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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.

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

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