Collectively operated since 1973

by: Ta-Nehisi Coates

Publisher: Spiegel & Grau (2008)

$17.00

Anexceptionalfathersonstoryabouttherealitythattestsus,themythsthatsustainus,andthelovethatsavesus.PaulCoateswasanenigmaticgodtohissons:aVietnamvetwhorolledwiththeBlackPanthers,anoldschooldisciplinarianandnewagebelieverinfreelove,anautodidactwholaunchedapublishingcompanyinhisbasementdedicatedtotellingthetruehistoryofAfricancivilization.Mostofall,hewasawilytacticianwhosemissionwastocarryhissonsacrosstheshoalsofinnercityadolescence�andthroughthecollapsingcivilizationofBaltimoreintheAgeofCrack�andintothesafearmsofHowardUniversity,whereheworkedsohischildrencouldattendforfree.Amonghisbroodofseven,hismainchallengeswereTaNehisi,spaceyandsensitiveandalmostcomicallymiscalibratedforhisenvironment,andBigBill,charismaticandalltooreadyforthechallengesofthestreets.TheBeautifulStrugglefollowstheirdivergentpathsthroughthisturbulentperiod,andtheirfather�ssteadfastefforts�assistedbymothers,teachers,andabodyofmyths,histories,andritualsconjuredfromthepasttomeettheneedsofatroubledpresent�tokeepthemwholeinaworldthatseemedbentontheirdestruction.Witharemarkableabilitytoreimagineboththelostworldofhisfather�sgenerationandtheterrorsandwondersofhisownyouth,CoatesoffersreadersasmallandbeautifulepicaboutboystryingtobecomemeninblackAmericaandbeyond.