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.

Michelle Obama--"uppity"

By Ta-Nehisi Coates
Sep 4 2008, 4:21 PM ET Comment

I wouldn't call the elitist charge racist. Certainly it's been used against non-black politicians, and no party has a monopoly on populism. But still:

"Just from what little I've seen of her and Mr. Obama, Sen. Obama, they're a member of an elitist-class individual that thinks that they're uppity," Westmoreland said.

Asked to clarify that he used the word "uppity," Westmoreland said, "Uppity, yeah."

That would be Congressman Lynn Westmoreland. Comparing Michelle Obama and Sarah Palin. Incredible. The worse part is it isn't vague. Uppity is exactly the term white thugs and terrorists used to use for high-achieving blacks--right before they burned down their neighborhoods and ran them out of town. Only this time, they're going for the whole country,

UPDATE: Note that this is not anonymous "conservatives." This is not amorphous "Republican bloggers." This is not a strawman. This an elected member of the Congress who supports John McCain calling a woman from the South Side of Chicago, a mother of three two kids, and Ivy League grad, "uppity." And you guys want to rail about shadowy, uncited liberals "looking down" on Sarah Palin? You gotta be fucking kidding me. Cry me a river--and then go jump in it.

UPDATE#2: That last sentence was unkind and intemperate. My apologies.

UPDATE#3:
Meh, anger has never gotten me anywhere good in my life--though I'm really angry right now. The worst part of shit like this is that so much of it always comes from conservatives--the exact same people who turn around and want to have a conversation about a "culture of failure." This is why these dudes have no credibility with black people--or any people who aren't white. Would you listen to anything coming out a party where one congressman calls Obama "boy", and another calls his wife "uppity?"



Presented by

More at The Atlantic

Know Your Evil Movie Cops Was Harry Callahan the Most Evil Cop in Film History?
Know Your Internet: What Is Pinterest and Why Should I Care? Know Your Internet: What Is Pinterest and Why Should I Care?
A Lonely Widow's Conscience Helped Gay Marriage Pass in Washington A Moving Speech from a Washington Legislator
Reckoning With a Genocide in Guatemala Facing a Genocide in Guatemala
Whitney Houston Has Died Whitney Houston's Greatest Hits

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
Election 2012 Reuters Election 2012
The destination for full politics coverage, from the primaries to the White House. Read more ›
View All Correspondents

The Biggest Story in Photos

The Civil War, Part 3: The Stereographs

Feb 10, 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)

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