I’ve read a few snippets here and there, but The Message is actually my first proper engagement with Coates’ work; I see why so many readers are taken to his writing, which I found relatively to-the-point while also leaving room for the reader to reflect. In three essays, The Message is Coates’ introspective journey in three essays from Senegal, to the United States (specifically South Carolina) then, finally, to Palestine. I really appreciated the sincerity of Coates’ critical reflections in each location as a Black American, which he reveals to be a complicated identity that is inextricably tied to the history of slavery, colonialism, and imperialism. It was clear to me that The Message was not only a message to readers about global affairs but also an incredibly personal one to think about his role in the world as a Black American. What I found striking about this personal exploration was his open admittance in being wrong about things, which is by no means an easy thing to do, especially while fully knowing that his words would be read by thousands. Yet, that message of understanding that you can be wrong and learn from that mistake is a sorely needed one, and I thought it was delivered with such grace, especially in his final (and longest) essay on Palestine.

Something else that struck me about this short essay collection was how Coates investigated the flaws of nationalism and the myths that come out of this ideology. In his first essay, Coates explores what it means to be a Black American “returning” to Africa, to grapple with a lost national identity as a result of chattel slavery. In his second essay, he then considers what it means to be Black in the United States with a focus on book banning in a small town in South Carolina, the myths constructed to establish a specific kind of national identity that obfuscates the ugly truths of the country’s history. In his final and perhaps most challenging essay (as well as the one that received significant attention), Coates grapples with what it means to be an American while Black in Palestine, especially having to contend with being from a nation complicit in the oppression of Palestine, along with having bought into myths carefully constructed over decades that tie to nationalism. Simultaneously, Coates also observes the parallels between the struggles of Black Americans and Palestinians, asserting that the push for liberation is a shared goal globally, not just domestically.

Coate weaves in other topics as well, which, while thoughtful, I did feel that it somewhat detracted from the main ideas he wanted to get across. I also felt he could have taken his essays even further, though this is perhaps me simply wanting more. There’s definitely a lot to think about in this book though, and it certainly incentivized me to read his previous works.