Summary

Coates explains that Paul involved him in NationHouse – an organization that Paul felt was pivotal for a boy to attain manhood. One last rite of NationHouse that transitioned Ta-Nehisi and his buddies to manhood was being dropped off in Washington, D.C. and having to figure their own way back. Every Saturday for six months, Ta-Nehisi and Kier were brought to NationHouse for a lecture about the future that awaited them. Coates writes that self-defense and calisthenics were the first order of the day. There was instruction on firearms but Ta-Nehisi never felt right about it. Finally, there was installment in the House of Ankobia, NationHouse’s fraternal order where the rituals of ancient kingdoms were mimicked. Coates explains that since he was the senior in his group, he was, therefore, the leader. During the final test, they stayed in the home of one...