Between the world and me For Ta Nehisi Coates history has always been personal. At every stage of his life hes sought in his explorations of history answers to the mysteries that surrounded him most urgently why he and other black people he knew seemed to live in fear. What were they afraid of In Tremble for My Country Coates takes readers along on his journey through Americas history of race and its contemporary resonances through a series of awakenings moments when he discovered some new truth about our long tangled history of race whether through his myth busting professors at Howard University a trip to a Civil War battlefield with a rogue historian a journey to Chicagos South Side to visit aging survivors of 20th century Americas long war on black people  or a visit with the mother of a beloved friend who was shot down by the police. In his trademark style a mix of lyrical personal narrative reimagined history essayistic argument and reportage Coates provides readers a thrillingly illuminating new framework for understanding race: its history our contemporary dilemma and where we go from here