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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.

A spokesperson for a people, for a people without a spokesperson

By Ta-Nehisi Coates
Dec 11 2008, 2:00 PM ET Comment

I have heard, and been moved, by your desire to be as stereotyped, dehumanized and generally strawmanned in the manner that this blog does white and black people. Why should only the blacks have a Lando Calrissian? Why should only the whites have a John Rich? Why should only the Asians have a...Oh. Wait..

Anyway, my Hebros (as Goldberg would say), I have been moved. And given our common penchant for the bad end of history, I promise not to big foot you the way I did Whitey. Fuck the goyim (Wait, does that include me???) Anyway, nominations are now open. Lierberman? Silverman? Rahm the Space-Knight? Who shall lead you to the Promised Land?


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