Coretta is the only other Black student at his school when Barack starts fifth grade in Hawaii. Barack reacts meanly toward her after other students tease them about being boyfriend and girlfriend, and he realizes that he has treated her this way because she is Black. She’s awed by the Old Man when he comes to speak at the school.
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Coretta Character Timeline in Dreams from My Father
The timeline below shows where the character Coretta appears in Dreams from My Father. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 3
Barack and the only other Black student, Coretta, carefully avoid each other until one day, they chase each other on the playground. As...
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...that everyone is engrossed and excited. Afterward, people tell Barack his father is cool and Coretta looks satisfied. Two weeks later, Barack’s father leaves. He gives Barack a basketball for Christmas...
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Chapter 5
...Black. Barack realizes he got this way because of fear. Fear is why he pushed Coretta and why he made fun of Tim. He thinks of Regina’s grandmother and realizes that...
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