Coates crafted his book as a letter to his son. But laced throughout the memoir/letter is a provocative argument about the way race works in America. Your assignment for this essay is to choose one of the themes from the list below and to compose your essay focused on Coates views on how race intersects with your chosen theme: 1) what is his primary argument about the topic  2) what evidence, events, experiences or stories does he summon to support that point of view 3) to what extent to you find his treatment of the topic persuasive? As the writer of the essay, you are free to agree or disagree with the author.

Civil War and legacies of Slavery

Childrearing

Education

Housing/Neighborhood

Policing

Racism

Religion

Whiteness