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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.

When all else fails blame the Negroes

By Ta-Nehisi Coates
Sep 28 2008, 9:36 PM ET Comment

Word is that some Rep. from Minnesota has officially picked up this idea that minorities are responsible for the financial crisis. I can't find any real account of what this woman said, and am thus hesitant to jump on her for it. I guess the Hill has an article on it, but it's behind a curtain. If you guys find a hard source please post it in comments. Suffice to say she could be critical of the CRA without blaming "blacks." I kind of doubt it--but still...

UPDATE:
I just watched that Cavuto clip. The racism of it is pretty shocking. I don't know if I even can get my head right to take this on. This is why some Jewish people get on that "Never Forget" "Never Again" shit. This "blame the blacks" angle is rooted in an ugly history in which, usually during times of economic distress, white thugs burned down black neighborhoods. They were almost always incited by racist media. Cavuto is doing his part--"loaning to minorities is a disaster." What an ugly disgusting, human being.


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