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 »

"I Wasn't Scared Just Real Nervous..."

By Ta-Nehisi Coates

Feb 8 2010, 1:00 PM ET Comment

Heh. The theme music for all ghetto nerds coming up in the 80s and 90s...

Presented by

More at The Atlantic

'Men in Black 3': A Could-See Film

Which of Today's Pop Newcomers Will End Up One-Hit Wonders?

Which Pop Newcomers Will Be One-Hit Wonders?

Kickstarter Is the Hipster Home Shopping Network

SNL Is Hopelessly Stuck in the Past

Ray Bradbury on Facing Rejection ... and Being Inspired by Snoopy

Ray Bradbury on Facing Rejection and Snoopy

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

Just In

Nicole Allan11:12 AM ET

How D.C. Became the Frontline of the Abortion Wars

Voices

Ta-Nehisi Coates
50 Cent Endorses Marriage Equality; Wonders Why…
9:59 AM ET
James Fallows
Obama and Roberts: the View From 2005
7:37 AM ET
Robert Wright
Iran Nuclear Talks Post-Mortem: Time to Cash in…
May 24, 2012
Alexis Madrigal
How Google Can Beat Facebook Without Google Plus
May 24, 2012
Megan McArdle
The Good News and the Bad News About Public…
May 24, 2012
Derek Thompson
'What if Facebook Debuted at $15 and Popped to…
May 24, 2012
Jeffrey Goldberg
Israel and 'Fascism'
May 24, 2012
Steve Clemons
Eclipse and Windmills
May 24, 2012
Clive Crook
Endgame in Greece: The Montenegro Option
May 22, 2012

Correspondents

View All Correspondents

The Biggest Story in Photos

The American West, 150 Years Ago

May 24, 2012

Last Update: 10:28 AM

Last Update: 9:38 AM

Yoni AppelbaumHistory, politics	Raymond BonnerInternational affairs, civil liberties	Thanassis CambanisInternational affairs	Andrew CohenThe law, society
Bill DavidowTechnology, economics	Mickey EdwardsPolitics	Garrett EppsLaw professor and journalist	Richard FloridaCities, creativity
Joshua FoustInternational affairs	Howard W. FrenchInternational affairs	Alex GibneyDocumentary film	D.B. GradyThe military, politics
Shadi HamidThe Middle East	Ben W. Heineman Jr.Politics, economics	Steven HellerGraphic design	Jeff HoweLiterature, new media
Wendy KaminerCivil liberties, the law	Zvika KriegerThe Middle East	Lawrence LessigLegal and political ethics	Jon LovettPolitics
Damien MaChina	Lisa MargonelliEnergy, the environment	Peter OsnosMedia, publishing	Alyssa RosenbergPopular culture
Cristine RussellScience, health	Nancy ScolaTechnology, politics	Ellen Ruppel ShellScience	David ShenkScience, culture
Anne-Marie SlaughterForeign policy	Erik TarloffPolitics, media	Edward TennerCulture, technology	Dominic TierneyInternational affairs
Brian TillInternational affairs	Kathleen Kennedy TownsendPolitics, religion	Steve TuttleAmericana	Ford VoxHealth, medicine
Lane WallacePolitics, media, aviation	James WarrenPolitics	Adam WerbachSustainability	Graeme WoodInternational affairs, travel

"I Wasn't Scared Just Real Nervous..."

More at The Atlantic

Join the Discussion

Ta-Nehisi Coates's Archive

Just In

The Biggest Story in Photos

Subscribe Now

SAVE 59%! 10 issues JUST $2.45 PER COPY

Facebook

Newsletters

From this Author

Ta-Nehisi Coatesfrom the Magazine

Most Popular

Ta-Nehisi Coates
from the Magazine