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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.
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Bottom Rail On Top

By Ta-Nehisi Coates

Jun 17 2009, 9:28 AM ET Comment

I literally just finished Battle Cry Of Freedom. Incredible book. Perhaps the best I've ever read. The story of the escaped slave, who joins the Union Army, encounters his master and says, "Howdy Massa. Bottom rail on top, this time" is such a lovely end. More coming. I'm working now.


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