Answer:
The author's quotation of Coates in the middle of the first paragraph is used to introduce and support her discussion of the My Brother's Keeper initiative that follows it. The quotation sets up the argument that the initiative is inadequate in addressing the systemic issues faced by black men and boys in America, and the subsequent discussion provides evidence to support this claim. The author is using Coates' words to highlight the need for a more comprehensive approach to addressing the challenges faced by black men and boys, which the My Brother's Keeper initiative alone cannot provide. Therefore, the quotation of Coates serves as a lens through which the author analyzes and critiques the My Brother's Keeper initiative.