When people who are not black are interested in what I do, frankly, I'm always surprised. I don't know if it's my low expectations for white people or what. Ta-Nehisi Coates blackexpectationfrankly Change image and share on social
I would say as a journalist, I would envision travelling to other countries that have had to reckon with their past and see how they've done it: what worked, what didn't work, finding characters that would tell the story of how that process was done. Ta-Nehisi Coates charactercountryenvision share on social
It's very hard to be black in this country and hate America. It's really hard to live like that. I would actually argue it's impossible to fully see yourself. Ta-Nehisi Coates americaargueblack Change image and share on social
I constantly write about my safety walking to and from school, and then I would come home at night, and I would cut on the TV, and I would watch a show like 'The Wonder Years,' or I would watch, you know, some other show like 'Family Ties.' Ta-Nehisi Coates constantlycutfamily share on social
There isn't a dude outside my dad who had greater influence on my life. Ta-Nehisi Coates daddudegreat Change image and share on social
I wasn't the biggest Captain America fan, but increasingly, I see him as a great character. Winter Soldier really got into what it meant to actually represent America. Ta-Nehisi Coates americabigcaptain Change image and share on social
In comics, you have to imagine what happens. I really loved it; I loved collecting. I loved following the adventures and figuring out what was going to happen next. I was a huge X-Men fan; I was a huge Spider-Man fan, and, to large degree, I remain one. It's literature for me; it's art. Ta-Nehisi Coates adventureartcollect share on social
Somebody once told me, black people, in and of themselves, are cosmopolitan. There's cosmopolitanism within the black experience. There's an incredible amount. Ta-Nehisi Coates amountblackcosmopolitan Change image and share on social
The president of the United States is not a king. You know? Barack Obama was elected by the American people. Ta-Nehisi Coates americanbarackelect Change image and share on social
I enjoy the challenge of trying to say things beautifully. The message is secondary in that sense. Obviously, I have something that I want to say that's very, very important to me - but the process of actually crafting it is essential. Ta-Nehisi Coates beautifullychallengecraft share on social