- I think that Coates chose this title for his book because he talks about his own experiences that have given him a different perception of the world around him, a view that is much different than people who believe in ‘the dream’ or who haven’t faced the same kind of fear. Reading this poem helped me understand why Coates chose this as his title. The line that says, “… my heart was circled by icy walls of fear” stood out to me because I think that both authors are saying that this fear, that comes from the things they experience, is what comes between the world and themselves.
- Throughout the book, Coates references other authors such as Richard Wright and James Baldwin. I think that he references these authors because they have helped him, “… fully understand the breach between the world and me” (Coates, pg.115). On this page, Coates talks about the gift of study and how in a way it has guided him through life. In his search to find answers as to why our world is the way it is, he spent a lot of time reading and studying the work of others who searched for the same answers, which is why I think he connects many of his ideas to these authors.
