Chapter Seven focuses on the seventh year of Obama’s presidency as the author describes how the American story had never before been one for triumph but, “a majestic tragedy” (Coates 326). While white people came to the US for freedom, black people had never experienced any kind of freedom in the country. The author points out the fact that, that although pilgrims ran from their land to the US in search for freedom, the eventual state of affairs in the land which they were running to only turned out to be a sad state of affairs. Coates suggests that being black in America could, similarly, be living a life of being plundered in everything. Over time, black people appeared to have much lesser opportunities for growth than the whites. Black people were never accorded an opportunity to access anything or situation that they would enjoy as members of the country. On the other hand, white people either benefitted or engaged in the said plunder.

The chapter also details the effects that mass incarceration on black families that existed in the past. He provides a story regarding Daniel Patrick Moynihan who came from a broken home after his father deserted his family when he was 10 years old. For this reason, Moynihan’s family had to face a bitter end of poverty. The story relates to the situation of the “tangle of poverty, remarriage, relocation, and single motherhood” that many back people faced without help from the relevant government institutions (Coates 328). Thus, it shows the general effects that the move had in reducing the quality of life of Moynihan. Mostly, blacks have historically felt the brunt of being alienated in a country they term as their home. In the seventh year, Obama focused mainly on building bridges and ensuring that there would be better interaction between African Americans and other races. This would ensure that African Americans had a chance to feel that the US is their home and enjoy the freedom that the country offers them.