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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.

Billy Dee Williams says, "There can only be one black spokesman"

By Ta-Nehisi Coates
Aug 1 2008, 4:59 PM ET Comment

I think the worse part of people claiming that Barack Obama isn't addressing "Black Issues" is the presumption that they know--and can define--what actually constitutes "Black Issues." So if you don't think the Michael Bell and the Jena 6 are somehow civil rights icons than somehow you aren't interested in "black issues." I'm thinking about this as I watch this video of these fools disrupting an Obama event because he isn't addressing "the numerous attacks that are made against the African community or the black community."

Hmm, maybe. I don't so much have a problem with these cats calling Obama out--I have a problem with them noit coming correct. Almost every charge they lodged is patently false. If you want to hit him on something ask him what is he plans to do about the justice system and the wanton jailing of black men on BS drug charges. I'm not sure if that's a "Black Issue." I think there are plenty of "Black People" who are tough on crime, and would disagree with my position. I stand on it because I--as an individual thinker--believe that it's best. Not because I claim to be a stand in for all "Black People."

UPDATE: Here's video of Obama and the hecklers. I like the old guy who snatched down the sign



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