Can you write an article...any article. Without mentioning race? No one really gives a crap about your race. Just write something that's informative. We or at least I get it. You are not white. No one cares. Every single thing that happens in this world is not about race. You are doing a disservice to yourself and this web site. I stopped reading your articles. Once in a while I check back and yep...it's about you... not being white...Well, no. It's about you...not being black...
Here's a more benevolent one:
Its very simple. As a a recent convert to your blog (being a huge reader of your neighbor Andrew), I have learned more about race in three weeks than Lord knows how many years.White people: I appreciate your patronage. In fact, you comprise most of my audience. My black readers are cool, but I deeply suspect that none of them bought my book. Plus Negroes don't click through ads.
Its nice to hear your voice. Franklin Douglass would be proud that the baton was passed to you.
You're now on my mac toolbar. Pressure's on! heh heh heh Keep up the good work.
That said, I do have one request--I'ma need for ya'll to not call Frederick Douglass, Franklin Douglass. The man was too bad-ass for that. Give em his 'spect.
The Beautiful Struggle: A Father, Two Sons, and an Unlikely Road to Manhood 
Maybe he got Frederick Douglas mixed up with Franklin from Peanuts ?
LOL. Give him some credit for trying. I bet he knows all the 411 on Malcolm Luther (tha) King, Jr. and Martin X.
Let the man make it.
Franklin Douglass? Wasn't he a point guard from Syracuse?
Oh wait, that's Sherman Douglas. Never mind. This is that whole George Washington and George Washington Carver confusion all over again.
Come for the Ta-Nehisi, stay for the comment threads, that's my motto.
Ok..you are perfectly correct about this Negro -- I read your book but did not BUY it (but I do have a pc excuse -- I am green and only borrow books from the library if I can help it) and I never, never, never click on ads.
I hit a lot of used bookstores. Haven't paid full price in forever. More people need to buy themselves a new copy 'cause theirs is all worn out. (Of course, I'm white, so I'm not sure where I go in the tally.)
Hey, at least I read it recently. I'm trying to support my local library, throw me a bone.
Son. I have a store-bought hard cover copy of your book that I fully intend to sell when you get famous (since you signed it).
Stop defaming your people!
Lies!! Damn lies!!
I got five on it. lol
Well played.
I always find it hilarious when people write to a blogger to complain that he isn't writing about what the reader wants him too.
Wow you mean the free content that merely required you to clck on web link to read isn't something you are interested in. Gee here is an idea, don't click on the link to that blog, instead spend your time reading one of the trillions of other blogs out there, odds are there is one that is covering exactly what you want to read about.
hey man! i feel left out...what about the brown brothers from the other side of the pond? when do we get a schooling?
There's a "Brown Brothers v. the Board of Education" joke in there somewhere, but I can't quite find it.
I think u just did!
...but I deeply suspect that none of them bought my book.
I didn't want to hurt your standing with Byron York.
And we enjoy patronizing you. Or something.
But, dammit, you're still not using the word "comprise" correctly. Fix it!
I bought your book--and new! Tryin' to support a brotha.
In America, we look to our black brethren and sistern to continue to develop the English language with incisive vernacular phrases that are then assimilated into the general culture, such as "Oh, snap" and "Step off". IMHO, we are way overdue for a new way of saying "Thank you for participating, though you have had nothing useful to contribute." British culture floated a promising yet ultimately annoying spin on this with "You are the weakest link. Goodbye." It gets old too fast. And there's the classic "Your lips are moving, but I'm not hearing a word"(origin unknown), which is clever and cutting, but much too long. So please, AA wordsmiths, hear my plea. America needs a new phrase that conveys the idea "I'm listening, I'm open to new ideas, but for the life of me I can't find value in a single word you're saying." I know these things take time, but please, we need it by the end of the summer. BTW no "Talk to the hand" retreads please.
Pardon my ignorance, for I am neither Black or White But are you sure "Oh, snap" has a black origin? It sounds very whitey to me.
According to Urban Dictionary: "First known usage was by the 1980's rap song "Just a Friend" by Biz Markie. Its a "rated G" way of saying "oh shit".
'sounds very whitey to me' - this is exactly my point. The half-life of hip urban phrases is getting dangerously short. We must step up production or face a new linguistic depression.
"First known usage was by the 1980's rap song "Just a Friend" by Biz Markie.
That cannot possibly be correct. Biz didn't really hit until like 1986. I can tell you for a fact that the phrase was in very common usage among 6th graders in 1981 and the phrase was actually getting a little tired by then.
brent, the quote is "1908s" not 1980
I cannot swear to the etymology but I can say that the phrase was very much in use in the all-black neighborhood of my childhood nearly 30 years ago. Its funny because I was just thinking the other day that its pretty incredible that people are still using that particular phrase. Now, of course, it is used more ironically but everyone seems quite familiar with its intended usage. As slang goes, it has sure shown some endurance.
Eh, that's pretty much usually how it goes. People can be saying a word for decades but before it gets written down in something that's published --- a newspaper article, a novel. Then when people come along a hundred years later all, what's up with that? Where did that expression come from? they only have the written version to fall back on. (And if they can't find any written examples from back in the day, they usually just start making stuff up. Port out, starboard home.) The racier/shadier the meaning of the word the more likely this is to happen. This also helps words change --- if people hear something enough without ever seeing it written, they often remember it slightly wrong, or switch it so it's closer to something they do know the meaning of. For all intensive purposes. :)
Or at least this is how it worked before Urban Dictionary. Now you can have 70-year old country club Republicans a mere google and a click away from gay bathhouse slang. Lipton, anyone?
but it has to be true, I read it on teh internetz.
Here's another etymological theory of Oh Snap. I might be caught in a big assumption after all.
The one that immediately comes to mind is the James Brown tune "Talkin' Loud and Sayin' Nothing". It's about 30 years old, but it still works!
that's golden...
Think that first emailer also tells Sully to stop talking about being gay? Maybe he goes to Feministe and tries to stop them from talking about chicks.
"I'ma need for ya'll to not call Frederick Douglass, Franklin Douglass. The man was too bad-ass for that."
Not as bad-ass as Robert Smalls, IMO. Which makes this a good time to thank you for recommending Capitol Men. Not that I actually bought it. Library.
Negroes don't click through ads.
First, this cracked me up; then, it made me sad. (I bet they use Adblock and NoScript too.) You ought to start a "Negro, click through" campaign. (Alright, I think I'm back to being cracked up now.)
Literally laughing out loud at the idea of a "Negro, click through" campaign. I have visions of Russell Simmons and P. Dudley Do Right trying to co-opt this for some reason. ("Click or Die"? I don't know, it's the end of the day, I'm delirious and bored.)
Click an ad, click an ad, click a motherf&*%in' ad...
Five minute Photoshops always suck, but whatever.
Does anybody click through ads?
I try to make a point to, sometimes, on sites I like and trust. I'll fire up Internet Explorer and click through a bunch of ads on different sites. I've got a folder full of sites that I do this for once a day (or so, but I like to tell myself it's every day).
I was told Negroes don't read. So if we don't read - why should we buy the book? Besides... I was waiting for the film version...on bootleg DVD.
I mean come on Ta-Nehisi if you're gonna call us out... call us out good. lol
I actually bought something from an ad on Balloon Juice the other day. But that was the first time I'd done it pretty much ever.
Supposedly; I hear the web runs off them there things.
I think I've clicked on two, ever - and each time I was like "Oh shit, I can't believe I'm doing this!" - I felt like some kind of pervy freak. I'm pretty sure both clicks were via Penny Arcade too. They have ads for shit that's actually interesting.
Oh. And Adblock+Noscript FTW.
I read this blog for insight. I keep reading this blog for the double entendres.
I have no doubt that white people will continue to patronize you for a long time. :)
Best
Sorn
lol! But, me too.
I bought it. So there.
for the life of me i can't understand how people can not use some kind of adblock and stay sane
anyway, no clicking through ads from this Jakubite "Howard Street" fan, but i did buy & immensely enjoy reading your book. thank you
on the other hand, i think it'll take a while till i renew my subscription to the mighty A (Kaplan falling hard for militarism over and over...meh)
I'm feeling so dissed. I don't click through adds, either.
"My black readers are cool, but I deeply suspect that none of them bought my book. Plus Negroes don't click through ads."
These are the two funniest lines I've seen you write on this blog. Damn. I literally laughed out loud, and that sort of joy is frowned upon at my work, so I tend not to do it.
"Franklin Douglas." Wasn't he the black kid on Charlie Brown?
Read before posting moron.
Well, I'm white, but...
Sorry. Couldn't resist.
OK, so maybe I don't click the ads, but I did buy your book. As a matter of fact, I bought it from a book store. Normally I would go through half.com, but because you're a Bison, I supported you directly. Take that, take that.
I keep trying to buy your book, but bookstores in Phila don't seem to carry it. What's up with that?
I bought as well, albeit paperback (We are in a recession after all) Also, thanks for the recommending Dream City. As native of Barry's childhood home of Memphis and DC-transplant, the portrait of Barry and DC was a riveting, if not frustrating read.
Fact 1: Not only do i not click through ads...I dont even SEE them. not here...not anywhere. Its like my eyes avoid anything not part of the actual blog post.
Fact 2: The ONLY reason I bought your book is cause i remember when you wrote that cover story on Priest da Nomad for the Wash City Paper. dude would NOT stop gassin you up about how dope you were (back when people actually CALLED dudes dope)
Im sayin if i didnt "know" you...ida copped that from half.com for real.
I will sign up for the Negro-click through campaign as soon as you get an appropriately fine sista to do a youtube for it.
While I admire the inclusiveness this post has spawned, sometimes I can't help but feel like the little latina girl in "Lean On Me" trying to get an audience with Joe Clark. This blog is a must read for me, and I doubt anything will change that...a little love for my latin brethren would be nice from time to time. We are kinda topical these days...there is a big effort to criminalize/demonize a people for risking their lives to get to land that was once theirs to work crappy jobs in hopes that a family can continue to survive.
That said, I don't have a problem with anything you have written regarding race. I think your voice is important and needed in all aspects of the daily going's on, racial and all else.
I now present Kid Frost:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gX5NgDR6ERw&feature=related
Not so fast, Mr. Coates:
Not only did I buy your book, but my book group---Black Men Read?!---also all bought the book, and we'll be discussing it this coming Saturday evening. I'm sure your comment was tongue in cheek, but nevertheless, you got support, homes!
I'm white, I haven't bought Ta-Nehisi's book, and I do not click through ads.
I read this blog because of the race related posts and threads, but I also read some of the other posts. I do not read any of the posts about video games or sports.
I want Ta-Nehisi to know that I really do intend to buy the book, I just haven't done so yet.
I admire the chutzpah of the first guy: 90% of blackness is being constantly being reminded of blackness. We're only black in public. I'm most certainly not black when I'm in my slippers on a Saturday morning eating my cold KFC leftovers watching School House rock reruns....
Adding insult-- the reader acted like you were trolling his neighborhood like a Jehovah's Witness at 8 in the morning, pushing your race on any unsuspecting white readers who might come your way.
TNC: this negro only understands negro-friendly click-throughs. If it's not something from Afro Sheen or SoulGlo, I just don't get it. This negro IS cheap and only purchases books that are directly impacting her degree. All else comes from a library. Many, many apologies. But since I just picked up Sag Harbor, I can't in good consicience not buy yours. I can't support Whitehead and not support you too. You've shamed me into it like I've let down the team. My bad. My bad.
This negro did not buy your book. I'm impatiently waiting for a hook-up from one of my bougie friends (evan, I'm looking at you).
Oh come on blogro, I bought your book AND got is signed. And then loaned it to a free-loading white boy. POST RACIAL!
Is that blo-gro or blog-ro? Makes a hell of a lot of difference.
I don't mean to hate, but is this a blo? Do we read blos? are there bloers bloing in the bloosphere?
Also, I have Ad-blocker, so yeah I don't ad click. But I Boot Camp Clik. A-M-P-B-Double-O-T-C
I'm just here to learn about WoW.
For your first emailer--extreme non racial stuff "C'etait un rendez-vous," which appeared in my mail today: a Ferrari 275 GTB, in Paris at 5:00 of an August morning. If you know the city, the route is from Porte Dauphine, through the Louvre, to the Basilica of Sacre Coeur. A short film by Claude Lelouche that was shown once in Paris in 79, after which Lelouche was apparently arrested.
A lot of room-room in this one, high speed down shifts, hard turns, highways and alleyways of the City of Light. What? The Arc de Triomphe? Look out autobus; look out pigeons; et tu Nascar, merde alors! You can archive it if the guy mails you again. Not about Coates, but all about race, or racing, and the only person in is a French woman at the end whom the driver is in an awful hurry to see:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqHrCLt3Geo
Great Gravy.
Bought the book when I saw you and your Dad together.
But, you sho' right about me never clicking on an ad.
Wait...you wrote a book?!? Where the heck have I been (as I slink away embarrased).
Man, you know when you're trying to remember a name or something and you get interference from a different but phonetically similar one? Like you're trying to remember Jenkins and you get stuck on Higgins or something?
Yeah, so I read Franklin and knew that sure as hell wasn't right, but I got stuck on it and COULD NOT think of Douglass for the life of me. This was horrifying not only for obvious reasons but also because it was holding me back from just laughing and laughing and laughing. Schadenfreude denied is a truly terrible thing.
Frederick Douglass' hair alone was too bad ass for a Franklin, why does he get no credit for basically starting the afro?
Hey now, I totally bought your book! ;-)
You know, maybe it'd be a good idea to start talking about things the first poster does like...http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/
Though, I'd take his words with a grain of salt, as #101 illustrates a possible motivation for his/her outrage...http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2008/05/28/101-being-offended/
Me? I don't care...I come here for the Black POV...and the hip-hop...and to nag you about not remembering Chaka Khan's birthday.
My black readers are cool, but I deeply suspect that none of them bought my book
TNC do really think that? Are you trying to get a rise out of "Black Readers"to buy your book? I for one do not read alot of Non-Fiction. It has to be a truly interesting person. I voted and campaign for Barack Obama, who is truly a "interesting" person and is going down in history and I didn't buy his book. I did buy and have all of Derrick Bells books... "Faces at the Bottom of the Well: The Permanence of Racism" and "And We Are Not Saved: The Elusive Quest for Racial Justice ".... Buy his book,check him out............
Read the other comments in the thread. It's a joke. We do that around here.
Oh, I was going to say..........................
No way is this blog all race all the time.
NFL, baby, NFL. Don't forget the Cowboys !
By the way, TNC, when are you going to write a book about them?
Anyway, the blog's quality, regardless of the topic.
The pithy stuff's already been said about your emailer. Wonder if he's puffed up about getting air play or if he's quaking with rage because we all recognize what a tool he is?
TNC,
For the record, I purchased a hard cover version of your book some time ago. In fact, it was a book club selection of the month (based on a review someone read in a "black" magazine), thus four other "black" women also purchased hard cover copies of the book. So give your peeps a little slack.
I'm new to the blog. Found you one day by way of Talking Points Memo and The Daily Dish. I enjoy your perspective on issues of the day. I'll be back.
Don't know if I should be pissed off, or smile about the white reader thing, and us white bookish folks all being basically the same. You've met one, you've met them all.
Age? Living on a different Continent? No matter.
Which is probably the point.
I'm so joking. Hang around. We do this all the time.
Ok, so someone who is new to your blog (and perhaps to black history) got the name wrong. That doesn't mean that all of us white folks who read your blog and usually enjoy it are ignorant, any more than it means that all black people who read your blog are either. So what's up with your sorta snobby correction of the reader who got Fredrick Douglass's name wrong (tone picked up by your readers)? You can't accept a compliment from someone who doesn't know what you know but who wants to learn from you by reading your blog? Bummer.
You need to read another blog. I have said several times that it's a joke. The post is written as a joke. If "Negroes don't click through" doesn't set off your irony meter, if a thread full of comments with people laughing doesn't clue you in, if the fact that the guy who I was joking with (Miwome) actually coming in the thread and laughing along doesn't let you know that something's up, then you really don't belong here. The internet is a big place. This is one small corner. It's not for everyone.
jmackin: like TNC sez, hang around. As a rule, when I start reading a blog I go back through its archives to get a gist of the general atmosphere. It's all good and hood up in here. By the way, no one in the US should of gotten the brotha's name wrong. That's American history.
Here's to hoping TNC doesn't have to reply to every newbie on the block.