful and deeply personal letter to his teenage son. In it, Coates reflects on the realities of being Black in America, addressing racial injustice, the fragility of Black bodies, and the struggle for dignity in a society shaped by white supremacy. With raw emotion and poetic urgency, he challenges the myth of the American Dream and urges his son to navigate the world with awareness, resilience, and a sense of his own history. 

Context: During an event at Evanston Township High School, a student asked Coates about the usage of the N-word by white people, particularly when singing along to rap songs. 

Question #1

What is Coates argument about using certain words and do you find it convincing? Why or why not?

Context: In a conversation with Richard Rothstein, Coates was asked to elaborate on how racist myths are deeply embedded in American society and the impact of these myths on public perception and policy. 

Question #2
According to Coates, what is the responsibility for those who know the history and push back (protest) against harmful myths? Why do they need to keep pushing even when it feels worthless or pointless?

Requirements: Choose one of the three prompts below and create a one-two page letter, narrative, or poem.

Letter to Someone Who Needs to Hear It

• Write a letter to a younger sibling, cousin, or a future child about a truth they’ve learned about life, identity, or the world. Write with the same raw honesty Coates uses in addressing his son.

A Day in My Skin

• Inspired by Coates’ exploration of the Black experience in America, write a personal narrative about a moment when they became deeply aware of their identity—whether through race, culture, language, or personal experience.

“What I Want You to Know”

• Write a poem titled “What I Want You to Know” that captures the essence of what you wish to tell a loved one about their experiences, struggles, or dreams.