Ta-Nehisi Coates, with another short essay I’ll likely be using in a classroom someday. In trying to find this article, I found all manner of internet commentary, most of which drew into relief the questions I’d ask a group:

who does this code apply to? what would a code created by young Asian men look like? By Hispanic women? By white lacrosse players living in the suburbs?

And what do these codes mean in the face of how power is distributed in society? Whose behavior gets laughed as “boys-will-be-boys” and whose behavior lands people in jail?”

Then there’s a personal essay by Brittany Griner. This is money:

It’s taken me a long time to figure out exactly where I fit. During that journey, I realized that everyone has a unique place in this world. I also discovered that the more open I was with my family and friends, the more I embraced others, and the more committed I became to doing the things I love, like basketball, skating and, of course, eating bacon (the greatest food of all time), the more love and confidence I received in return.

I just had to hang in there and be myself.

The more open I was with my family and friends, the more I embraced them, and the more committed I became to doing the things I love, the more love and confidence I received in return.