The Message explores the nationalist myths of Black America, White America, and finally Israel, taking us to Dakar, South Carolina, and Palestine (/Israel). Also goes into the importance of marginalized voices in journalism, and the importance of real investigative journalism in general. Coates's tour of Israel's oppression and dispossession of the Palestinians takes up the whole second half of the book. Coates draws parallels between Zionism and American Black Nationalism, suggesting that the ethno-state is not a savior to the stateless and oppressed. Specifically, he compares the Israeli obsession with archaeology and the Black Nationalist invocation of ancient African Civilizations as two examples of seeking recognition as civilized as defined by white colonizers. Makes me want to re-read Rutu Modan's Tunnels, which is a send-up of Israeli archaeology. Joe Sacco's Palestine is another good companion to the Israel/Palestine half of The Message.