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.

The Greatest

By Ta-Nehisi Coates
Jan 13 2010, 11:12 AM ET Comment

PB is debating between Marvin Gaye and Sam Cooke. I'm going to agree that Sam Cooke takes the crown. But I think Marvin has a deeper body of work. Moreover, I think What's Going On (thematically) is the kind of album Sam Cooke would have made, had he not died.

Anyway, all of this just an excuse to link to Sam Cooke taking this mofos to church, with his rendition of "Blowing In The Wind." It's ill watching this, because at the end a group of white kids stand up and start clapping for him. It's like, in that moment, you can see the change taking place, you can see the lines starting to blur.



Presented by

More at The Atlantic

The Implications of the Military Opening More Positions to Women The Implications of Adding More Women to Our Armed Forces
Here's What Humbert Humbert Looks Like (as a Police Composite Sketch) Is This What Humbert Humbert Really Looks Like?
Occupy Kindergarten: The Rich-Poor Divide Starts With Education The Rich-Poor Divide Starts With Education
Sarah Palin Brings Out the Barbs at CPAC Sarah Palin Ends CPAC With Rousing Speech
Know Your Evil Movie Cops Was Harry Callahan the Most Evil Cop in Film History?

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
Election 2012 Reuters Election 2012
The destination for full politics coverage, from the primaries to the White House. Read more ›
View All Correspondents

The Biggest Story in Photos

The Civil War, Part 3: The Stereographs

Feb 10, 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