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.

Race War Part Two: Jimmy Shoots The Fair One

By Ta-Nehisi Coates
Feb 18 2009, 10:00 AM ET Comment

Lots of people pointed out that I kinda dissed Jimmy, by selecting a bad version of "What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted" yesterday. I went back and listened to the original. It is, of course, fraking great. The weird thing is I'd forgotten how much I loved the harmony and back-up singing.  Jimmy's bad, no question, but whoever is singing back-up is murdering. And yeah, murdering is good in this case. The thing about the Joan Osborne version, as much as I like it, is that she completely overpowers everything. Jimmy isn't weaker, but he just melds in to the song. 

Presented by

More at The Atlantic

The '7 Dirty Words' Turn 40, but They're Still Dirty The '7 Dirty Words' Are Still Taboo on TV
The Sorry Six-Day History of Facebook, Inc: A Glitch, a Snitch, and a Tumble The Sorry Six-Day History of Facebook, Inc.
For the 1st Time Ever, a Majority of the Unemployed Have Attended College The New Unemployed
Patrick Fitzgerald, Transcendent Federal Prosecutor, Steps Down Patrick Fitzgerald, Transcendent Federal Prosecutor, Steps Down
Meet the 'Fly Boys' of Memphis, the Future of American Education Meet the 'Fly Boys' of Memphis, the Future of Education

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
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