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.
« Previous Coates | Next Coates » Email Email Print Print

Why Don't We All Focus On "Looking Forward"

By Ta-Nehisi Coates

Apr 24 2009, 2:00 PM ET Comment

There's a bar in the East Village that offers five shots of anything for ten bucks. I'm going there tonight, and taking 10 shots of anything the crowd reccommends. Then I'm going to stand on the street soliciting random women for sex. Should I be arrested I shall have the perfect rejoinder, "Officer, I think we should focus on looking forward." Should I be slapped, I'll have the perfect rebuttal, "Baby, I think we really should be focused on looking forward." Should I succeed and come home, hung-over, and have to face my spouse's accusing eyes, I shall be armed with the perfect riposte, "This relationship should focus on looking forward."

Presented by

More at The Atlantic

The agony of Nabeel Rajab The Plight of Bahrain's Informal Activist Leader
Can't We Learn to Stop Worrying and Love Mass Refinancing? Can't We Learn to Stop Worrying and Love Mass Refinancing?
The Psychology of Feminism and the Queer Case of Hugo Schwyzer Can Men Be Feminist Leaders?
'Chronicle' Shows Us Teenage Superheroes With Daddy Issues A Tale of Teen Heroes With Dad Issues
The Global Dangers of Syria's Looming Civil War The Dangers of Syria's Looming Civil War

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
Submit Your Photos of America at Work AP Submit Your Photos of America at Work
Send us your images of friends, family, and neighbors on the job. We'll publish the best. Read more ›

Correspondents

View All Correspondents

The Biggest Story in Photos

Athens in Flames

Feb 13, 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