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.

They aren't who we thought they were

By Ta-Nehisi Coates
Jan 19 2009, 11:00 AM ET Comment

Sorry Donovan didn't get it. I can't see the Cards doing in the Steelers. Here's something fascinating. Tomlin is now the third black head coach to get in the Super Bowl--and owes his job to the Rooney Rule, a particularly effective Affirmative Action program. I like the Rooney Rule--it requires clubs to interview minorities, but not hire them. Still the interview puts you in the mix, while not closing out competition. In other words it combats the "old boys club" mentality, but still allows for merit. In terms of coaching, the NFL is really approaching the NBA, which deaded this issue long ago. Props to them

Presented by

More at The Atlantic

Is There a Lesson for the U.S. in Iran's Oscar-Nominated 'A Separation'? Lessons For Americans in Iran's 'A Separation'
'Plug In Better': A Manifesto How to Plug In Better
Love Stinks: An Economic Manifesto Love (on the Internet) Stinks
Our Aging Prison Population: Should Criminals Die Free? Should Aging Prisoners Die Free?
Politics Q&A: Senator Rand Paul Rand Paul: 'You Don't Go Into Politics Unless You Want to Win'

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
The Civil War National Portrait Gallery The Civil War
A 150th-anniversary commemorative issue, with Atlantic work by Mark Twain, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Frederick Douglass, and others. Read more ›
View All Correspondents

The Biggest Story in Photos

World Press Photo Contest 2012

Feb 15, 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