We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy

Coates argues that no matter how completely Black Americans embody Black respectability, White supremacists will still undercut their efforts to be full citizens. What is the basis for Coates’s argument about the relationship between Black respectability and White supremacy, and do you agree with him?

Coates contends that Michelle Obama’s life story and her ability to represent a new Black identity were crucial to Barack Obama’s successful run for the presidency. What makes her life story unique, and how does her approach to Black self-representation differ from other models?

Coates believes that the historical myths have obscured the true nature of the history of the Civil War and America itself. What are the dominant myths about the country and the war? Are these myths still dominant today? Include contemporary examples of these myths in your discussion.