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We Were Eight Years in Power
Ta-Nehisi Coates
Contributed by Andrea Barraza
Content
Overview
Context
Themes
Reviews
Chapter Summaries
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
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Chapter 2
Summary

In Chapter Two, the author discusses several events that occurred in 2008. One particular event that Coates is keen to discuss is the Aspen Ideas Festival; a one-week conference hosted in the Colorado Rockies, which he attended. The conference was basically held for Colorado elites to discuss the various challenges they were facing within and come up with recommendations on appropriate measures that would need to be taken to create a change. He also provides information on the conversations that he had with people during the dinner. For instance, he talked about the concept of “Continental Divide” (Coates 35). He, however, did not go on to determine what Continental Divide was and how it would affect him. The author also talks about the first time he had a glimpse on Michelle Obama in Chicago in the flesh stating that “I almost took her for white” (Coates 42). At that time, Obama was chairing a luncheon for Democratic women in Chicago. Here, he appears to show great admiration for Michelle, with the great sense of humor she spread around as she appeared in the ballroom to talk to the women.

Analysis

This chapter particularly focuses on the events that took place in the second year of Obama in office. The chapter demonstrates the huge attention that Obama had towards issues of national interest. The fact that Obama demonstrated a lot of attention on matters of national interest happens to be the motivating factor for him to go to the Colorado Rookies. Attending the Aspen Ideas Festival helped him to improve upon his ability to gain information from diverse groups of people especially with regards to the views that they hold on how people interact in the society (Coates 45). Notably, he demonstrates how he was not satisfied with the “Continental Divide” that existed then although he didn’t know much about it. He also hails Michelle Obama especially because of the role she played in motivating women and, for this reason, he expresses a lot of appreciation for Michelle’s efforts.

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