Coates began publishing his journalism in a variety of outlets, including The Village Voice, Time, and The New York Times. After five years at Howard Coates left without graduating, and when they were both 24 he and Kenyatta had a son, Samori. It was during this time that he also met his future spouse, Kenyatta Matthews. During his time at Howard, Coates began to work as a freelance journalist. Following high school, Coates attended Howard University, where his father worked as a research librarian. He recalls that his middle school in particular was extremely violent, and that during these years he had to be especially careful in order to protect himself. Coates grew up during the crack epidemic, attending public schools in West Baltimore. The name Ta-Nehisi comes from an Egyptian word for Nubia, which roughly translates to “land of the black.” Coates had seven siblings on his father’s side his parents were strict and attentive, and his mother taught him to read at the age of four. Ta-Nehisi Coates was born to Cheryl Waters and Paul Coates, a former local captain of the Black Panther Party and founder of Black Classic Press.
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