Ta-Nehisi Coates vs. Malcolm X
Side-by-side comparison of two thinkers
Ta-Nehisi Coates
1975 – present
Ta-Nehisi Paul Coates is an American author, journalist, and activist. He gained a wide readership during his time as national correspondent at The Atlantic, where he wrote about cultural, social, and political issues, particularly regarding African Americans and white supremacy. He is politically progressive.
"I would not have you descend into your own dream. I would have you be a conscious citizen of this terrible and beautiful world."
Malcolm X
1925 – 1965
Malcolm X was an African American revolutionary and Black nationalist leader who rose from a background of poverty, family disruption, and criminal activity to a prominent figure during the civil rights movement until his assassination in 1965. He discovered the religious organization the Nation of Islam while in prison and served as its spokesperson from 1952 until 1964. He was also a vocal advocate for Black empowerment and the promotion of Islam within the African American community.
"The young whites, and blacks, too, are the only hope that America has, the rest of us have always been living in a lie."
Connections
Both wrote about: