Honestly, I think you're being far too generous to Coates. He's a representative and spokesman for a worldview that sees white people as oppressors and Jews as super-whites, the oppressors who even oppress whites as well as other races. It would be pretty much impossible for someone from his milieu to voice any kind of empathy and understanding for Israelis without suffering immediate cancellation by his peers, but in all likelihood, the thought of listening to the Jewish viewpoint never occurred to him -- doubtless just listening would expose him to "colonialist violence."
I believe you. I think I’m hoping to engage readers who might be put off if I don’t express any optimism with regard to his character, but carving that space doesn’t deny the reality of who he is. It has more to do with who I am, but I will draw a line too. My response to him thus far is based off of this NY Magazine article alone. It sounds like you and others on this thread have more knowledge of him—based on the quoted material featured in the article, I am not surprised.
I agree, but I still admire the statement of not wanting to condemn him, rather challenge him. We need to out best not to assume malicious motives in others.
TNC is out of his depth on this one, I'm afraid. I saw him last year on Democracy Now, soon after he returned from the West Bank. For a smart guy, he was breathlessly incoherent. If you're interested:
Just wanted to add upon further reflection, we’re witnessing the silencing of Jewish voices in the literary world and Coates’ book is possibly one of many that will be published soon that are anti-Israel and/or antisemitic. We cannot be silent.
Why are Jewish intellectuals or organizations not reaching out to him? I don’t think he is beyond reach from what I’ve seen in interviews and he is extremely influential. He admits that he lacks the history and that his gut reactions are only to what he thought he saw.
I suppose we don’t yet know if anyone has tried yet. I hadn’t heard about the book until the NY Mag piece. The timing of its release makes me worry that Coates may not be a soloist in all of this.
No doubt his actions will harm Jews as well as help solidify damaging and false views of Israel. That it’s at the hands of an overrated writer only adds insult to injury.
Coates said he was glad when he heard that first responders had been killed after 9/11. He's a sleazebag. His opinion means nothing to decent people.
Wow. I didn’t know this. It gets worse!
Honestly, I think you're being far too generous to Coates. He's a representative and spokesman for a worldview that sees white people as oppressors and Jews as super-whites, the oppressors who even oppress whites as well as other races. It would be pretty much impossible for someone from his milieu to voice any kind of empathy and understanding for Israelis without suffering immediate cancellation by his peers, but in all likelihood, the thought of listening to the Jewish viewpoint never occurred to him -- doubtless just listening would expose him to "colonialist violence."
I believe you. I think I’m hoping to engage readers who might be put off if I don’t express any optimism with regard to his character, but carving that space doesn’t deny the reality of who he is. It has more to do with who I am, but I will draw a line too. My response to him thus far is based off of this NY Magazine article alone. It sounds like you and others on this thread have more knowledge of him—based on the quoted material featured in the article, I am not surprised.
I agree, but I still admire the statement of not wanting to condemn him, rather challenge him. We need to out best not to assume malicious motives in others.
Why?
He’s the son of a Black Panther so he’s inherited his antisemitism right from his Daddy.
That explains a lot.
TNC is out of his depth on this one, I'm afraid. I saw him last year on Democracy Now, soon after he returned from the West Bank. For a smart guy, he was breathlessly incoherent. If you're interested:
https://outofbabel.substack.com/p/the-choosing-people
Thank you for sharing.
Just wanted to add upon further reflection, we’re witnessing the silencing of Jewish voices in the literary world and Coates’ book is possibly one of many that will be published soon that are anti-Israel and/or antisemitic. We cannot be silent.
Yes, it's so frightening.
Why are Jewish intellectuals or organizations not reaching out to him? I don’t think he is beyond reach from what I’ve seen in interviews and he is extremely influential. He admits that he lacks the history and that his gut reactions are only to what he thought he saw.
I suppose we don’t yet know if anyone has tried yet. I hadn’t heard about the book until the NY Mag piece. The timing of its release makes me worry that Coates may not be a soloist in all of this.
No doubt his actions will harm Jews as well as help solidify damaging and false views of Israel. That it’s at the hands of an overrated writer only adds insult to injury.