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.

Putting Mos Def In Context

By Ta-Nehisi Coates
Apr 2 2009, 12:00 PM ET Comment

The point was made yesterday that there are white people on TV, every day, who make a living speaking in a manner that's twice as insane as anything you hear on the corner. Indeed. If you're a nut and you happen to be black, you're Cynthia McKinney. If you're a nut and happen to be white, well...



I know white people aren't embarrassed by Glenn Beck. But seriously, you guys really should be. Come on white folks, where's that sense of solidarity you've showed for centuries? You guys are a sorry bunch. Keep this up and the nigras will be marrying yer daughters!!


Presented by

More at The Atlantic

How One Mother's Story Helped Change Obama's Gay Marriage Stance How A Mother's Story Changed Obama's Gay-Marriage Stance
Egypt Votes: A Primer on the Arab World's First Free Presidential Election What's Next for Egypt, After Today's Historic Vote?
The '7 Dirty Words' Turn 40, but They're Still Dirty The '7 Dirty Words' Turn 40
Ray Bradbury on Facing Rejection ... and Being Inspired by Snoopy Ray Bradbury on Facing Rejection and Snoopy
SNL Is Hopelessly Stuck in the Past SNL Is Hopelessly Stuck in the Past

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

The American West, 150 Years Ago

May 24, 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