« Open Thread... | Main | I don't know but today feels kinda odd... » A note of thanks05 Nov 2008 11:43 am Well it seems we've reached the end of a long journey. I actually was going to shut this blog down after the election. Then the Atlantic came along with their contracts and their wage-slavery. Anyway, I wanted to take a moment to say two things. 1.) There will be no more posting today. I take that thing about black folks and Obama winning and no work seriously. It's not a game, white folk. 2.) I owe all of you more than you know. I think my overlords would kill me if I divulged any traffic secrets. But I think I am free to tell you that, since joining the Atlantic, the viewership level has surpassed my wildest expectations. I expect to return to Earth with the end of the election. But I'd ask that those of you, who've liked what you've seen here, consider sticking around. I really do love a packed house party. I don't know what I'll do if I have to go back to DJing for myself. Comments (94)Comments on this entry have been closed. |
Today's Headlines From The Atlantic |
The Beautiful Struggle: A Father, Two Sons, and an Unlikely Road to Manhood 
Copyright © 2009 by The Atlantic Monthly Group. All rights reserved.
I'm in. We still have the Cowboys stunning second half comeback to discuss.
TNC, I remember reading your reviews of hip-hop records in the Washington City Paper. I actually still take issue of your description of Talib Kweli as having an inability to rap to the beat (of course, that was before The Beautiful Struggle and Eardrum, so maybe you've changed your tune).
But my point is, I've been following for a while, and this white boy is not going anywhere.
I'm with you, TNC. I enjoy reading you every day. I'll also be looking forward to future posts on comic books and music from you.
Speaking as one of the people that checks your blog daily, but didn't read your blog until you came over to the Atlantic group, I really appreciate your humor and unique perspective on the day's events.
Enjoy your day off, and here's to enjoying the house party for a while longer.
Ta-Nehisi, I only discovered this blog about a month or so ago, but I would be heartbroken if you went away. I have found such value and insight in every single one of your postings. I don't know what I would do without you--even if we never see eye-to-eye on cucumber sandwiches.
I honestly don't think I've posted here before. The first I'd heard of you was from the Cosby thing on The Atlantic, and then posting on Matt's blog while he was on vacation.
These days, your blog has been the first thing I stop by to read. I like Matt's and Ezra's blogs just fine, but frankly I get a little bored with the overdone horserace aspect of what they write about. Maybe part of it is that frankly I can relate to them better -- to the point where over 90% of the time I know what they're going to write on a given issue which obviously tends to make it somewhat tedious.
I like your take on things. It's charmingly disarming. It's surprisingly uncynincal. The back and forth is more compelling because I feel like you're centered somewhere between McWhorter's impatience for "racial thinking" and Loury's demand that social problems require collective political action -- two appealing arguments I find myself constantly drawn between.
I look forward to reading you here daily -- I think you're the most interesting contributer here by far -- honestly only you, Fallows, and Douthat, and maaaaybe Sullivin are the only people worth reading here. I'd be floored if your traffic were less than that of McArdle's.
So good luck. I'll probably continue to read you regardless of where you go.
Another white girl here for the long haul. I love the way you write.
Thank goodness for wage slavery. Glad you'll be sticking around, you're one of the main blogs I actually talk about with my non-work friends.
You're bookmarked now and it would take several valuable clicks, possibly combined with the alt key, to remove you.
So I guess I'm a regular reader.
That is to say, you're one of the main bloggers. Didn't mean to objectify you there.
I don't post much at all, but I'm sticking around. You've been a fabulous addition to The Atlantic!
It's all good -- you've got yourself some new readers for life, don't fret.
You and 538 were the big finds for me out of this election season. No need to thank us for enjoying the hell outta what you do -- just keep it comin'!
I subscribed to the dead-tree version of The Atlantic last month in support of you and Fallows. I'm not going anywhere.
I don't even remember how I came across the blog.
It was linked from somewhere (I think Richard Prince) but it was before The Atlantic and wasn't even remotely election related. I've been hooked ever since.
Not only do I value the insight, humanity and humour (not to mention the hip-hop references) of your work, but also that of the commenters of this blog, who are without question the most insightful and intelligent of any other blog/forum I frequent and pretty much make my own arguments better than I could ever imagine making them.
Plus being here has introduced me to the other Atlantic writers, which I otherwise probably would have never read.
So that said, I ain't goin' nowhere homie.
Thanks for all your hard work. Enjoy the day off.
Take that holiday, baby! We deserve it. Not too far behind you...
Great work this cycle. Glad I found you (via Sullivan) look forward to keeping up with your work.
'Nother white boy lurker here, adding my voice to the chorus of "keep on, keepin' on."
Your words are insightful, your humor contagious (through a computer screen, even), your perspectives fresh, and sincerity downright inspiring. It's a damn good thing Atlantic's got you on paper, or else teh Intarwebs would lose a great, undeniably fresh asset.
Enjoy th' day off. Ain't a better time for one...
I've tried all the game geek, Black Panther child blogs and yours is by far the best. Seriously, I like a lot of blogs, but yours is a very cool niche that I can't quite define. Which is awesome. Enjoy the day.
Just caught that I used "fresh" twice as an adjective. Gotta love redundancy. 'Nother reason why I lurk 'stead of speak...
I've been reading daily since you started here (followed the link from Megan). I am an Obama supporter but not a Democrat. Please accept the wage slavery and keep writing here. Your viewpoint is really valued. Plus the NFL stuff is fun, even for a Lions fan.
Enjoy the holiday.
Jim, Juneau Alaska
First time commenter, I want to thank you for staying on. This has been an amazing time and you captured it with wisdom, vision, and wit. Easily one of the most-checked blogs on my list.
Mr. Cee is playing James Brown and the schoolkids in Harlem are chanting "Obama! Obama!"
No barking from the dog, no smog, and mama even cooked breakfast with no hog.
You have to stay. I've just started telling my friends where to find you. Don't make a liar out of me! Seriously, your voice would be missed. Take a well-deserved break and come back soon.
Mr. Coates, I only discovered this blog a few months ago, and it quickly found its way into my ever-expanding list of resources I need to read on a daily basis (this goes for several of your Atlantic colleagues, as well.) And don't worry, this is one white boy who's in for the long haul!
23 years old, and possessed with some strange and wonderful feeling for my country that I have never experienced before. Yesterday was something else, all right.
TNC: Come for the Liberal Stuff, Stay for the D&D References!
I realize that's less of a marketing statement, and more of my own, sad perspective.
Oh, well, I can live with it! Let's see, so we're facing some orcs from the Rug-ughth-lich-can clan, I'm going to cast Phantasmal Killer and project the image of their ancient enemy BarHusOb'ma erupting from the ground in column of fire and lava. Roll initiative!
Enjoy the day off.
And tomorrow, get your ass back to work.
Ta-Nehisi, I'm really excited at the way the blog has grown since you started (and when there were like five of us reading). Stick around, and we will too.
This pasty-white, 42-year old Canadian will stick with the Coates program. He spits hot nails and i don't know how to delete the RSS feed
Not going anywhere.
"I take that thing about black folks and Obama winning and no work seriously."
What's Megan's excuse?
Have long read Sullivan and checked you out when you joined The Atlantic. Jumped in on a post for The Wire. Stayed. It took me a while to realize where I knew your name from: I lived in DC (Adams Morgan) for many a year between Boston stints and was an avid City Paper reader. Rediscovered you with this blog and hope to keep reading. Ended up referencing you a bunch last night during election watching with people--Oh I read this on Coates.
As long as you're blogging I'm reading... I can't believe you planned to end it. They better be paying you a decent writers salary.
You have a voice that's listened to, just as we are about to get a shot at this governing thing. Use it.
Matt J wrote:
"I'm in. We still have the Cowboys stunning second half comeback to discuss."
Speaking as another Cowboys fan, sometimes you have to laugh, or you'll start crying and you might not be able to stop...
But yeah, it's not irretrievable yet. Provided that they pull their heads out and PLAY, that is.
I'm going to be explicitly crass about this because Ta-Nehisi really hasn't been: everyone who reads the blog needs to read The Beautiful Struggle. I believe the softcover's coming out early next year, but go to the library if you need to. The reason I say this is because the stuff you read here is an altogether different side of TNC. It's a great book and I ain't just saying that because TNC is my boy. In fact, I'd like it if Coates did some kind of Q&A/book club threads here when the new edition comes out.
Though most of the views here are not in line with my own, I have greatly enjoyed the site and will continue reading.
In reading the comment above from a fellow Lion fan, it hit me that this country has elected a black President sooner than the Lions have made a Super Bowl. Not sure what it says about our country, but I sure as hell know what it says about the Lions.
I'm half black--does that mean I get to go home after lunch?
By the way, you're officially my new favorite blogger (sorry Andrew) so would be very sad to see you go. Looking forward to hearing you keep Obama's feet to the fire!
Yeah, I haven't had much excuse to comment. Just discovered this blog a few weeks ago. But, I love it. Funny and serious and thoughtful and a whole lot less tedious than most blogs I read. Mostly, you're not full of shit.
O.K I've never posted but here goes.
You know one reason why I'm glad you are staying?
Poetry
Let me explain, I've never really 'gotten' poetry, and my wife's hobby is poetry, she lives breathes, eats poetry and she always tired to get me interested but nada. I'm more of a sci-fi guy (yes, a Kenyan sci-fi fan, oh the horror :-)). But you posted a phrase from Carolyn Forche's poem 'The Colonel' and then when questioned explained where it came from. I read the poem, loved it and eventually got the book "The country Between Us".
My wife almost fell out of her chair when I told her I had bought a poetry book. I was waiting for her to ask what else the aliens did to me.
Good writing makes one see the world in new ways. I'm a political animal and there are a ton of blogs I check out, from racialicious, to Jack and Jill etc etc. Your blog is probably the best blog I've ever read because it makes me (and other people) see the world in new ways.
You have a talent and I'm glad you are going to keep blogging. I love the way you write.
Kudo's
Mr. DJ, your packed-house parties have been well worth the click to get here. Like Kiran, I discovered you through the Cosby article. You write like you know us, and you're not afraid to let us know you. Regarding your note of thanks: you're welcome, the pleasure is ours.
Number 1, you crack me up, and you're on the money
Love the blog. I didn't know you were a blogger until someone at slate reference your blog shortly before you came over to the Atlantic. I loved your peice on Cosby it rang true to life, and the rest of the articles I read (yes I went back through the archives on the blog) showed a remarkable skill for even-handed consideration and a lack of polemics. Props. I will continue to read as long as you continue to write. Since writers never retire they only die I hope that will be for a long time.
May the Schwartz be with you.
No, thank you. Enjoy your day off and I look forward to the post-election edition.
Hey, I'm an old white woman who found you via Andrew Sullivan. I ain't going nowhere. The older you get the more you have to fight your ossification, so you're my surrogate kid.
Enjoy your day off. Since finding this blog about 6 weeks ago, I'm hooked. I look forward to reading it going forward.
doood, you can't quit now!! Esp. friday poetry. But not just that.
As someone who studies civil rights history, its a big day.
We can no longer say we live in a racist nation.
That was disproved yesterday.
We people of color will have to stop playing victims (so sorry Jesse Jackson) of the racist majority.
As far as the Dallas Cowboys go, Jason Garrett has proven to me that he is not the offensive genius we thought he was...
Keeping Brad Johnson and Brooks in the pocket and not trying to roll them out or throw some screens was ludicrous.
Or not giving Choice more handoffs...
Ugh!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But the thing that really bothers me is the lack of mental discipline. All of those damn penalties are inexcusable!
I'm in for the long haul, T. Enjoy your negritudinous insta-holiday.
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(I know that "Remember personal info?" thing's a lie, but I keep checking it.)
Thanks for fighting the good fight, TNC. And per LizkDC's comment: I fondly remember your material from City Paper days as well. Great to see your career doing so well; enjoy your day off.
Ta-Nehisi-
I've loved this blog, your posts are the best and I find your take on things help a lot of us stay grounded and see the world the way it truly is. I hope you stay here, but I'll follow you wherever you blog...
You can't leave. You are on my 'daily blog roll.' I have a routine, and let me tell you, I need a routine. You have made me laugh, pissed me off and inspired me--we need more of this--continually. There are not many intelligent, thoughtful, and 'present' places to meet and react--I need this like I need my Fresca. So, don't go. . .we need you.
Besides, echoing Teresa--you have to stay, I have bragged about you too much!
If you stopped your blog because of the election I would bite you.
Discovered your blog a couple weeks back and I've been hooked ever since. To say the least, you've been inspiring. Thanks for the solid election coverage, and also, for being that alternative political voice that I've been looking for in this place we call the blogosphere. You've gained a fan. Peace.
dear mr. coates,
(sometimes i address you as 't', 'cause that's the tone of the conversation, but right now i want to strike a more serious, somber note)
dear mr. coates,
having only discovered your blog over the last few months, i nevertheless think it is one of the finest blogs on the entire web.
you have an extraordinary talent.
if you get a better offer than the atlantic is giving--say, on the speechwriting team of a certain president-elect--well then, you'd be a damned fool not to take it.
but if you don't get that better offer, then please keep blogging. i'll come find you, and read you.
yours sincerely,
the right honorable kid bitzer.
I'm a late comer to the TNC bandwagon, but now that I've found you I'm a fan for life. I became hooked after reading your article "For Black, a Quiet Question: What if Obama Loses? in Time Magazine. That piece really spoke to me. It validated not only my feelings about President Obama, but also my views of the African-American Community as a whole. I look forward to reading more of your work in the future.
You'd better stick around. All you Atlantic bloggers are like friends now. Happy President Obama Day!
Started reading you when you were guest-blogging for Matt. Now I hardly ever read Matt. This is a great blog, there's a wonderful variety of things, and I'm terribly glad the Atlantic made you a wage slave-- not having your voice around is unthinkable, now.
Thank you. Enjoy your mandated day off. ;-)
Your voice is singular- that's why we're here. Thanks a lot for keeping it up.
Count me as yet another recent fan who would be crushed if you stopped this blog. I've been an Atlantic print subscriber for many years, but just came to the blog a couple of months ago. I love the warmth of your perspective on Obama and the events of our times. Your writing often makes me tear up, and I can't tell you how many posts I've emailed to friends and family. And I love the community of commenters here--gives me faith that we really can change the world together.
You're daily reading for me, Mr. Coates. Please keep the doors open a while longer!
Enjoy your day, and thanks for a great blog. You do what effective bloggers do well - address a range of topics with realness. Keep it up.
TNC,
What started out as a mild curisotity to check out your blog turned into a full fledge, must check several times a day habit. It's been great reading your thoughts, and I hope there are more to come.
You had me a Epic Fail.
Peace.
I came for the politics. I'll stick around for the poetry. I have really enjoyed (and learned from) your coverage of both.
I can't even imagine going anywhere. You can count on me.
I've only been reading your blog for a few weeks and I haven't commented yet, but after my wife Darkrose got a little tired of me reading over her shoulder, I added you to my "read every day" list. I like what you have to say and I'm in it for the long haul.
(A quick note)
While thanking TNC, I would also like to thank my fellow commenters ... I rarely agree with everyone, but I enjoy all of your thoughts, and it seems like we are quite a diverse group ... along with our host you make this blog worth reading.
Looking forward to hearing from everyone in the days ahead.
I'm staying put! You're a must-read every single day. PLEASE don't stop! Your writing is gorgeous, eloquent, moving, and real. Thank you so much for being here. We need you!
Woah, people, don't you see that TNC has sucked us all in to this heaping praise on him shit when what we were supposed to do was to hijack this thread for our own nefarious (and in my own case, white) purposes.
I wish I had to work today, but my job got downsized last Thursday. On the bright side, I've had more time to spend with my family and to make calls to PA (though that turned out to be paranoia a little bit, but it felt good).
Now, I will keep coming back here for more, though maybe now I'll use some of my now excessive free time to start a blog for all of us half-Lithuanian, half-German, half-French (don't ask) full-blooded American ex-Peace Corp volunteers.
But first I need some more writing lessons from TNC.
Thanks man, enjoy your day off. And I am all with Kid Bitzer.
Jim
p.s. Props to Jed of the JedReport whose RSS reader pointed me here in the first place, though TNC made me stay.
Why can't I quit you TNC?
Seriously. You are among the few blogs I visit several times a day.
Much love. We ain't goin' no where.
TNC, like Trinity almost said:
"I wish I could quit you . . . "
Nah, I an't goin' anywhere and don't you go anywhere either! Great site yours!
Apparently, Ralph Nader went on Fox News last night and called Barack Obama an Uncle Tom. Shep Smith wasn't havin' it, god bless him, but the clip is making the rounds on YouTube all the same.
Don't quit, TNC. It's not over. It's never over.
Yeah. What they said. Don't make me start singing like Jennifer Holliday to prove it. I'm too emotional today as it is. Seriously, coming here several times a day is a habit I don't plan to break. Love this place!
When Yglesias left -- I was disappointed, but I gotta say -- I now look forward to your blog more than I did his. You're commenters are pretty top notch as well.
While I like most of your cohorts (ambinder, sullivan), and I tolerate some of the others (mccardle). Yours is the one I relate to the most.
There was a story in a book I read recently, and the narrator talked about finally moving into a nice place with a doorman. He was happy to have fulfilled his dream, but at that moment, he realized that he would never truly be part of the community that was now locked outside his door.
Whatever you do. Don't forget to venture outside the confines of your own world. It's the only way to keep perspective.
I'm a new reader, but I will definitely be sticking around! Thanks for all you do.
I actually still take issue of your description of Talib Kweli as having an inability to rap to the beat (of course, that was before The Beautiful Struggle and Eardrum, so maybe you've changed your tune).
Dude, that's the worst stuff he ever did. Once he did that he went from "eh, but he'd make a good ghostwriter for someone who could rap" to just plain garbage.
Didn't expect to find these in the NYT:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/05/opinion/05intro.html
Poems about the election. I am partial to Ashberry's effort, but since is the most vital poetry/politics web stop I've visited, I felt compelled to let you all know about it.
I ain't going nowhere. This is one of the blogs I fully intend on continuing reading now that the election is over. And as long as I keep comign here, I'll surely eventually remember to pick up a copy of your book.
Plus...you know the party is just getting started! Post-racial politics and all. If that existed.
Looking forward to reading more of your wisdom and humor....
OMG how embarrassing... I meant I'm not going anywhere, TA-NEHISI!
Sorry... just a little giddy, you know? What a night, what a day!!! And damn I love me some Atlantic bloggers. :-)
So happy to hear about the wage slavery. I only discovered you when you moved to the Atlantic, and would be distressed if you left, even though, as an aging white lady, I don't always understand what you are talking about.
Enjoy your day off and that wonderful feeling, but come back!
Your blog is the reason I started reading political blogs again, after deciding they were all written by irrelevant wonks. Now the Atlantic blogroll is a daily stop for me. You provide such an an excellent, throughtful, levelheaded perspective. A perspective that understands politics, social issues *and* the importance of JLU! It is irreplacable!
This is honestly my first comment on the web. Never really felt compelled to leave comments, just not my bag. Please, please keep blogging.
"Oh no! Oh no! Oh please don't go! We'll eat you up, we love you so!"
TN- I also just discovered you through Bloggingheads (great appearance btw) and have been visiting your blog pretty regularly ever since. I hope you'll keep writing, because your voice is unique and inspiring.
Enjoy your celebration today. Last night was f-ing surreal!! --Uncle Eb
TNC - I am grateful for your style, writing and otherwise. Please stay and keep on being wonderful!
I think this is easily one of the best blogs out there, along with Matt, Ezra and TPM. I will certainly continue to read TNC every day. With the election over, the fun is just beginning!
And while there are many insightful and brilliant people who have blogs I love, this is one of the few that seems to be written by someone who is a writer first, and that makes a big difference. I don't mean to take anything away from the Krugmans and Yglesiases of the world - I read them every day too - but you offer a wonderful and unique perspective that would be sorely missed.
I hope you keep on blogging for a long time. I was just saying to a friend last night, I read all these blogs and see all these talking heads on TV, and I always wonder, who the hell are these guys? Why am I listening to them?
I don't know who the hell you are, either. But your words sound like you're the type of guy I like to know; just a normal man with wide interests and smart insights on the world around him, who thinks about things and calls them like he sees them.
My very Irish husband found you sometime in the last year. You somehow opened up his mind to the African-American experience in this country, and he has come to respect your voice and your views. I visited because he kept referencing you. Now I reference you--and quote you--to my AP English students fairly often. You are a fierce thinker and an incisive writer, with a personal voice that delivers every time. I love following your mind around our world. Keep up the good fight against sloppy thinking and stale beliefs wherever you find them. We are listening.
I, too, am grateful for your voice....raising three black children as a single white mom, I am particularly grateful for your male and fatherly voices.
And, as a dj for an ecstatic dance group, I totally love talking about music....and listening to your picks....i'm now over 30,000 songs on my macbook.....
spread love, it's the brooklyn way......
I enjoy your writing. Keep it up. I also enjoy your commentors. Deborah and Moe Larry Jesus are great. I too keep referencing you to my husband. I have tried talking about blogs at work....but people just look at me like I am SUCH a loser, and so I have just given up there.
Found you via John Cole at Balloon Juice, and damned if this isn't one of the best blogs I know. Politics, culture and a commentariat who understand the difference between Magneto and Professor X.
I feel strangely at home here.
If the Atlantic ever boots you, they boot me, too. I ain't leaving till then or maybe ever. You better not stop.
NOOOOOOOOOOOO
TNC, I personally need you.
How about some posts on the globalization of hiphop?
je t'adore, cher.
When the Atlantic put you on its blogs, I started reading you and I now check in daily. I enjoy your voice, your humor and your thoughtful analyses so much that I am gradually coming to grips with the fact that you appear to support the Cowboys. The cognitive dissonance here is painful. Oh well. Keep writing. I'll keep reading. (Oh, and GO 'SKINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Ta-Nehisi,
You S.O.B!
My RSS reader was full enough without you making me subscribe with your insight and writing and such.
Damn you.
Love,
cooliehawk
I hope you stay around.
I'm a recent reader, but you've quickly become one of my favorite bloggers.
Good political instincts with reasonable and sane perspective, a huge football fan and a Marvel comics geek.
It's like we were separated at birth.