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Why Ta-Nehisi Coates is hopeful

Jun 4, 2020

Guest

Ta-Nehisi Coates

Ta-Nehisi Coates, acclaimed author and voice on racial issues, discusses his surprising sense of hope in today's social landscape. He contrasts current movements with the struggles of 1968, champions the idea of nonviolence in governance, and critiques the societal double standards around protests. Coates explores the evolution of activism, the role of the state in justice, and how we should view citizens as neighbors rather than adversaries. He also reflects on Joe Biden's political journey and the ongoing importance of compassion in addressing systemic injustice.

01:32:23

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ANECDOTE

1968 vs. Now

Coates's father, a Vietnam vet and Black Panther, compared the current protests to the 1968 riots.
He noted the broader resonance of current protests across diverse communities.

insights

INSIGHT

Hope and Progress

Ta-Nehisi Coates sees hope and progress in the current protests, unlike his father's experience in 1968.
Multi-ethnic solidarity and broader awareness of Black suffering are key differences.

insights

INSIGHT

BLM's Impact

Black Lives Matter effectively used technology to expose police brutality in Black communities.
George Floyd's death isn't new; the ability to broadcast it widely is.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Reflections on Racial Justice and Activism

03:28 • 19min

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The Complexity of Riots and Nonviolence

22:13 • 9min

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Envisioning Nonviolence in Activism

30:53 • 17min

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Beyond Retaliation: Rethinking Governance

47:28 • 7min

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Reimagining State Roles and Community Dynamics

54:16 • 25min

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Biden's Political Evolution

01:19:39 • 11min

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Punishment and inequality in America

Bruce Western

In *Punishment and Inequality in America*, Bruce Western examines the recent era of mass incarceration and its profound effects on American society. He argues that while crime rates decreased in the 1990s, this was largely due to increased police presence and changes in the drug trade, rather than increased incarceration. The book highlights how mass incarceration has exacerbated inequality, particularly affecting minority communities and limiting economic opportunities for former inmates.

The Radical King

Cornel West

Martin Luther King Jr

The Radical King, edited by Cornel West, presents a comprehensive view of Martin Luther King Jr.'s philosophy and activism, focusing on his critiques of capitalism, militarism, and systemic racism. The book includes lesser-known speeches and writings, offering a fuller picture of King's ideology and activism beyond his widely recognized advocacy for civil rights.

The country between us

Carolyn Forché

Carolyn Forché's 'The Country Between Us' is a poignant collection of poems that document her experiences in El Salvador during its civil war in the late 1970s. The book explores themes of violence, human rights abuses, and the impact of U.S. involvement in Central America. It is a powerful example of 'poetry of witness,' offering a personal and historical account of a tumultuous period.

Humankind: A Hopeful History challenges the idea that humans are inherently selfish by presenting evidence of our altruistic behavior throughout history. The book takes a multi-disciplinary approach, drawing from history, economics, psychology, biology, anthropology, and archaeology to argue that humans are more peaceful and friendly than commonly believed. Bregman sides with Jean-Jacques Rousseau's view of human nature in the state of nature debate, opposing Thomas Hobbes' more pessimistic outlook. He also discusses the concept of 'domestication syndrome' and how humans may have self-domesticated, leading to a more cooperative and empathetic species.

How to Change

The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be

Katy Milkman

In this ground-breaking book, Katy Milkman reveals a proven path to help readers move from where they are to where they want to be. Drawing on her original research and the work of her world-renowned scientific collaborators, Milkman shares strategic methods for identifying and overcoming common barriers to change, such as impulsivity, procrastination, and forgetfulness. The book offers innovative approaches like 'temptation bundling,' using timely reminders, and creating 'set-it-and-forget-it systems' to make change more achievable. It emphasizes the importance of tailoring solutions to specific roadblocks and using science to stack the deck in favor of successful change.

Between the World and Me

Ta-Nehisi Coates

Between the World and Me is a personal and literary exploration of America's racial history. Written as a series of letters to his 15-year-old son, Samori, Ta-Nehisi Coates reflects on his own experiences growing up in Baltimore, his education at Howard University, and his career as a journalist. The book delves into the realities of being Black in America, including the historical and ongoing impacts of slavery, segregation, police brutality, and mass incarceration. Coates shares personal anecdotes and historical insights to prepare his son for the challenges he will face as a Black man in America, while also offering a broader critique of American society and its treatment of Black bodies. The book is a powerful and emotional exploration of identity, history, and the struggle for racial justice.

The first question I asked Ta-Nehisi Coates, in this episode, was broad: What does he see right now, as he looks out at the country? “I can't believe I'm gonna say this,” he replied, “but I see hope. I see progress right now.”

Coates is the author of the National Book Award-winner Between the World and Me and The Water Dancer, among others. We discuss how this moment differs from 1968, the tension between “law” and “order,” the contested legacy of MLK, Trump's view of the presidency, police abolition, why we need to renegotiate the idea of “the public,” how the consensus on criminal justice has shifted, what Joe Biden represents, the proper role of the state, the poetry Coates recommends, and much more.

But there’s one thread of this conversation, in particular, that I haven’t been able to put down: There is now, as there always is amidst protests, a loud call for the protesters to follow the principles of nonviolence. And that call, as Coates says, comes from people who neither practice nor heed nonviolence in their own lives. But what if we turned that conversation around: What would it mean to build the state around principles of nonviolence, rather than reserving that exacting standard for those harmed by the state?

Book recommendations:

Punishment and Inequality in America by Bruce Western

Marked: Race, Crime, and Finding Work in an Era of Mass Incarceration by Devah Pager

The Country Between Us by Carolyn Forche

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Editor - Jackson Bierfeldt

Researcher - Roge Karma

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