Similarities between Coates’ Themes and Gandhi’s Paradox

Through a letter to his teenage son, Samori, Coates explains what it means to be a Black person in America. The author speaks about the theme of the back body which has always been prone to destruction in American history. His message is emphasized in contemporary events concerning the killings of young innocent black people in America. The author advocates change and action against the perpetrators of racially instigated killings in the society (Coates, 2015). Coates’ message is similar to Gandhi’s paradox which states that nothing one does as, an individual, matters but it is vitally important for one to do something. In the book, Coates takes personal responsibility to inform his son about the life of a black person in America. He, however, laments that black parents in America have always advised their sons and daughters be ‘twice as good,’ although this often ends with ‘guns to their heads’ (Coates, 2015). Gandhi’s paradox fits into the individual action to change the problem of racism in America which has, in most cases, yielded little fruits but the advocacy for a change at an individual level is the beginning of the change to the entire society.
Gandhi’s paradox can be applied in Coates’ writing to invite people of all races in the struggle against racism. In the works, Coates argues that race is the father of racism but not the son. He condemns the American Society for inheriting the evil of racism and that unless the perception is cleared from people’s brain, the problem will persist in the society (Coates, 2015).

In his theme of how the black body is privy to destruction in America, the struggle against racism has always been thought to be a responsibility of the black people. This could be one of the reasons why it has been difficult to end racism over history. The white population should also take action against racism in order to solve the menace of racism. The writer notes that the white population is reluctant in the war against racism but urges the blacks not to give up in their individual struggle against racism since silence can cause more problems to the blacks. Gandhi’s paradox can also apply in the theme of the book to encourage the whole society of the blacks, the whites, and other races to join hands in the fight against racism since the society is larger than all the individuals (Burt Foster 2013).
In order to change the society, there is also the need to take stun legal action against the perpetrators of racism. Although he is an atheist, Coates criticizes religious stands on the issue of racism after he attended the funeral of a black victim of racism. He felt that religion could be promoting racism by preaching forgiveness for the perpetrators of the evil. His atheistic philosophy tells him that forgiveness should not be the case with racism and that authorities should take responsibility to institutes bitter punishment for the offenders (Coates, 2015). From this point of view, it can be seen that the society is divided instead of joining hands against racism. The state laws and the religion should speak one language about racism and put common laws that should punish offenses of such kinds. The discussions above bring about a clear relationship that exists between the major theme in the book and Gandhi’s paradox. The relationship can assist in the better understanding of the message of the book and emphasize on the reformation of the American Society concerning the issue of racism.
References
Burt Foster Jr, J. (2013). From Tolstoy to Premchand: Fractured Narratives and the Paradox of
Gandhi’s Militant Non-Violence. Comparative Critical Studies, 10(supplement), 57-74.
Coates, T. N. (2015). Between the world and me. Text publishing.