<P> Between the World and Me takes the form of a book - length letter from the author to his son , adopting the structure of Baldwin 's The Fire Next Time ; the latter is directed , in part , towards Baldwin 's nephew , while the former addresses Coates 's 15 - year - old son . Coates 's letter is divided into three parts , recounting Coates 's experiences as a young man , after the birth of his son , and during a visit with Mable Jones . Coates contemplates the feelings , symbolism , and realities associated with being black in the United States . He recapitulates the American history of violence against black people and the incommensurate policing of black youth . The book 's tone is poetic and bleak , guided by his experiences growing up poor and always at risk of bodily harm . He prioritizes the physical security of African - American bodies over the tradition in black Christianity of optimism , `` uplift , '' and faith in eventual justice ( i.e. , being on God 's side ) . His background , which he describes as `` physicality and chaos , '' leads him to emphasize the daily corporeal concerns he experiences as an African - American in U.S. culture . Coates 's position is that absent the religious rhetoric of `` hope and dreams and faith and progress , '' only systems of white supremacy remain along with no real evidence that those systems are bound to change . In this way , he disagrees with Martin Luther King , Jr. 's optimism about integration and Malcolm X 's optimism about nationalism . </P>
<P> Between the World and Me takes the form of a book - length letter from the author to his son , adopting the structure of Baldwin 's The Fire Next Time ; the latter is directed , in part , towards Baldwin 's nephew , while the former addresses Coates 's 15 - year - old son . Coates 's letter is divided into three parts , recounting Coates 's experiences as a young man , after the birth of his son , and during a visit with Mable Jones . Coates contemplates the feelings , symbolism , and realities associated with being black in the United States . He recapitulates the American history of violence against black people and the incommensurate policing of black youth . The book 's tone is poetic and bleak , guided by his experiences growing up poor and always at risk of bodily harm . He prioritizes the physical security of African - American bodies over the tradition in black Christianity of optimism , `` uplift , '' and faith in eventual justice ( i.e. , being on God 's side ) . His background , which he describes as `` physicality and chaos , '' leads him to emphasize the daily corporeal concerns he experiences as an African - American in U.S. culture . Coates 's position is that absent the religious rhetoric of `` hope and dreams and faith and progress , '' only systems of white supremacy remain along with no real evidence that those systems are bound to change . In this way , he disagrees with Martin Luther King , Jr. 's optimism about integration and Malcolm X 's optimism about nationalism . </P>
where does between the world and me take place
where does between the world and me take place
United States
United States