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Who is Ta-Nehisi Coates and what did he say about Charlie Kirk?
Ta-Nehisi Coates called the late Charlie Kirk a "hatemonger" in an interview, sparking controversy while condemning political violence.
Popular journalist and writer Ta-Nehisi Coates has caused a row with his comments on Charlie Kirk, the recently deceased right-wing activist. Kirk was fatally shot at an event of his organization, Turning Point USA, at Utah Valley University on September 10. More than a fortnight after his death, Coates commented on it in an interview and sparked a controversy, calling Charlie Kirk a "hatemonger" who "shouldn't be celebrated."
Ta-Nehisi Coates spoke to New York Times columnist Ezra Klein for an exclusive interview, which went on air earlier this week. In the interview, Coates claimed that the "truth" of Charlie Kirk's life was "hate."
"I think Charlie Kirk was a hatemonger,” Coates said. “You know, I really need to say this over and over again. I have a politic that rejects violence, that rejects political violence. I take no joy in the killing of anyone, no matter what they said.
"But if you ask me what the truth of his life was, you know, the truth of his public life, I would have to tell you it’s hate. I’d have to tell you it is the usage of hate and the harnessing of hate towards political ends.”
Who is Ta-Nehisi Coates?
Ta-Nehisi Coates began his journalism career with The Washington City Paper and went on to work for several other local publications, including The Village Voice, Time, and Philadelphia Weekly. His first major break came when he joined The Atlantic as a national correspondent and wrote several essays that gained significant popularity.
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Alongside his career as a journalist, Coates is also a highly accomplished writer, who has written several best-selling books and well as contributed to popular movies as a writer. Among his books are The Water Dancer (2019), his debut novel, followed by The Message (2024), his latest work. Additionally, he has worked with the Marvel Studios for the Black Panther and Captain America series.
Notably, he is the son of William Paul Coates, a Vietnam War veteran and former Black Panther, who founded Black Classic Press, a publishing company specializing in African American literature.
