Ta-Nehisi Coates Interview

Rochelle Coloma

Blog Post #3

All three interviews were very compelling and showed different sides to Ta-Nehisi Coates. The interviews included aspects of his personal life, his beliefs, and being an author.  From a viewer standpoint, the interviewers were not afraid to ask deep, controversial questions. For Ta-Nehisi, his responses evoked critical and carefully thought out words. He then furthers his responses by going into greater detail, as if telling a story, for better clarification.

In the first interview with David Remnick, I got a sense that both had respect for one another and when it came time for the harder questions, Ta-Nehisi responded at full force. There was so much passion and knowledge behind his words that if often left me thinking more. For example, the interviewer brought up his encounter with Cornell West and asked him how their meeting transpired. West was someone who gave Ta-Nehisi a bad review where he disagreed on many of the things Ta-Nehisi believed in. During his meeting with Cornell West, he describes him to be aggressive with his words. I was awed that rather arguing back he left that conversation without creating any tension and thought West to be inspirational in some sorts. West was a sort of challenge that Ta-Nehisi acknowledged and welcomed. Also, it was a way for him to understand that not everyone will agree on his views. In one part of the interview, David stopped Ta-Nehisi when we said, “The World has it more righter than America like China and Russia.” David immediately questioned him how was it that Russia's dealings with mass incarceration were better than America. The sudden question gave way for Ta-Nehisi to improvise and responded back with some statistics. He explains that there is a ratio of 750 inmates per 100,000 in America and Russia had 500 inmates per 100,000. This diversion allowed not only the interviewer but also the listeners as well to have a better understanding.

As we continue to see these sides of Ta-Nehisi Coates in his own works, his attention to detail and intellect were factors that allowed the interview process seamless and inspiring at the same time.