The Message - Book by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Name: The Message
Author: Ta-Nehisi Coates

Ta-Nehisi Coates’ book began as a reflection on writing, inspired by Orwell’s “Politics and the English Language,” but evolved into an exploration of how storytelling—whether through reporting, imagination, or myth—shapes and distorts our realities. The book unfolds in three interconnected essays. In the first, Coates recounts his trip to Dakar, Senegal, experiencing the city both as a modern place and as a gateway to a mythic African kingdom. In the second, he visits Columbia, South Carolina, where his book was banned, delving into the broader backlash against America’s reckoning with its history and examining the enduring Confederate mythology that defines the city. The final and longest section follows Coates to Palestine, where he confronts the dangers of nationalist narratives and the chasm between stories and lived realities. Written during a pivotal era, Coates’ work calls for a reckoning with the myths that bind and blind us, urging us to embrace difficult truths as a path to personal and societal liberation.

Original Language: English

Amazon

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