Skip Navigation
Ta-Nehisi Coates

Ta-Nehisi Coates - Ta-Nehisi Coates is a senior editor for The Atlantic, where he writes about culture, politics, and social issues for TheAtlantic.com and the magazine. He is the author of the memoir The Beautiful Struggle. More

Born in 1975, the product of two beautiful parents. Raised in West Baltimore—not quite The Wire, but sometimes ill all the same. Studied at the Mecca for some years in the mid-’90s. Emerged with a purpose, if not a degree. Slowly migrated up the East Coast with a baby and my beloved, until I reached the shores of Harlem. Wrote some stuff along the way.

Watching the State of the Black Union on C-Span and...

By Ta-Nehisi Coates
Feb 23 2008, 3:42 PM ET Comment

...I think people who are dissing this as a Tavis ego trip, or a talk-a-thon are wrong. Now, as you guys have likely read, I thought Tavis was wrong to air Barack out for not coming. But that said, it's good to hear folks from all walks of life speaking on black folks and where they think we should go. I just listened to Donna Brazile give a really impassioned speech, it almost sounded like she was about to run. We should be careful about dissing talking, obviously talk without action is bad news. But you still have to communicate before you can act. Hopefully I'll have some video for you guys soon...



Presented by

More at The Atlantic

Yes, America, We Have Executed an Innocent Man Yes, America, We Have Executed an Innocent Man
Wes Anderson's 'Moonrise Kingdom' Opens Cannes on a Sweet Note 'Moonrise Kingdom': A Sweet Ode to Young Campers in Love
State Department Poised to Raise Chances of War with Iran How the State Department May Raise Chances of War with Iran
Scott Walker and the Strange Rise in Recall Elections The Strange Rise in Recall Elections
Donald 'Duck' Dunn's Quiet, Sweeping Influence Donald 'Duck' Dunn's Quiet, Sweeping Influence

Join the Discussion

After you comment, click Post. If you’re not already logged in you will be asked to log in or register.
blog comments powered by Disqus
Special Report
Curing What Ails the Health Care System Reuters Curing What Ails the Health Care System
The third installment of America the Fixable—an Atlantic special report Read more ›
View All Correspondents

The Biggest Story in Photos

Views From the Night Sky: London and the U.K.

May 16, 2012

Subscribe Now

SAVE 59%! 10 issues JUST $2.45 PER COPY

Facebook

Newsletters

Sign up to receive our free newsletters

(sample)

(sample)

(sample)

(sample)

(sample)

(sample)

Ta-Nehisi Coates
from the Magazine

Why Do So Few Blacks Study the Civil War?

Ta-Nehisi Coates is an Atlantic senior editor.

Fade to White

A filmmaker maps Austin’s shifting ethnic landscape.

The Legacy of Malcolm X

Why his vision lives on in Barack Obama