Ta-Nehisi Coates - A Unique Take on a Familiar World in “The Water Dancer” | The Daily Show

Author Ta-Nehisi Coates shares how it felt to have Oprah pick his novel “The Water Dancer” for her book club and discusses how he developed his own interpretation of slavery. #TheDailyShow #TaNehisiCoates #TheWaterDancer
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[@kevinmandujano5639]

Read “Between the World and Me” in one sitting about 2 weeks ago and today just finished “The Water Dancer.” And now seeing this interview I must say he has a brilliant mind and cant wait to hear more from him and read his other works! Outstanding job , Ta-nehisi Coates 👏🏼👏🏼

[@jeffrenjr]

I wrote a piece about "Between the World and Me" this semester and I really enjoyed it. Seeing him here again brings back good memories

[@hnttakata713]

Jeff Ren I would like to read your work

[@oediyoradio]

I’m currently reading the book and it’s honestly more amazing than you think.

[@lauraw.7008]

I read it after watching this youtube - absolutely powerful.

[@pops1507]

You really think so? ELDER ON 2020 FLOYD PROTESTS facebook.com/watch/?v=869238866899883

[@NellieKAdaba]

Great to know.

[@marvinseton7357]

“Between the World and Me” is a masterpiece I read in college. Coates knows a lot about American history, especially the dark side... Respect ✊🏾

[@black9897]

It's full of bullshit. He doesn't know history very well.

[@brandonchacon7745]

It was amazing. I got the audio book and listened while some lo-fi music and it was truly a vibe

[@shane-o-matic]

This was the best book I’ve read since The Alchemist. I’ve reread that book every year and a half or so for the past ten years. The Water Dancer is that kind of book. I can’t wait to read it again next year to see what future me gleans from it.

[@kosewa1]

Shane S I love the Alchemist too. I believe I highlighted every word in that book. It was a joy to read and I had a wonderful time writing my book report for my English class. You’ve made me really want to read this book.

[@shane-o-matic]

Chris P I will check it out. I’ve heard great things about it, but it will have to wait. I’m reading Frederick Douglass by David W. Blight (a little under 800 pages🙃). You could also check out Blight’s book, Race and Reunion. A fantastic book about reconstruction and one of the books I actually took notes from that wasn’t part of any assignment. I learned a lot I didn’t know. 👌🏾

[@shane-o-matic]

kosewa1 You will love it. The only “slavery” story where I don’t feel dejected reading. I found myself speed reading to get to the next part, taking it to work to read while at lunch. It leaves you feeling hopeful not helpless as many such stories do. AND...I feel sequels coming. But that’s just me.

[@jeremywlett]

Ta-Nehisi Coates had a profound impact on my world view, and his work is invaluable to our nation, history, and culture. Thanks for killing it out there. You fucking rock.

[@lisaesmeralda9112]

So this book is about slavery.. supernatural powers.. and women kicking ass.. sold

[@sheilameyers152]

kisscoby I'm coby.....yesss!...It spins around a story of teleportation with slavery as a backdrop. Pain and suffering coupled with fantasy! Imagine that!

[@AnonYMouse-ky4sg]

Andi amo ?

[@Marvelerence]

@Andi amo you're everything that's wrong with America right now

[@richandacarter1529]

Ikr!!! My friend, who was a young white freedom rider, always gets me a new novel every year for my birthday (Dec. 25th btw😁); I have never made a request, but this year....!!!

[@bfg9k_]

Sounds like Watchmen

[@julie91295]

there need to be daily show playlist that comprise all authors/book related interviews. EVery time I watch Trevor Noah discussing a book and ask these poignant questions with the author, it makes me want to read that book asap.

[@njosborne6152]

2 of my favorite guys. I’m looking for time to read it.

[@badiansietemil0314]

Calling someone a slave is dehumanising them and normalizing slavery on a linguistic level, an enslaved person is a person first and being enslaved is immediately an unacceptable situation they're in.

[@ikradahir721]

Well said

[@abbie4949]

I have been saying that for the last 30 years, language and words are so powerful and the way the abduction of Africans, & their subsequent enslavement is taught or not taught in this country is completely lacking. Great to see a whole book w/out those words. Dehumanization is completely left out and is in fact continued by the way slavery is taught in this country.

[@abbie4949]

The Middle Passage, which is rarely mentioned & when it is it's in song; or in all lower-case & without punctuation, like in Beloved by Toni Morrison, is the first major process of dehumanization of those Africans, which still continues w/ media (language/words) today. Dehumanization is the difference between American slavery and all other slavery, past and present.

[@njosborne6152]

Badian Sietemil Forgiveness is key and Letting slavery go is healthy This is exactly the way to do it. We can both move on While never forgetting At the same time. Peace y’all 😸🤟🏽

[@nicolekinzonzi1832]

@@abbie4949 hmmmm. Thanks for that succinct yet poignant analysis? Toni Morrison's Beloved held themes of Middle Passage?? I never knew???? Must revisit.

[@lokileigh4410]

This book was so good. And the audio book is read by Joe Morton, which makes it extremely listenable. Excellent performance.

[@evegu1]

Yesss, I'm truck deiver n the audio book was awsome☺☺

[@annegibson7867]

I can't wait to read this book

[@susiq1121]

I saw him live....i could listen to him all day...such a great wealth of knowledge of the history of this country.

[@Realminthebush]

We don't talk about it enough this is our history. People tend to get mad about OUR HISTORY.

[@mannygomez4272]

This whole segment and all the ignorant comments remind me of the yakety sax song. This is all complete none-sence. If you want to remain consistent with your logic; you should hate America for slavery, but, you should also despise America for getting rid of slavery. Get it?

[@andrevrd]

Such a great interview. I knew it would be good from the moment he said he's happy he's done promoting this book.

[@njosborne6152]

It’s a joy to listen to these 2 discuss humanity from different but similar circumstances

[@deborahblackshear3325]

I must purchase this book. Thanks for the reminder Trevor.

[@deborahblackshear3325]

@@irfanjessani7174 go have several seats. You do you. Your opinion.

[@mlayarmalaysia3257]

Prepared for sealevel rise? Efforts by #MLayar

[@GoldSag1]

I'm halfway through the book. Its great!

[@user-wr5he7df6z]

Slaves=hostage Slave dehumanizes the victim...while the word Hostage criminalizes kidnapper....

[@lakep7798]

1111 V2 Never thought about that. Well said.

[@The.Nasty.]

I guess it would depend on how you view the term slave... if being a slave is better than being a hostage, to you, then that better be a hill you’re ready to die on. I’d say the relatability or sympathy to “slave” would depend on the individual and how volatile they thought the word was. (That’s a phrase not a death threat for anyone who may think otherwise and REEE at me a month from now)

[@Grimscribe732]

Haven't read his book yet, just many of his essays, but I most certainly will correct this sorry state of affairs next year. Coates is, without a doubt, one of the best writers of this generation, and I say this despite disagreeing with many of his views.

[@tk2730]

I can listen to him talk all day ! 🙌🏾

[@MsCDorsey]

I just finished the book. Yes, everyone should read it!

[@unionsfaitlaforce6429]

Claudia Dorsey thanks I will

[@magnumopus8202]

I love this man

[@gggg-mz2gk]

"They were not human to me. Black, white, or whatever, they were the menaces of nature"- Black supremacist Ta-Nehisi Coates talking about 9/11 first responders

[@nicolekinzonzi1832]

If ADOS and their allies "cancel" Thanksgiving, Christmas, Halloween, New Years and other holidays I am certain there would be a SERIOUS discussion about Reparitions. The one way to get corporations to listen is to adjust spending. America is one of the most wealthy corporations in the world.

[@chrisallison9151]

I have often heard black Americans refer to reparations for slavery as "securing the bag". Do you think that's the wrong way to look at reparations when their ancestors suffered under slavery

[@nicolekinzonzi1832]

@@chrisallison9151" securing the bag" slang sounds like a hustle. The big problem with the reparations debate comes from within the community of Blacks and the identification with that term. Africans don't see themselves as black and neither does any person who arrived in America via airplane from Africa and the Carribean. The problem with people's from the Carribean arriving on planes and not being allowed in the reparations discussion is an example of this problem of American descendants of slavery. The ships docked on thosee shores also. When people with Ill or irresponsible intentions hear the word reparitions, they think about one thing and one thing only and this kind of thinking unfortunately creates many problems that become unresolved That's why I suggested a reparations movement that would present us seriously and maybe encourage fiscal responsibility in our collective thinking. I personally would like to see every descendant from slavery given opportunity to attend college free of charge with stipend for books, meals and housing. Upon graduation, given startup money to create a serious opportunity in a free market. Oh yeah and they must maintain grades of C. Colleges like Georgetown that sold their slaves to keep their doors open.

[@mlggamer5296]

Wow he's fascinating. And I totally agree on the issue of Colin Kaepernick. It does matter who does the cancelling and in this case it was a bully of a president just for kneeling during the anthem. Totally ridiculous

[@wombat7961]

Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter, was a compelling action movie & now I wanna see Harriet Tubman as a teleporter like the "Jumper" movie

[@sotoayam08]

I come here only for “ how to pronounce his name? “. Thank you Trevor

[@kathys254]

So funny! Keef, on the show, "Woke," was intimidated by an accusation that he probably didn't even know how to pronounce Coates' name, when I realized I didn't either.

[@nicholasschoonbeck6866]

nobody talks about his comic book work enough, his captain america & black panther books are awesome -

[@MissOJAY]

Fam🤯what are they called??

[@iabmedia5751]

Powerful

[@juschill1]

I won't be surprised when this book turns into a screenplay and is made and distributed through Tyler Perry Studios or Byron Allen's Entertainment Studios.

[@juschill1]

@Chris P I'm on strike for anything she writes. Aaaand... im just not pressed to see it. The premise just seems very waithe'd 😄

[@mrb.2497]

Chris P I haven’t seen it yet. What did you think??

[@user-wr5he7df6z]

@@juschill1 byron allen has a white wife...

[@juschill1]

@@user-wr5he7df6z so does Jordan Peele and Donald Glover but I'm sure a lot of "US" did "Get Out" to watch "Atlanta". 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@monicanavarro2906]

I wonder why so many black male celebrities have white wives. Like almost all famous ones have a non-black wife.

[@08FayFay]

❤️❤️Te Nehisi❤️❤️

[@malofokanneh7579]

Best writer ever

[@patsylvest]

Write without demonizing people.... what a concept!

[@normansmith9009]

yeah, a concept that clearly he forgot

[@adamamunu3046]

I can't wait to read it Godwilling!

[@thebigsiulofficial]

Help! We assamese people of India are in trouble, due to the bill of C.A.B that government is passing.Our internet line will be cut so that we can't connect rest the world and protest like Kashmir, please report the case.

[@lauranawire5079]

Just out of curiosity, what's the bill about?

[@Rexeny]

@@lauranawire5079 kindly check here m.economictimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/citizenship-amendment-bill-decoded-what-it-holds-for-india/articleshow/72466056.cms

[@thebigsiulofficial]

This is serious please

[@INKonPaper23]

Oh shit I think I wrote an essay about one of HIS essays

[@ASJ3211]

He should work with Lupe on a movie about "the long chains"

[@susanmcclusky2952]

Enjoyed the book. I found it fascinating. What about a sequel? How the Underground Railroad ran during the Civil War?

[@galaxylucia1898]

It may sound like he's being ungrateful when he groans and says he never wants to talk about his book ever again, but as an unpublished writer I can only empathise with the sheer frustration of having to talk about what you WROTE...ugh. 🙄 Can't wait to read this book tho!

[@kjdnyhmghfvb]

Exactly, people are more worried about people saying, we don't like that and are opting out versus a government saying we will use our powers to destroy you just cause.

[@JasonPuckettNY]

i think an important question to ask also is, does ta-nehisi age

[@andeeerrigo6847]

Dear Trevor,,,You are always great to watch,,, but I was wondering why when u have on book authors and such,,, you don't give the studio audiences any free books or goodies?

[@albertaadams4640]

Not in the budget. Not every host is Oprah rich

[@sandrallewellyn2632]

Also, depending on the show it's the author or the guest who provides the "goodies"

[@tyrfree5733]

He doesn't own the daily show. It's the daily show WITH trevor Noah. The oprah show is oprah's show. Produced by her production company. Very different.

[@kbdosally3701]

Thanks for fighting for the descendants of Slavery. #ADOS!

[@humilitybeforehonorsmk2311]

Funny story, I was telling my brother about this great book and great author and my brother says "that's our cousin ". I said get out of here! And I go look up finding your roots and sure enough his ancestors last name is the same as mine and lived near where I live now. I kinda wanna stay a little anonymous but it won't take much to piece this together. Lol.

[@jonathanulloa1109]

Nobody should be cancelled, it's called freedom of speech.

[@sandrallewellyn2632]

You're right in the sense that people who are ignorant should be given the chance to learn and change, *BUT* it is absolutely necessary that as a society we publicly declare what is unacceptable. However, cancelling people makes it hard to have growth - it makes us all on edge to varying degrees because we're ALL problematic to varying degrees, you could be next! 😮

[@emilsoderman3691]

This is the first time I've heard Coates voice, rather than just reading his prose.

[@Tsunamiguy7751]

Emil Söderman ?

[@denyze7461]

Emil Söderman ... 🤔

[@mlayarmalaysia3257]

Sea level rise preparation. Effort to save humanity

[@Tsunamiguy7751]

MLayar Malaysia ???

[@mlayarmalaysia3257]

@@Tsunamiguy7751 Maritime Level Alarming Youths Are Responsible #MLayar

[@RubyRim]

Oh wth why am I so early?

[@hainish2381]

Of course who is cancelling makes all the diference. I expect the right to want to supress dissidence. Not my fellow lefists.

[@francwlms1175]

What the left does is gather (in various, known and unknown, was) the enlightened minds of the "marginalized" and proceed to take (in various was, known and unknown) their knowledge under the guise of unity. The left is no better! Socialism is what is NORMAL. You own what you create.

[@kathys254]

Wonderful perspective on the cancel culture!

[@John_the_baptized]

“A Case For Reparations” was an amazing article.

[@tamimiller4896]

Do the Irish and Asians get Reparations also? I mean so many were forced into slavery off the boat, not to mention they were also forced to fight in the Civil war.

[@mlayarmalaysia3257]

Preparing for sealevelrise #MLayar Requires global support

[@SalihSabir]

Tami Miller but they didn’t face the enormous amount of segregation after.

[@tamimiller4896]

@@SalihSabir Are you serious? I see everyday how the lower class is being treated, ( never mind about color) it's no longer about color, it's about income.

[@mlayarmalaysia3257]

@@tamimiller4896 Agree 👍

[@mhunkofficial4741]

🤗🤗

[@natly3123]

Ok ...so do I comment on the video or mark my spot .as a commenter🤷🏽‍♀️🤷🏽‍♀️

[@ivexcrustaceanYT]

Hi

[@crescendo5500]

Ayyy 22

[@giftneokgoete]

There's floods all over SA get me a ticket to join you braaka

[@johnmaina8868]

Reading 🤓

[@evansheehan9258]

Isn’t this the guy who hates firefighters?

[@thebigsiulofficial]

Help!

[@aisnota5192]

Nobody bring up his run on Captain America or this entire comment section will be set ON FIRE.

[@granville7]

The world knows many forms of slavery. The slavery from 'Roots' may be the most prominent but by no means to most prevalent, certainly not today. However, please keep in mind there are still millions of people living in slavery today. You just have to look more carefully.

[@etb6425]

And your point is....?

[@granville7]

'unique and generational like no other' could apply to every institutionalised slavery in human history. Slavery has been with us for thousands of years. Just for the last 200yrs the western world has abolished it. The US shamefully needed a few decades longer to come around on paper and even then they didn't do it right and fudged the whole thing and it is felt still today. However, the slaves throughout the ages from the ancient Egyptians, Mesopotamiens, Greeks and Romans, for the Chinese of old, for the Muslim rulers from Indonesia to Morocco or Berber and Arabians wouldn't want their suffering overlooked and there are still parts of Africa today where slavery is very real. There is a whole group of people called 'slavs' who derive their denomination from being used as slaves by their neighbours. Just because we have a small mind doesn't make something 'unique and like no other'.

[@sheilameyers152]

Andrew L Pickfordlll.....right to that....it was a whole century.... people were kidnapped from their homes in Africa and forced into slavery in America. Generations of people lost children and other family members due to swap selling.

[@denyze7461]

G C ... Thank you. A solemn and much needed reminder. The people in Trump’s border cages are enslaved to Stephen Miller’s will.

[@kbdosally3701]

@@denyze7461 Can we just for once focus on ADOS without the whataboutism? Comparing the immigration issue to generational enslavement is insulting. Stop it right now 😡.

[@Xguy890]

Manipulates ProbAbility Manipulates Matter Manipulates Luck Manipulates Fortune Manipulates Chances Manipulates Tries

[@zitalove2718]

😍 Fan I am getting everything he as ever written.

[@ButterflyAngle12]

There's some new wave of books for some reason right now everybody's writing books

[@KTravRuNEr]

Get Coleman Hughes on

[@nicolekinzonzi1832]

NOT! Gross

[@KTravRuNEr]

Nicole Kinzonzi gross? That’s a sophisticated reply.....

[@pectoralis1565]

So isn't anubody going to talk about how his parents tried to name him Tennessee?

[@renise011]

Is that what they told you over dinner?

[@pectoralis1565]

@@renise011 yes (nope). Its just what I was thinking as I tried to pronounce his name in my head.

[@thesilliestbetch]

poto poto

[@habtamubeyenego]

Africa won Noble peace prize!

[@denyze7461]

Habtamu Beyene ... Africa is a continent with many countries. Which person in which African country won the Nobel Peace prize when?

[@myprograms2093]

Wole Soyinka Nobel prize in Literature 1986

[@myprograms2093]

Nigeria

[@felixvelasquez4473]

😂

[@The.Nasty.]

Oh... the guy who when 9/11 happened admitted he could only think of himself and people like him while simultaneously mocking the rescuers down on the ground? Seems like a stand up dude 🤮

[@ashiksaleem360]

10 comments

[@ashiksaleem360]

I am early

[@babarazamsucks]

First!

[@babarazamsucks]

Hosea Tangeni Yes I am.🥶😹

[@christianrincon9171]

T.N GOATes

[@LosIzmad]

Trump needs to be canceled.

[@nicolekinzonzi1832]

Hilarious 😂😂

[@francinescott5686]

Ha Ha. trump did not get impeached!

[@wilsonlu7394]

The zesty october wessely trot because chive qualitatively pray midst a ancient eye. ruthless, curious scraper

[@thebigsiulofficial]

Government is bringing illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

[@ZambetulDePrimavara]

Ta-Nehisi should control a little more his speech. He repeats too much "you know".

[@MrCvjalexander]

ZambetulDePrimavara I actually love that he does not try to change his speech pattern. He is real, and “you know” is an important part of his vernacular.

[@t10events11]

He's a writer, not a speaker

[@ZambetulDePrimavara]

@@MrCvjalexander Learning and having a more coherent speech doesn't make it less real. I do advocate the idea that a public person has to be a little more careful about what they speak about and how they are saying it. But I guess everyone has his/her own focus point and his/her own public. I find it hard to follow an idea when he repeats the same two words every 10 seconds, but maybe I'm not his kind of target audience.

[@ZambetulDePrimavara]

​@@t10events11 I do have a friend who writes amazingly but finds it a little more difficult to make an equivalent coherent speech. I'm not saying that this is unusual or that it diminishes his valor as a writer, just that it may be a point worth working on.

[@nicolekinzonzi1832]

@@ZambetulDePrimavara you're to focused on grammar and NOT content is all. Get out of your editing head.

[@mary-janeigwagu2376]

He's a terrible interviewee. Yes we get that you've been doing press for a while but he made it seem as if trevor was forcing him to talk about stuff

[@cocobenji6123]

Right? And even if you laugh it off, it is not good business strategy.

[@joychase5930]

I am totally disgusted by Trevor Noah’s ageism and mean depictions of anyone older from Nancy Pelosi to Joe Biden to everyone. One day YOU will be old, if you are blessed to live that long!

[@katiem82850]

I watch a lot of Trevor Noah and have never seen what you've described, so my perception of your comment is that it reflects more on you, how you're seeing the world, and how you're projecting your own insecurities onto Noah.

[@epona9166]

I also watch Trevor a lot and don't see that in him at all.

[@olivierbic2965]

both sellouts!!

[@marvinseton7357]

“Between the World and Me” is a masterpiece I read in college. Coates knows a lot about American history, especially the dark side... Respect ✊🏾

[@thebigsiulofficial]

Help !

[@thebigsiulofficial]

Help!