Stephen Colbert and Ta-Nehisi Coates Talk About Obama and Race

The Atlantic's Ta-Nehisi Coates appeared on last night's Colbert Report, where host Stephen Colbert interrogated him about politics; the ascendance, election, and re-election of President Obama; and how race continues to bear on American life, both public and private.

The Atlantic's Ta-Nehisi Coates appeared on last night's Colbert Report, where host Stephen Colbert interrogated him about politics; the ascendance, election, and re-election of President Obama; and how race continues to bear on American life, both public and private. A sampling:

Colbert: African-American children can look up to Barack Obama as a role model.

Coates: Right.

Colbert: What about white children? They have to look up to Joe Biden. Is that fair?

Coates: No, no, no. It's not fair.

Watch the entire appearance below: