What is the theme of Ta Nehisi-Coates”s profile?

The theme of Ta Nehisi- Coates’s profile represents Michelle Obama’s early years growing up in South Side and how that has shaped her as an American.

Is there an overarching narrative?

Yes. The overarching narrative addresses black separatism.

What surprises Coates about Michelle Obama?

Coates was surprised because instead of Obama building her speech on slave narratives or oppression, she spoke about her life as a child and how America has changed since then.

How does Coates contextualize Michelle in the context of his own background growing up in Baltimore?

Coates grew up in a segregated neighborhood whereas Obama grew up in an all black community; even though they lived in two different social cultures they both understood blackness as a minority in their adult life because they both stepped out of their community borders and experienced a world that was unrecognizable from the world they grew up in.