Explain Coats' claim that American's long history of racial oppression against Black Americans continues to have serious effects today

America's way of dealing with slavery is by acknowledging guilt, but the acknowledgment by itself doesn't fix the centuries of harm done by the institution. Coates does not advocate for a particular form of reparations; instead he argues that America should seriously consider the problem, and understand that the problem with slavery and racism is far greater than the country has previously admitted. Coates is arguing that the racial oppression of Black people in the country is systemic and touches nearly every single African American. It's not just a few unlucky people; everyone is affected by the legacies of slavery.