cover of episode Ta-Nehisi Coates Explores Oppression in 'The Message'

Ta-Nehisi Coates Explores Oppression in 'The Message'

2024/10/1
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Fresh Air

Chapters

Ta-Nehisi Coates discusses his delayed trip to Africa, revealing his apprehension stemmed from the anticipation of confronting complex emotions and the weight of historical narratives surrounding the continent.
  • Coates obtained his adult passport at 37, indicating limited international travel experience.
  • He viewed the trip to Senegal as a pilgrimage rather than a leisurely vacation.
  • A profound, unrepeatable reaction upon seeing Dakar prompted Coates to confront buried emotions.

Shownotes Transcript

In his new book, Coates reflects on his time in Senegal, as well as trips he took to South Carolina and to Israel and the Israeli-occupied West Bank. "It is about the nationalisms of people who are told that they are nothing, that they are not a nation, that they are not a people ... and the stories that we construct to fight back against that," he says.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices)NPR Privacy Policy)