Hello,

The reading for this Thursday is Ta-Nehisi Coates’s big article in the Atlantic, “The Case for Reparations.” Since it is quite long, you are not required to read the whole thing for Thursday (though if you have time, please read all of it!). Rather, please read sections I, IV, V, VIII, IX, and X.

Then, please write responses to these three questions and bring your responses to class on Thursday:

1) In your own words, write down what you think a “case” for something is. What is it to “make a case” or to “rest your case”? In other words, what do you think are the necessary components that make up a “case” or an “argument”?

2) As succinctly as possible (no more than two sentences), explain Coates’s “case” for reparations?

3) Find three quotations from the article that support Coates’s argument and a write a one or two sentence explanation for why you think each quote supports his argument.