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You are here: Home / Open Threads / Excellent Links / Open Thread: Happy Birthday, Mr. Coates

Open Thread: Happy Birthday, Mr. Coates

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While I was on involuntary hiatus, I didn’t get to share the news about Ta-Nehisi Coates’ new sideline as a Marvel comics writer. From the Washington Post:

… Coates is slated to write a new Black Panther series beginning this spring, Marvel announced…

The year-long story line is called “A Nation Under Our Feet,” after the Pulitzer Prize-winning book about black political struggles in the rural South. With a narrative centered around revolution, terrorism and heroism, the series will embody the intersection of several of Coates’s preoccupations, including a comic-books fandom that he has nursed since he was a child…

Black Panther debuted in a volume of “Fantastic Four” in July 1966, actually preceding the founding of the Black Panther Party that same year. But in many ways, he shouldered the gauntlet raised by the radical black nationalist group: the Black Panther (whose given name is T’Challa) hails from the fictional African nation of Wakanda, to which he returns during the height of a revolution.

The son of a onetime Black Panther member, Coates is familiar with political unrest, at least when it comes to literary subject matter…

Vulture also reprinted a long interview from April: “Ta-Nehisi Coates Unpacks the Way Comics Have Conquered the World“.

Last weekend, the very British, very establishment Financial Times gave TNC its “Lunch with the FT” treatment…

Paris has its own problem of racial segregation, so when I arrive at the restaurant 15 minutes early and spot across the room a tall black man already hanging his coat over a chair, I know at once: this must be the American writer Ta-Nehisi Coates. Black people are scarce in upmarket Parisian restaurants.

At the start of this year, Coates, who turns 40 on Wednesday, was a fairly well-known journalist. He had published a little-read memoir about growing up in Baltimore, The Beautiful Struggle (2008), but his reputation stemmed chiefly from a 2014 article for the Atlantic magazine arguing that the US should pay black Americans reparations for slavery. Then, this July, his slim book Between the World and Me was published in the US amid national furore over the #blacklivesmatter movement, protests in Baltimore and the massacre of black churchgoers by a white man in Charleston, South Carolina. The book argues that the “destruction of black bodies” is not simply a constant of American history but the very foundation stone of white American “progress”…

Reader Interactions

65Comments

  1. 1.

    redshirt

    I wonder if he’ll be involved in the film. I doubt it, directly, but this PR will no doubt play a part. It’s a big deal for the comics to get someone with Coates’ buzz to commit to storyline.

  4. 4.

    benw

    I hope Coates has fun writing a comic. It’s too bad the best comic writer/artist of my generation of comics fandom, Frank Miller, went off the fascist deep end. When he was on his game, before he went nuts, his run on Daredevil, Wolverine, Ronin, and Dark Knight Returns were the best in there ever was.

  6. 6.

    Mike J

    @benw: William Gibson’s daughter just had her first comical book published. Perhaps talent is inherited, or at least picked up from constant exposure.

  7. 7.

    MazeDancer

    TNC celebrated his Marvel-ness on Twitter long and loud, and it was most enjoyable.

    On another note, I was wrong. I thought Pope was a savvy PR type. Or was at least advised by same. Those perfectly worded speeches seemed so dedicated to expanding the fighters in changing Climate Change and World Poverty. Alienate no one seemed to be his goal.

    So, since it would be PR suicide, not to mention stupid, to meet with a small-time grifting hater like Kim Davis on such an important, expensive, long planned journey, where people like Ken Langone only managed to buy their way onto St. Patrick’s steps for a handshake, thought no chance Kim meeting Pope happened in any way except through plotting by his enemies.

    Apparently, I was wrong. NY Times said it happened for realz.

  11. 11.

    benw

    @Mike J: I really enjoyed “Spook Country”, once of W. Gibson’s recent books. If his daughter is like her old man, she can write a mean thriller.

  12. 12.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @MazeDancer: Even EJ Dionne was saying Papa Frank stepped on his own story. He was reporting that the US bishops are not happy, and the Papal Nuncio who arranged the meeting, a Benedict appointee who is due to step down, may find himself having health issues (with no family he wants to spend more time with) earlier than expected

  14. 14.

    ? Martin

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: Well, let’s be honest here. We have a country where we have elevated people into positions of power who support this kind of grifting and intellectual dishonesty. Huckabee, Santorum, Cruz, etc. are all current or former federal or state elected officials who would all use their authority to request a meeting with the Pope.

    We put people in power that should not be trusted, but will be trusted entirely because we put them in power. This is our fault.

  15. 15.

    ? Martin

    @Mike J:

    Perhaps talent is inherited, or at least picked up from constant exposure.

    Opportunities are inherited. She may be no more or less talented than the rest of us, but by virtue of her dad, she was far more likely to be given the chance to succeed.

  16. 16.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Suzanne: I am not actually being a hipster here. I think his MacArthur grant is perfectly justified, but I find the reverence for him that some on the left have as unjustified. He has an interesting point of view and he writes extraordinarily well, but he is not an oracle. I posit that he would agree with my last sentence.

  17. 17.

    MazeDancer

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    Apparently, Lawrence O’Donnell reported, as well, that the meet was arranged by Papal Nunciate, a hardliner who was already scheduled for removal. So, sabotage cannot be ruled out after all.

    But failure is still real. For Pope to meet with anyone in private on this PR mission trip on such a huge global stage was dumb. Pope has to know that US politics is a minefield. And on this trip he could not meet with anyone – especially one-on-one, especially in a meeting arranged by a guy he had already fired – he did not fully know everything about.

    Unless Pope finds a way to leak something significant that undercuts Kim’s celebrating this heavenly support, damage is done.

  18. 18.

    ruemara

    I think Il Papa was manipulated by Nuncio into giving the conservatives a media win. Not that I don’t doubt his homophobia, lite though it may be. But I don’t think it was something he wanted to do.

    On a synergistic note, I finished my rewrite for my shooting script. I scaled back on characters because I’ve had no luck with casting. Apparently, no men exist in the Sacramento area. Nor are there any very fit women. Yep. There’s only 5 people who act in the region. The rest are sylphs that vanish as the sun comes up. And now, I get to play a guy. I’m gonna need to go shopping for … an appendage.

  20. 20.

    benw

    @Frankensteinbeck: Amazingly enough, a long time ago I worked for a color rendering place that did Image Comics. I’ve literally scanned in original Liefeld artwork and colored it. We used to joke about the feet thing all the time.

  21. 21.

    ? Martin

    @ruemara:

    And now, I get to play a guy. I’m gonna need to go shopping for … an appendage.

    See, the 2nd Amendment will come in handy after all.

  22. 22.

    NotMax

    @Omnes Omnibus

    Cogent perspective?

    Okay, what’s the ransom for the real O. O.?

    :)

    Coates can crank out some good stuff, but subtlety and nuanced scrutiny of first principles (it’s always racism) are not in his wheelhouse. However, he’s young yet; do look forward to a wider-ranging wisdom accompanying aging to temper and more fully inform his writing.

  23. 23.

    redshirt

    @ruemara:

    I think Il Papa was manipulated by Nuncio into giving the conservatives a media win. Not that I don’t doubt his homophobia, lite though it may be. But I don’t think it was something he wanted to do.

    I think it’s this too. There probably is still a quite large conservative element in the Church and it is a political organization in its way so sometimes you do things to keep other people happy, like tossing a bone to the American right wing media. It means little in any real scheme, but for the PR, it’s gold.

  24. 24.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @MazeDancer: I saw DIonne on the O’Donnell show. I’d guess they’re both very plugged into the Chatholic hierarchy given their careers and their long time in DC. I suspect the US Bishops more directly encounter blowback from rich people who are fine with the anti-choice stuff, but have gay kids, relatives and friends and make fund-raising awkward

  27. 27.

    RK

    The Pope is a moron, Coates bores me and in time Trump will be throwing his feces at the media. Anyone want to recommend an off-center movie with intrigue? Saw Borgman, which someone recommended last week, but didn’t like it. It was well done but, from what I read, an understanding of Dutch culture is required to really appreciate it.

  28. 28.

    NotMax

    @ruemara

    If the venerable standbys (roll of quarters or rolled-up sock) won’t suffice, perhaps time to rethink inclusion of nude scenes…

    :)

    Contacted any local high school drama departments? Aging by way of make-up isn’t all that lofty a hill to climb.

  30. 30.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    I hope TNC has a multitude of happy birthdays following this one.

  36. 36.

    NotMax

    @RK

    Donnie Darko, maybe? (Note – Not the sequel, which is to be shunned.)

    Perhaps Dark City or The Stunt Man, if you’ve never savored those.

    Not all that intrigue-y, but well-crafted in the offbeatitude department:

    Baghdad Cafe (A kinder, gentler Jack Palance.)

    Smoke Signals

  38. 38.

    NotMax

    @Omnes Omnibus

    And I rightly praised you for cogent perspective.

    The rest was a gentle dig, the attempted humor of which apparently fell flat.

    Quoth Groucho: “They can’t all be gems, folks. You want gems, go to Africa.”

  41. 41.

    RK

    @NotMax: Thanks. Saw Donnie Darko, which I didn’t like, but will check those others out. Think I’ll try Dark City first.

  49. 49.

    Anne Laurie

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    I suspect the US Bishops more directly encounter blowback from rich people who are fine with the anti-choice stuff, but have gay kids, relatives and friends and make fund-raising awkward

    As someone who grew up in (but never quite of) the Catholic church, let me point out that the percentage of gay men who entered the priesthood during the second half of the 20th century is way higher than the percentage of gay men in the general population. Pope Francis, and all his bishops & cardinals & monseigneurs, personally know a lot of fellow seminarians (ones they consider good pious godly men) who can honestly attest their chastity has never been threatened by the besmirching sexuality inherent in us double-xx “lesser vessels”.

    In the Hierarchy, birth control and abortion reduce the number of new souls available for “saving”. Being a gay man — and I don’t speak Italian, but Francis’ remarks about gay sexuality are always translated using the male pronoun — is just another personal quirk, like being left-handed or color-blind. At least gay men have penises, and are therefore innately qualified for the priesthood!

  51. 51.

    NotMax

    @redshirt

    Enjoyed it as well, but doubtful it would fare all that well on a second look.

    Sometimes I hesitate to recommend b&w films, even if they are classic (some people nowadays just won’t take that route). However, for intrigue, The Third Man still stands up well to repeat viewing.

  53. 53.

    Mnemosyne (tablet)

    @ruemara:

    Why not expand your writerly vision and make your character an F to M transgender man? Would help explain the lack of appendages if anyone bothers to scrutinize your area.

    I second the suggestion to cast a wider casting net to local colleges and high school drama departments. You may not be able to assemble the Black cast of your dreams in your geographical area, so you may want to consider casting some of the roles as Latino or Asian instead.

  54. 54.

    ruemara

    @Origuy: I know. Studied at both.

    @Mnemosyne (tablet): Yeah, it’s open casting. I don’t really do all black anything except clothes. In this case, I’m not getting anyone male to show up. But, I did get the guy I wanted for the lead. The character I’m playing is about flamboyant artistic teachers, so any gender or lack thereof would suffice. I’m arrogant enough, perhaps, going to have to tap into my flamboyance. Still need some backgrounders though.

  57. 57.

    Morzer

    Part of a recently received email:

    I am Mr.James B. Comey, Jr, The New FBI Director; After proper investigations,we discovered that your impending payment that have been withheld by imposters, claiming to be LAMIDO SANUSI LAMIDO (Governor of the Central bank of Nigeria),Mr. Patrick Aziza, Mr. Frank Nweke, None existing officials of the Oceanic Bank of Nigeria and Zenith Bank, UK winning Lottery, Andy Lear of Hsbc bank, Coca-Cola winning lottery and among a list of others is now under our custody with the help of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Local Police Force.

    Investigations revealed that you have spent a lot on your personal earned money just to conclude the successful transfer of your funds to your nominated bank account by obtaining transfer documents as requested by the imposters, costing you a lot of money but all to no avail The FBI had to send some financial crime investigators from our head office in NEW YORK Field to Africa and Asia in other to carry out proper investigation

    The New FBI has given authority to the International Monetary Funds (IMF) to assist the Federal Ministry of Finance and all the organization involved; such as the Central Bank, Zenith Bank, and Legit lottery organizations to immediately commence with the compensation of all the beneficiaries awaiting the successful transfer of their funds. With the help of some of the best Internet investigators attached to the FBI, we traced your information from the Internet as one of the beneficiaries awaiting the successful transfer of funds to your nominated account.

    Who said the security state never did nothing for me?

  58. 58.

    Morzer

    Also noted: Charles P Pierce reacts to Frankenpope Does Kim Davis, with some very interesting details on various players in the circus:

    http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/news/a38405/pope-francis-kim-davis-visit/

    Everything he said about capitalism and about the environment is going to be drowned out because he wandered into a noisy American culture-war scuffle in which one side, apparently the one he picked, has a seemingly ceaseless megaphone for its views. What a fcking blunder. What a sin against charity, as the nuns used to say.

    This is, obviously, the dumbest thing this Pope ever has done. It undermines everything he accomplished on his visit here. It undermines his pastoral message, and it diminishes his stature by involving him in a petty American political dispute. A secret meeting with this nutball? That undermines any credibility he had accrued on the issue of openness and transparency. Moreover, it means that he barbered the truth during the press conference he held on his flight back to Rome, in which he spoke vaguely about religious liberty, and freedom of conscience, but claimed, “I can’t have in mind all cases that can exist about conscience objection.” He certainly knew the details of this case.
    ….
    So not only has the pope trashed whatever good will he’d accrued here, he (or someone) did so through a publication aligned with the forces in the church opposed to everything for which his papacy allegedly stood. He did a really stupid thing and he (or someone) is dealing with the dingier elements of the religious media to get the news out. Somebody needs to get fired behind this. Who are you to judge, Papa Francesco? I’m afraid you just did. I will pray for you, because, damn, son, you need it.

  59. 59.

    henqiguai

    @NotMax (#19):

    Offhand, Luke Russert and Donald Trump would seem to belie your hypothesis.

    Understand that genetic inheritance *is* a bit of a crap-shoot.

  60. 60.

    Woodrowfan

    but his reputation stemmed chiefly from a 2014 article for the Atlantic magazine arguing that the US should pay black Americans reparations for slavery.

    NO, he argued that the US should make reparations not just for slavery, but for the more than a century afterwards in which the US legal and financial systems were rigged to deny African-Americans the ability to advance in society, including such things as redlining.

  63. 63.

    Chris

    @Woodrowfan:

    Does this include the rigging all the way to the present? (Drug war, out of control cops, and prison-industrial complex imprisoning tons and tons of black people, poor funding of the inner cities, etc…)

  64. 64.

    PaulW

    I so totally f-cking envy Coates.

    He’s a best-selling author, he’s got acclaim and respect for his writings and research into the ongoing inequality woes of our nation, he’s getting to WRITE A COMIC BOOK SERIES – this is really where the envy kick in – and he’s officially able to put GENIUS on his business cards now. Also, he gets to travel to Europe on a regular basis.

  65. 65.

    Monala

    @NotMax: I’d say TNC is subtle and nuanced for some definitions of the words. He explores questions deeply, provides extensive evidence, usually with original source material, and gives credit where it is due even to those he disagrees with. The fact that his conclusions are often stark and uncompromising doesn’t take away from the fact that the case he makes to arrive at those conclusions is nuanced.

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