The Atlantic - Latest Comments in Illustrious Company

Re: Illustrious Company

namhenderson — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:04:04 -0000

"Ghetto-centric thuggism"....

Can i just say that is a genius phrase!!

You sir are a true wordsmith.

Re: Illustrious Company

Andy L — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 08:51:49 -0000

I heard the interview yesterday. You were solid.

Re: Illustrious Company

heroofthebeach — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 01:44:12 -0000

I thought this was first broadcasted around MLK day? Because I totally streamed it in late January.

Anyway, congrats! It was a great listen.

Re: Illustrious Company

PGS — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 22:03:01 -0000

Nice interview. I thought you had the whole hour, so listening to the first interview was an interesting surprise.

Re: Illustrious Company

farragut foster — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 21:56:50 -0000

huh... so that's how you pronounce your name. Go figure.

Great interview. Boy, you sure go hard for Howard.

Re: Illustrious Company

JDinBalt — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 20:37:37 -0000

I got to hear part of it, towards the end. Loved every minute, TNC, around the part about Howard U being like New York City. Very nice interview.

Re: Illustrious Company

bernie cremin — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 20:10:58 -0000

I'd like to use your book for classes at the Tulsa Academic Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. There is not much diversity in these kids lives. Exposure is a wonderful thing. Sharing another reality might be an eye opening experience, and a positive one at that. I need to find something to pry their mids away from the reality of gangs which dominates their youth. Dreaming...I encourage it. Knowledge is the power that might allow some of these young cats to escape in the reality of a world far from their current grasp.

Re: Illustrious Company

Ta-Nehisi Coates — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 19:57:42 -0000

Appreciate the Biggie ref...

Uhm, very little difference in the kids from Canada. Most of the parents were from the islands, but that was true of the New York cats too. The thing is, when it's only black people around you, you tend to focus less on the differences, because there's no other reference point. There's no bigger "white" thing to compare yourself too. So a lot of the "what is and isn't black" talk kinda dissipates. At least, that was my experience.

Re: Illustrious Company

From Canada — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 19:53:15 -0000

THC, You mentioned in your interview that you met black students from Toronto at Howard. What different points of view did Black Canadians have compared to your American classmates?

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The Frackness — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 19:18:04 -0000

Doesn't the "concrete flower" come from some Tupac imagery about a rose growing out of the concrete?

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The Foulness — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 19:16:46 -0000

"Blowing up like you thought I would

Call the crib same number same hood

It's all good..."

Re: Illustrious Company

Maddie Ayres — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 18:56:12 -0000

Great interview...I appreciate your articulate introspection (thank you mom)- I'm playing this interview for my kids.

Re: Illustrious Company

Gully — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:55:24 -0000

BTW - there is also an interesting conversation about the pronunciation here:

http://www.languagehat.com/archives/003378.php

Re: Illustrious Company

Gully — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:47:19 -0000

To Help out TNC-

He talks about his name here:

http://ta-nehisicoates.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/09/good_question.php

Re: Illustrious Company

Mike Barnett — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:20:04 -0000

As we drove home today from school, listening to Fresh Air, my 17 yr. old daughter asked (enthusiasticly), "Where is Howard University?" (Oops, my bad!) What would have been my usual, long drawn-out, fatherly answer was reduced to two letters, DC and she was listening.

TG's job was easy today, her show lived up to its name once again, I have some new reading to do, and most importantly my daughter's intellectual radar caught a serious blip.

Thanks, Man.

Re: Illustrious Company

JC3 — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:12:33 -0000

I just heard the interview on NPR here in Phila. Then i read an exercpt on Amazon... I had to order the book. I cant wait to read it! The American Dream!!! It's like my own childhood!!!

Please continue doing what you do! You have a new fan!

Re: Illustrious Company

Tony Comstock — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:05:41 -0000

I liked the comments about Howard. The whole idea of a young black fellow finding out that black people aren't a stereotype was a new one on me. I know you've talked about it before, but somethign about hearing it.

Re: Illustrious Company

reggie — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:01:36 -0000

Can't wait to listen to this.

TNC,

Just noticed the paperback cover for TBS. Congrats, man!

But seriously, tell me whose idea the whole "concrete flower" was... ;)

Re: Illustrious Company

Kelly — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:46:57 -0000

I heard you too - it was very interesting. I need to go back and hear the first part of the interview too. And I was glad to hear how to correctly pronounce your name. I'm interested to hear what it (your name) means too!

Re: Illustrious Company

Bruce — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:42:01 -0000

Nice...incidently, what does your name mean?

Re: Illustrious Company

carsick — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:30:19 -0000

I heard. You did great.