In Between the World and Me, Ta-Nehisi Coates quotes 19th?century South Carolina Senator John C. Calhoun as claiming:?The tw

In Between the World and Me, Ta-Nehisi Coates quotes 19th century South Carolina Senator John C. Calhoun as claiming: The two great divisions of society are not the rich and poor, but white and black. And all the former, the poor as well as the rich, belong to the upper class, and are respected and treated as equals. Think about the divisions of class and race today, and how each contributes to oppression and subjugation. Consider whether this statement was more objectively true in the 19th century than it is today. Why? What fundamentally has changed since then? What hasn’t? 

Remember that the whole point of slavery was profit, capitalism, and racism reinforcing and relying on each other. (Do your research!) Remember that slavery ended in 1865, well into the 19th century, just 100 years before the Civil Rights movement and 150 before Black Lives Matter. What does it mean to be Black today? What does it mean to be poor?

Using Sweat as one main source, weigh in on this statement and make an argument answering the following: Is Calhouns statement still true in 21st century America? Why or why not?

PARTICULARS

4-5 pages

High stakes thesis, creative hook/intro, PEA paragraphs, strong quotes/citing, conclusion

At least one counter-argument/rebuttal

Deep, thorough research with minimum 5 solid sources

Significant use of Sweat balanced with significant use of outside sources 

Works Cited page