The Beautiful Struggle 🥲🥲 by Sarabjot Virk

MLA Citation

virksar000_1 — 2024-02-09 18:09:55 UTC

Coates, Ta-Nehisi. The Beautiful Struggle (Adapted for Young Adults). Random House Children's Books, 2021.

#1 Banked

virksar000_1 — 2024-02-12 21:16:06 UTC

One day, a 10-year-old Ta-Nehisi was enjoying his day, but he gets banked by a group of teenagers. He is then forced to run away.

Quote #1:

"About that time my Converse turned to cleats and I bolted, leaving dents and divots in the concrete" (3).

#2 Scammed

virksar000_1 — 2024-02-12 21:16:13 UTC

Ta-Nehisi's brother, Bill, brought home a ring that he claimed was 14-karat. Bill believed that this was the path to not being poor anymore. However, their father told him that his rings were not 14-karat. Their dad told them he most likely got scammed because he was an 'illiterate black'.

Quote #2:

"The magic words were 'fraud,' 'Black Community,' and 'State's attorney.' Bill never felt the same about gold again" (6).

#3 Bullied

virksar000_1 — 2024-02-12 21:16:41 UTC

Ta-Nehisi learns about his dad being in the Black Panther Party. This is the reason he keeps getting jumped by people.

#4 Fear

virksar000_1 — 2024-02-12 21:17:24 UTC

Ta-Nehisi is scared of his father. He tried to lie to his father that he didn't break the bed, but Bill told their dad the truth. His father didn't even get mad, but was slightly disappointed in Ta-Nehisi for lying.

Quote #3:

"You had to make it worse by lying, Dad said. He took us downstairs to the back door. We started at each other for a moment, then Bill grabbed me and threw me to the ground. We tangled out there on the dirt for Dad's benefit for who knows how long, before we realized that he probably wasn't watching" (13).

Source #1

virksar000_1 — 2024-02-14 18:21:45 UTC

#5 Flogged

virksar000_1 — 2024-02-14 20:05:38 UTC

Ta-Nehisi's father left the Black Panther Party in 1972. However, they were still beaten up by sheriffs and Klansmen after that.

Source #2

virksar000_1 — 2024-02-14 20:09:22 UTC

#6 Humbled

virksar000_1 — 2024-02-14 20:09:54 UTC

Ta-Nehisi's teacher, Ms. Chance, was a kind women who wasn't racially motivated. Ta-Nehisi has been thankful for her ever since, even though he wasn't studious. She would encourage the African Americans, instead of putting them down.

Quote #4:

"I was my own greatest foe, she told me" (33).

#9 Rumours

virksar000_1 — 2024-02-27 21:57:49 UTC

One day when Ta-Nehisi walked into class, he was blasted with many rumours of class 7-16, whom had been renamed to 'The Marshall Team'. The boys had many absences and the girls were showing attitude. At the end he realized that they had become a school gang.

#7 Saved

virksar000_1 — 2024-02-27 21:58:04 UTC

Ta-Nehisi was walking with a group of friends one day and a group of people approached him. According to the law, a boy always had to state the offense before he and his friends started swinging. He patiently waited for them to say something, but eventually, one of the kids, Leroy, saved Ta-Nehisi.

#8 Hope

virksar000_1 — 2024-02-27 21:58:21 UTC

Ta-Nehisi and a bunch of other people believed that they were free from slavery and the Jim Crow laws. However, they were still struggling, but they knew that it would all pay off in the end.

Source #3

virksar000_1 — 2024-02-27 22:07:09 UTC

#10 Fight

virksar000_1 — 2024-02-28 20:06:56 UTC

A few days after learning about the gang, Marshall Team, Ta-Nehisi was jumped by them. They talked him down and punched him. He didn't fight back. Due to this, the fight didn't last long, but it was his first ever school fight. The rumours spread in way greater terms than what actually happened. Ta-Nehisi got way more publicity than before, which he was not happy with, as he had 'lost'.

Quote #5:

"I would have had to murder Kwesi in the lunchroom to get back my respect" (40).

#11 Jealousy

virksar000_1 — 2024-02-28 20:07:13 UTC

After getting banked by the Marshall Team, Ta-Nehisi is confused on why Fruitie is liked by the Marshall Team. Ta-Nehisi knows that Fruitie has the same height as him and they are really similar in character.

Quote #6:

"At school, I marveled as my man Fruitie went from herb to culture hero" (44).

#12 Discipline

virksar000_1 — 2024-02-28 20:07:17 UTC

After not liking Fruitie, some students from Douglass High School attacked Ta-Nehisi once more. They threw his house keys in the trash. Ta-Nehisi's dad caught wind of this and instead of dealing with the bullies, he asked Ta-Nehisi why he didn't fight back, nor take out the keys from the trash. Ta-Nehisi stayed silent, which led to his father beating him with his belt.

#13 Music

virksar000_1 — 2024-02-28 20:07:21 UTC

In 1984, Ta-Nehisi moved to Tioga. His dad got more strict on him and made him do chores around the house and help his job more. Ta-Nehisi was sick of this and wanted to call the police and report a case of child abuse. He also had plans of becoming a runaway. However, he didn't as he got intrigued into music as he heard it playing through his neighbour's house outside one day.

Quote #7:

"Then he'd nod his head to the bat, rhyming along, pointing and waving his hands for emphasis on favorite lines and quips. This was the first music I'd ever known" (64).

#14 Pressured

virksar000_1 — 2024-02-28 20:08:11 UTC

Ta-Nehisi was supposed to play basketball with his friends because it was a 'natural pasttime for his type of people.' However, Ta-Nehisi was a more football loving type of guy. He'd rather play football than basketball. After the start of the new school year, Ta-Nehisi was forced to play with his classmates or they would do something about him in the locker rooms. He was the tallest boy in his grade and so was wanted to play basketball.

Quote #8:

"...so as soon as I saw them, I knew 8-07 would try to test us in the locker room... My height made me the symbolic head of our squad, even if I had sought no such title" (79).

#15 Expelled

virksar000_1 — 2024-02-28 20:08:14 UTC

Ta-Nehisi had a great season in basketball. He had gotten popular. He would throw paper balls at girls and goof off with his friends. However, this resulted in an ego and he took it too far one day. A teacher yelled at him for being so loud and he talked back. The teacher then called the school police and handcuffed him to the ground. This concluded a permanent 'high-ego' image on Ta-Nehisi. He was suspended, later expelled, and even told to not return without a parent.

Quote #9:

"I raised my hand and mushed him in the face. 'Don't you ever yell at me again in your life'" (95).

#16 Awarded

virksar000_1 — 2024-02-28 20:08:49 UTC

His father made Ta-Nehisi attend religious meetings with a priest, Baba. As Ta-Nehisi grew older, he became accustomed to getting jumped in the middle of the street. However, one day when he got jumped, he fought back for the first time. This may be due to his father's beatings. He easily won and was given the 'Medallion of Initiation.'

#17 Climax

virksar000_1 — 2024-02-28 20:08:58 UTC

After being awarded the medallion, Ta-Nehisi's mind began to shift. He realized that his father was right all along, Baba had changed him. Baba was like a second father to him. He thanked his father and tried solving his other problem, school. He started focusing more on his studies. After football practice, he even started hitting the gym.

Quote #10:

"I had no idea how I could do it, but the thought of my parents retreating love to me, was admission that my independent time was approaching" (120).

#18 Relapse

virksar000_1 — 2024-02-28 20:09:25 UTC

In 1992, Ta-Nehisi tried his best to change. However, one day someone called him a punk. For some reason, this made Ta-very angry. He pinned that kid to a desk, however that kid threw a whole trash can at him. Ta-Nehisi started bleeding and an ambulance was called. His father was more comforting than mad. The next day, the kid who threw a trash can at him was expelled. Ta-Nehisi didn't get any laughter and taunts in a while. His father wasn't angry, he was disappointed. Everything that he tried to change about him came back crashing down.

#19 College

virksar000_1 — 2024-02-28 20:09:46 UTC

A 17-year-old Ta-Nehisi with disappointed parents had no idea where to go. He had a 1.5 GPA, which shocked even him. The next few months he changed it into a respectful 2.5 GPA. His mother was amazed on how he did this. Ta-Nehisi didn't go to prom, he didn't even go to the graduation. He was tired, he went back to practicing his drumming.

#20 Fin

virksar000_1 — 2024-02-28 20:10:07 UTC

Ta-Nehisi realized he had some sort of connection with drumming. It felt like it was an enveloping community. His father told him that he should go to Mecca, which Ta-Nehisi didn't want. Ta-Nehisi wanted to go to college, but his father was right all along. Although, Ta-Nehisi didn't want, something deep inside him knew that his father was right. He enjoyed his last few days at home, and then left for Mecca.

Source #4

virksar000_1 — 2024-03-07 18:13:04 UTC

https://www.baltimorecityschools.org/o/bcps/page/450

Source #5

virksar000_1 — 2024-03-12 15:39:44 UTC