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.

White people

By Ta-Nehisi Coates
Aug 25 2008, 3:33 PM ET Comment

Justice delayed is not justice denied. At least not for you guys. I have thought long and hard about who to appoint as your official Jesse Sharpton--The One White Person To Speak For You All. The task is grueling in ways that you can not comprehend. And for those reasons, I shall not announce your leader/diplomat/kingmaker/spokesperson today. I thought about claiming CP time. But it was recently pointed out to me that the brothers can't take the rap for this too. The fact is that I'm moving on MW (Magazine Writer's) time. You shall hear from me soon enough. I assure you all that you will get to the Promised Land. Even though most of you are already there. Except for Lions fans. And white people who live in Gary, Indiana. I feel for you.


Presented by

More at The Atlantic

The Proposed Auction of Ronald Reagan's Blood Isn't Surprising The Proposed Auction of Ronald Reagan's Blood Isn't Surprising
Sushi Salmonella Now Affects 21 States Sushi Salmonella Now Affects 21 States
Why Israeli Settlers Shot an Unarmed Palestinian Why Israeli Settlers Shot an Unarmed Palestinian
Radical Life Extension Is Already Here, But We're Doing it Wrong Does Extending Life Go Against Evolution?
The Next Asia Is Africa: Inside the Continent's Rapid Economic Growth Africa Is the New Asia

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
View All Correspondents

The Biggest Story in Photos

Earthquake in Northern Italy

May 22, 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