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.
« Previous Coates | Next Coates » Email Email Print Print

The Indispensible Ambinder

By Ta-Nehisi Coates

Oct 30 2008, 10:43 AM ET Comment

Marc has a great piece up looking at some recent swing-state polling. But amidst all the great numbers and analysis there is this lovely nugget:

In Florida, a total of 46% of voters believe that "violent"  describes black people extremely well, well, or moderately well. But large majorities believe that the words "dependable" and "hard working" also describe black people.
If only they believed that in Washington, D.C. A "violent" but "dependable" and "hard-working" employee sounds like a dude due for big raise. Oh I forgot. I'm not supposed to be making jokes because Obama might lose. Ms. Holloway, get me a line to Al Sharpton, please.


Presented by

More at The Atlantic

The Bee Gees Are Disco Icons, but Robin Gibb Was Pure Pop The Bee Gees Are Disco Icons, but Robin Gibb Was Pure Pop
Plan a Trip Through History With ORBIS, a Google Maps for Ancient Rome Travel Through History With a Google Maps for Ancient Rome
The End Is Near, and My Crew Is Sleepy The End Is Near, and My Crew Is Sleepy
The New Economics of Happiness What's the Happiest Country in the World?
The Precarious State of the Literary Interview How to Properly Conduct a Literary Interview

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

Correspondents

View All Correspondents

The Biggest Story in Photos

One Year Since the Joplin Tornado

May 23, 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