As you implied, injustice may permeate our world, but our society does not remain hopeless. Although racism can never prove just or fair, it can provide the opportunity for victims to rise above their social expectations and create better futures for their children (as in Coates’ and Dr. Mable Jones)-complete eradication of racism glimmers only as an unattainable dream. While efforts to alleviate the consequences of racism prove effective in certain circumstances-as illustrated by the favorable lifestyles of Coates family and Prince Jones (via his mother, Dr. I agree with you in saying that Coates’ outlook rings realistic, rather than optimistic or pessimistic. Since minority groups typically render synonymous with lower income statuses or less material acquisition, they often receive an inferior view. Rather than value human beings for their intellectual and social qualities, the mainstream view remains to equate human worth with possessions or status. Coates’ interpretation of the “American Dream”-which he defines as “acting white, talking white, being white” (111)-exposes the reality of our materialistic, egoistic culture. To live in a country where my appearance exists as the majority shields me the repercussions of isolating, racist views. I, like you, will never understand the disembodiment that Coates experiences as a product of racism. After all, aren’t Coates’ successful career and his son’s comfortable life proof of him defying the odds? But simultaneously, I receive the impression that inequality doesn’t always have to be victorious. Coates suggests that racism will never be entirely gone. It simply expresses the injustices of our world without minimizing them. However, this book does not give me the impression that we live in a completely hopeless world. I see shadows of racism rampant in American society, and frankly, it depresses me. I, like Coates seems to imply, cannot see a near future in which racism is vanquished. Regarding whether I find this book to be optimistic or pessimistic, I truthfully find it to be neither. I suppose that after this read, I am more aware of my ignorance than I have ever been. I will never know the fear and the disembodiment that Coates has experienced. As much as I try to imagine, I will never know what it feels like to be so disadvantaged by my appearance. The main point that will stay with me is the sheer lack of understanding I will always have of racism.

Coates between the world and me