Summary

In Part 2, “On Pharaohs,” Coates describes his preparation for his trip to Dakar. He is packing when his mom sends him a picture of “one of her old sketches” (25). While studying the sketch, he reflects on the life events that led to his upcoming trip. His parents were intellectuals with artistic bents. His dad was a revolutionary and his mom loved singing and dancing.

He shifts into the direct address as he describes the year his mom made the sketch. It was 1978 and Coates and his family lived in Park Heights, Chicago. After losing his job, Coates’s dad found it difficult to support the family and turned to reading. The sketch depicts him reading a book. Coates wrote two captions on it about his dad’s reading habit. Now Coates wonders what his dad wanted to learn.

Coates believes his decision to visit...