In these essays, Ta Nehisi Coates demonstrates a concept we should all practice; that is, the ability to unlearn what we’ve always believed to be true when presented with new facts. He accomplishes this through the lens of storytelling and its power to change people. The most profound example is when he travels to Palestine and realizes the narrative accepted by the Western world (a narrative he himself used in a previously published piece on reparations) is far removed from reality. These extremely powerful essays will be recommended reading for years to come.
The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates, (List Price: $30, One World, 9780593230381, October 2024)
Reviewed by Becca Naylor, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina