US HISTORY ESSAY 2

By: Maria Paredes

 Ta-Nehisi Coates' article, "My President Was Black," gives a unique

viewpoint on Barack Obama's presidency, merging personal thoughts and historical

research to shed insight on the era's racial dynamics. Coates discusses numerous

significant historical debates surrounding Obama's presidency and its ties to race.

This essay summarizes Coates' primary historical arguments, followed by an

examination of their persuasiveness.

Firstly, Coates emphasizes Obama's optimism and his conviction in the

fundamental decency of individuals and the American people. He claims that

Obama's unshakeable hope and trust in a united America affected his leadership

greatly. While optimism is frequently regarded as a virtue, he contends that it may

have led Obama to underestimate the extent of racism in American politics. The

analysis of this point is that Coates' thesis that Obama's optimism may have

distorted his perception of the endemic racism in American society is plausible. It

depicts the contradiction between Obama's optimistic vision and the harsh realities

of racial prejudice and division. To add up, the essay digs into the significant anti-

Obama attitude that characterized his presidency. The author underlines the racially

charged aspect of this opposition, particularly the "birther" conspiracy theories that

call Obama's validity as an American citizen into question. He exemplifies the

president's racially motivated attacks.

Coates skillfully captures the intense anti-Obama mood as well as the racially

motivated attacks against him. The birther hoax is a prominent illustration of this,

highlighting racism's prevalence in American politics.

Furthermore, the author emphasizes Obama's one-of-a-kind biography,

which includes his multiracial heritage and parenting by his white mother and

grandparents. He contends that these elements provided Obama with a unique view

on race in America and contributed to his ability to cross racial lines. I think that

the analysis of this point is that Coates' case concerning Obama's biography's

influence is persuasive. It reveals how Obama's upbringing distinguished him from

many other African Americans and influenced his sophisticated perspective on race

in the United States.

To continue, Obama's astonishing ability to trust white America, which he

owes to his upbringing, is examined in the essay. According to Coates, Obama's

capacity to inspire trust in most of the population is aided by his unique

experiences. The author examination of the role of trust in racial interactions is

thought-provoking. It demonstrates Obama's extraordinary capacity for trust, even

in the face of racial tensions. While this trust is not ubiquitous among African

Americans, it does break traditional racial norms.

Finally, Coates suggests that Obama's optimism and faith in white America

drove him to minimize America's deeply ingrained racism. He claims that Obama's
underestimating prevented him from confronting racial issues more forcefully

throughout his presidency. I believe that considering the political and societal

hurdles that Obama faced, the authors claim that Obama undervalued racism is

reasonable. It provokes thought about the delicate balance between optimism and

the harsh facts of racial prejudice in America.

To sum up, Ta-Nehisi Coates' essay "My President Was Black" offers a

convincing examination of the historical debates surrounding Barack Obama's

administration and their complex connection to race in America. Coates offers a

distinct and profoundly reflective viewpoint on this pivotal time in American

history by deftly integrating his personal experiences into the greater story.

Though some readers might find Coates' points more convincing than others, there

is little doubt that the essay sparks an important conversation about the intricacies

of race, racial discrimination, and the difficulties faced by the country's first black

president. In doing so, Coates highlights a delicate equilibrium that any African

American leader must maintain by posing important concerns regarding the

relationship between optimism, trust, and the ugly reality of racism.

Coates' article challenges us to reevaluate how hope and trust may coexist with the

terrible truths of racial discrimination as we analyze the Obama administration and

the lasting impact of his presidency. It provides a reminder of how history has a
significant influence on the present and how crucial it is to comprehend the

complicated workings of race in America. Essentially, Coates' essay challenges

readers to consider carefully the legacy of President Barack Obama in a setting of a

multicultural country, and if the hope and trust he embodied are sufficient to heal

the pervasive and deeply ingrained racial divides.