Ta-Nehisi Coates | The Power of the Word | SXSW 2018

Ta-Nehisi Coates & Jeffrey Goldberg
Ta-Nehisi Coates is a national correspondent for The Atlantic where he writes about culture, politics, and social issues. His book Between The World And Me won the National Book Award in 2015. He is also the recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship. Coates’ forthcoming book, We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy will be available on October 3.
Ta-Nehisi Coates is a 2018 SXSW Conference Keynote (Convergence).
About SXSW:
SXSW dedicates itself to helping creative people achieve their goals. Founded in 1987 in Austin, Texas, SXSW is best known for its conference and festivals that celebrate the convergence of the interactive, film and music industries. The event, an essential destination for global professionals, features sessions, showcases, screenings, exhibitions, and a variety of networking opportunities. SXSW proves that the most unexpected discoveries happen when diverse topics and people come together. SXSW 2018 took place March 9-18, 2018.
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[@jenniferlee5871]

“ I like the space and the time to think” somehow, this line he spoke meant the most to me.

[@Brainwashed101]

I really like Coates' humility regarding the bit about the label "public intellectual" conferring some presumed expertise about a wide range of subjects. I wish more "public intellectuals" observed the same.

[@slindilengcobo3235]

I can’t help but admire how Ta-Nehisi is committed to his craft

[@datboyjeff]

Coates knows exactly who he is and is comfortable expressing that here. There are a lot of people who are a mile wide and an inch deep, and he is actively trying to be the opposite. That makes perfect sense in the broader sense of his place within the Black Community and the American community at large.

[@aarondixon2731]

Has no Calling outside of his Job...

[@dezotoole]

For a while I reisisted the "our Baldwin" moniker for Ta-Nehisi Coates because I thought it denied the particularities of people with different sensibilities and careers. Upon reflection, the similarities are striking. Both JB and TNC are always deeply personal yet universal; both write and speak like angels; and they're both so fun to watch because they're charismatic, witty and surprising. And even when they have ready answers you always feel like you're watching a person *think.*.

[@prcty]

Could it be that their "ready answers " are more about their ready position? It's has to do with the inherent belief from James Baldwin that he always felt that "history is not something that you read in a book, its not even the past. It's the present. Because everyone operates, whether or not we know it, operates out of assumptions, assumptions that start and are only produced by one's own history. "

[@lmmayberry3703]

I love how Mr. Coates says what he knows of and believes. No sugar coat or minced word.

[@peacemanifested]

"Anger gets a bad wrap" so true!

[@ckks0nyoutube]

'...When you are throwing a punch, your feet have got to be set....' 👌

[@dbydesignbandele2820]

Brother Coates, I am with you about Facebook and Twitter, however, sometimes I am on Twitter but rarely. I have given up on Facebook even though I am not a writer (published writer), my opinions are clear to me but not necessarily to others. So, I will stick to being a grown-up, like you, and review my good limitations in society.

[@sharongillesp]

"How would you write if you were a black man?" to the host of the show. What's good about such a question is that we ASSume we understand "other" people when we don't. So I think it is honest that Coates refuses to answer the question.

[@Largo3point0]

Engrossing. Thank you!

[@wilsonchang5223]

40:41 This quote is on the wall of my classroom.

[@slindilengcobo3235]

What a professional this dude is

[@othaday54]

Sharing to FB and hoping that many folks listen to and engage with the perspectives that emerge from this conversation.

[@ORGANICsoulJAZZ]

Ta-nehesi and Akala conversation about James Baldwin

[@johnstewart7025]

I like the description of writing angry. That is what I like about Roth, Burgess, Amis, Waugh, Burroughs, especially Nietzsche. Some of these writers can be very funny, but there is always some acid there.

[@BigMikeHarlemWorld]

Definitely my favorite part!

[@icenicxofrazier]

SXSW team, I wanted to note Coates' book, We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy, came out in October of last year and isn't forthcoming.

[@banduphutic2575]

Icenic Frazier cvvccc

[@BlvkColossus]

The greatest writer of our generation.

[@ggallin5946]

"and i think i know whaiiii.."

[@sasquach3.090]

Ta-Nehisi, please Debate Eric July. I think it would be interesting!

[@slindilengcobo3235]

37.30 Nope I agree it’s not his job. I really like how he views his job.

[@ORGANICsoulJAZZ]

Racism is a luxury.

[@njosborne6152]

Yesterday, His Most Supreme Pettiness Led a Chant On 4 Black Congress Women “Go Back to where you came from, leave!” “Throw her out!” It’s a sickness and It doesn’t get more Racist than that‼️ Can’t wait for the next movie‼️ Thanks man!

[@savoyabraham7907]

apostle at work Fargo north Dakota and crystal City Texas

[@rjseps222]

Clean up your room Coates, Red Skull is watching 🦞🦞🦞🦞

[@AtypicalPaul]

It is very frustrating when you show someone proof of the facts, science, studies, and they are still set in their "beliefs" so many people have their own beliefs on things that are easy to disprove yet they are willingly ignorant. I can only come to the conclusion is that they feel comfortable in their false reality. Any thoughts ?

[@justins9786]

you seem to believe that your opinion is completely true and therefore everyone who disagrees with you is completely wrong and your enemy. Throughout all time, people with differing opinions have been able to coexist and converse about their differing opinions without assuming that the other is ignorant.

[@slindilengcobo3235]

43.10 there’s nothing about Donald trump that strikes me as reflective. And then a decent come back by the interviewer on Earth 2. Enjoying seeing Ta-Nehisi converse freely

[@jenniferlee5871]

Why all the cameras? Sit down and listen and learn, you don’t need a photo to do that. What a weird comment on these times.

[@njosborne6152]

We have women of color that are running for the POTUS against the Donald‼️

[@zg577]

you bring in so many black people from so many different countries and regions for the first ever black superhero movie.... and at the end of the movie...they all end up fighting THEMSELVES...wtf? great flick bruh.... real revolutionary...

[@ashleycbla]

It proved a point of what should change is what I see the point of that is.

[@pigspigs76]

I wonder if this person realises the irony of talking about the power of the word while using old world pronunciations of cracker slang that thrived in places like Baltimore evidently

[@halmoore8558]

Save your brain cells and listen to Thomas Sowell or Walter Williams instead.

[@vl8962]

Anger and resentment only builds anger and resentment..... Obama's divisive rhetoric resulted in the Trump phenomenon and his divisive rhetoric

[@munsonmusclefitness]

What rhetoric did Obama have that was divisive?

[@vl8962]

@@munsonmusclefitness Obama presented as a unifying force during his election.... But instead he played up identity politics, was harshly critical of American exceptionalism, was weak and apologetic in foreign policy, and ignored large portions of middle America

[@munsonmusclefitness]

@@vl8962 again. You said he was divisive? How was he divisive? He played identity politics? You mean he was a politician. You have said a whole lot of nothing here

[@vl8962]

@@munsonmusclefitness " You didn't build that business" "You can keep your doctor" "Trayvon could've been my son" "Can't just bring those jobs back... I don't have a magic wand" "they cling to their guns and bible..." Iran deal, Fast and Furious, Response in Michael Brown case, Response with ISIS, his apology tour, spying on journalists, record amounts of deportations, military cuts etc. Being divisive or using divisive rhetoric doesn't mean it's always loud and boisterous. Obama was subtle but very clear, he was the beginning of what the democratic party has become; out of touch, divisive and economically illiterate ✌

[@munsonmusclefitness]

@@vl8962 you are just spouting things you dont agree with, you haven't made a case for him being divisive. What you are doing is gish galloping. I get it you dont like Obama but you still haven't made a case for calling him divisive. "If I had a son he would look like Trayvon" That statement was just accurate and you have to reach hard to make that "divisive" "Hos response to Michael Brown" Well what was his response?

[@stanleynolly1841]

???????🤥🤥🤥

[@Honchos_Jefa]

The lack of enthusiasm when asked how many of those white people saw Black Patnther was poignant.

[@michaeld6262]

I found the interview to be purely an incomplete metamorphosis of a young man who has only observations about the world at large and the political realm in which Americans live. Some have posted that he doesn't need to solve the problems or come up with solutions. Anyone can sit in interviews and give their opinions on what they observe, but without proof or offering the least bit of resolution to their feelings about what is happening in the world, the butterfly isn't really going to be free from its cocoon of self-perpetuated narcissism, and in essence, is trapped almost forever. I offer a counter viewpoint espoused by Professor Jason Hill of Depaul University who gives not only observations about the narcissistic problems posed by the alt-left, but solutions that will provide for a more sensible dialog, that presently is unavailable because of the political/social theory of universities that they are always right, and when you don't agree with their world view, you are demonized with un-civility never seen in this country before, including name calling and acting the way a three year old would when they didn’t get the toy they wanted. This is truly a sad commentary on the illiteracy, arrogance, and ignorance promoted by higher education foisted upon students, at a very costly price, and without a guarantee of a future, and the lack of willingness or inability of students to rise to the level of moral reasoning, which requires putting one's emotional responses on hold, and looking at the bigger picture. It seems that putting the blame of our present issues such as immigration and what not is the easiest way to attempt to shove off our own responsibilities and not take ownership or be even willing to listen and ponder on viewpoints that do not agree with us. That apparently has not worked and only caused those with this attitude to be shunned for their disrespect to classic institutions that gave the moral framework for social living that works. If you are so concerned with the immigration problem, ask yourself if you would be willing to actually take the time and money to house a family with children and help them get on their feet. If you are so concerned about our national defense and preservation from gangs and cults, how many M13 members or Islamic Jihadits who want to kill in the name of Allah, would you like coming into our country to become friends with and have them in your hood. Thinking requires raising, not lowering, your moral bar of intellect, feeling, and attitude than you have ever been challenged to do, and requires you to dump your own bias. How many of you can really say you can do that, and how many of you really want to? Once you have achieved that constant you will be actually able to hear the voice of others speaking and perhaps even take note of the solutions they offer without living in the realm of constant anger and emotional outrage. Be quick to listen and slower to speak said a wise man.Just saying-

[@aboubacaramine8689]

I think you'd have to be a fool to believe you can think without emotions. The general right-wing attitude towards immigration and other issues have been fuel by rich white self-preservation and fear of losing power, all covered in so called hard logic. Take your bit about MS13 and Jihadists (both you spelled wrong) for example. What a striking instance of thinking with fear and making the problem bigger than it is. If you were really thinking with numbers, you'd realize how small - like next to zero - the percentages of gang members in latino immigrants and of Jihadists in muslim immigrants are. And if they get to cause any kind of harm, that's next to nothing when you put it up against other types of domestic terrorism, crime and death rate at large. I don't see this 'incomplete metamorphosis' you're talking about. Racists (I'm not saying you are) have this piece of mythology about black people that we are some kind of race of eternal children. Coates is more mature in my view than most intellectuals out there, especially because of how transparent he is about stuff he doesn't know. He doesn't just give opinions, he bases all he says on hard data. Most of the time he actually goes against emotional thinking. In the interview he mentions for example the journalists who go in Trump country trying to collect some regretful Trump voters. Coates rather just looks at the data and goes "They voted for him knowing what they would get." Yes, he has his biases - he never claimed he didn't. What he says is "Don't act as if you don't have your own biases, White Man." Classic institutions gave a moral framework for a society that works mainly for white people. There's no way around that, the data is clear. The rest of us have just struggled to ride along and have been used as fodder countless times. That hard fact provokes anger among us. That anger's link to the fact that's being put to light makes the anger itself relevant.

[@johndoughboy2651]

You're criticizing him for giving an opinion, yet you conclude your post with "just sayin." Instead of being a hypocrite, do us all, and yourself a favor: cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/324/1*HI4kj-TPAQrfQkAdrw2KTA.png

[@sunniqa899]

Almost nothing comment on are things he’s talking about. He even lightly criticized “intellectuals” and people in his field for the kind of reporting they do and certain practices they commit to. You can see him think before every response and he frequently pauses and states that he wants to phrase things in a certain way. Imo he never comes off as angry in this interview. Definitely frank, but also genuine and that’s exactly how he writes. So what are you talking about?

[@MartinHeyamBieleckiBigArt]

Perfect distribution of wealth is possible without giving up any capital or any goods in general by any Americans. Cryptocurrencies are the solution!

[@Jay-tl7lb]

Crypto is so volatile atm, we cant use something as unreassuring as that as a case for reparations. If reparations actually takes place using crypto, resentful whites in high places would just make sure to crash the crypto economy and we r back to square one and cant make any more cases for reparations. political power is also necessary to make sure that sinister moves aren't made to stifle whatever progress we would try to make using the capital that was provided. black politics is just as important for the case for reparations.

[@do4846]

Not impressed just a bunch of talking and words to sound wise people will listen and follow anybody cause they talk good it’s funny

[@rantingegalitarian4043]

and yet you listened :)

[@iamanomas]

One would think this educated man could say ‘ask’ and not ‘ax’.