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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.

Wisdom of the day

By Ta-Nehisi Coates
Oct 15 2008, 11:00 AM ET Comment

From Andrew:

My view: whoever brings up Ayers loses. People are worried about their 401ks and their jobs.
Basically. I think McCain stepped into it on this one. People are giving him praise for holding back on Wright, but that's just smart--it's in his interest to hold back on Wright. Excepting the neanderthals stroking their monkey dolls, no one cares. People are losing their retirement and their kids' college funds. I know some of us think of white racism as this force that trumps all. But everything I know about this country says that there is a power even greater than "The Nigras are merrryin our daughters!!" The power of the dollar. It will be our damnation--but it will be our savior first.


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