Growing up in the 1980s as a black male in Baltimore presented many unique experiences, from being in constant fear of having to protect one’s own body to a history of hating Duke University lasting longer than most Badgers’ lifetimes.
Ta-Nehisi Coates, writer, blogger and senior editor for the Atlantic, recounted these challenges and explained current issues’ backgrounds in this year’s final installment of Wisconsin Union Directorate’s Distinguished Lecture Series Tuesday.
He stressed the importance of an accurate retelling and deep understanding of the country’s history to atone for centuries of slavery followed by criminalization of the black race, themes echoed in his Atlantic essay “The Case for Reparations.”
“It’s not about reparations as cash payments,” UW-Madison graduate student Princess Ojiaku said. “It’s more the history of racism in America and systematic discrimination, and the debt that is born out of that discrimination.”
Coates said slavery was a factor in shaping democracy, so racism is inherent in America’s identity and addressing contemporary problems will require a deeper understanding of the past.
“The problem is not that we can’t change, it’s how much we would have to lose, how much we would have to give up of ourselves,” Coates said. “We are in really, really deep trouble, and I don’t know how we get out of it without any sort of confrontation of history.”
In an earlier discussion with students, Coates connected history with recent local activism surrounding mass incarceration, saying he is “deeply pessimistic” that these economic talks about letting prisoners out will lead to necessary political change.
He added the main difference between the Civil Rights Movement and present social activism is the opportunity for change caused by a deep embarrassment about slavery in the ’60s that has not yet happened with police brutality.
Students’ individual interests and passions can provide distinct strengths for those who want to help, Coates said. He added there are countless ways to contribute to change.
“Find that thing that’s deep deep in your heart that you really want to do,” Coates said, “and see how that somehow meshes with the mission of social justice.”
