Ta-Nehisi Coates: I Was Told Palestine Was Complicated. Visiting Revealed a Simple, Brutal Truth

As the war on Gaza enters its second year and Israel expands its attacks on Lebanon, we speak with the acclaimed writer Ta-Nehisi Coates. His new book The Message is based in part on his visit last year to Israel and the occupied West Bank, where he says he saw a system of segregation and oppression reminiscent of Jim Crow in the United States. "It was revelatory," says Coates. "I don't think the average American has a real sense of what we're doing over there — and I emphasize 'what we're doing' because it's not possible without American support."

[IbnGreenberg]

He masterfully answered that loaded question on CBS with so much intelligence, patience and compassion! I mean, I wish I can meet confrontation with that much grace.

[marylander]

I'm a fellow Howard University grad, I was friends with Ta-Nehisi's brother in undergrad. I'm also a Baltimorean, so I feel immense pride whenever Ta-Nehisi puts any work into the world. Great interview, thanks for continuing to highlight this apartheid and genocide.

[kmdash]

The CBS interview made me immediately go out and buy the book from my local independent book store.

[nataschavisser]

I'm a white South African who visited Israel on a school tour in the late 1990s. The tour was mostly focussed on the country's religious significance but I saw enough to come away thinking that Israel was run like South Africa was under apartheid. I felt guilty about this thought because I was raised to think of Israel as the Holy Land and so forth. Realising that it was a settler colony like my own country was jarring.
Since then the opression of the Palestinians have intensified to where comparing it to aparheid no longer seems apt. While apartheid was dressed up in all sorts of racist social darwininst rhetoric, it was at its heart a system of economic exploitation. Black people were first taxed and then increasingly disposessed of their land, not that they should leave the country or die, but that they would be forced to work on white-owned farms and industries for low wages. It was vile and unjust and it immiserated generations of people, but it was not genocidal. There does not seem to be the same impulse behind Israeli land seizures in the West Bank and the embargo of Gaza. The displaced and immisserated Palestinians are not incorporated into the Israeli economy to any great extent, instead they are expected to magically dissapear somehow. The Israeli regime has been genocidal since prior to 7 October 2023. 7 Oct just gave them an alibi to justify escalating their efforts.

[CurtisCT]

About 10 years ago one of my friends, black American, visited Israel with his flight attendant wife. He sometimes accompanied her on a lot of trips because as her husband, he was able to fly for free. For the record his wife was white with blonde hair and blue eyes. When he got back from Israel he was visibly shaken and vowed NEVER AGAIN to set foot in that country. He told me that on several occasions he'd be walking down the street with his wife at his side when he'd be approached by soldiers or security personnel demanding to see his "papers" or demanding to know where he was coming from and where he was going. His wife, on the other hand, was NEVER stopped and NEVER questioned! It got so bad that for his last few days in Israel he just stayed in his hotel rather than expose himself to being interrogated every 15 minutes. To be honest, at the time I thought he was just exaggerating, for why would Israel, a Western democracy, openly discriminate against people of color? After hearing Ta-Nehisi Coates speak about his own experiences in Israel, I now know that my friend was actually telling the truth. Another interesting thing he mentioned was being very surprised that half the Jewish people he met and saw in Israel were actually British or American nationals (he could tell because of their accents). It made him sick to his stomach to think that these people actually left the UK/US and voluntarily relocated to a country that actively subjugated its non-Jewish population to apartheid. What kind of person feels good about traveling halfway round the world to participate in apartheid?

[jkengineeringarchitecture.]

Maximum Respect Ta- Nehisi to be a voice for the voice less. The Palestinian people deserve to have self determination just like any other people on the face of the earth.

[mantshonyanelent]

Grace to you for standing for the oppressed Mr Ta-Nehisi Coates🙏❤

[theresamay]

As a Palestinian American, I've heard "its complicated" my whole life. Since 10.07.23, listening to so many people who've been in Palestine, I realized it really IS simple. I've listened to horrible stories from my family for decades.

[kriezler]

Thank you Ta-Nehisi. If our "ethics" and "values" have led us to this, we don't deserve to be a world power. Furthermore, we have demonstrated to the world that "Democracy" is no better than a totalitarian state.

[gloriouse]

WE STAND WITH THIS ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS HUMAN BEING 😃👋🏼🇵🇸❣️🖤🤍💚

[AZ-hgkw]

Tell AIPAC to get the hell out of US politics! The Dems had a golden opportunity and still do. They're 100% BLOWING IT.

[oghyeahoo]

Coates is what American greatness should look like!

[reubenpilli]

Ta Nehisi Coates: What a beautiful human being...with a beautiful name...and a brilliant mind...and above all, a compassionate soul.

[MrsBaba]

As a second generation Palestinian American, the questioning of the IDF about ancestors is such common practice . Every time I’m stopped in Israel, it’s the ridiculous questions about my heritage to give reason why they should treat me with injustice . My entire family goes through these ancestry questioning … it should be stopped . I’m thrilled to read Coates book ! Thank for I interviewing him

[IssaMeMariooo]

A very well-spoken gentleman. The way he handled the CBS interviewer's question was both very classy and very on point. As a Palestinian myself, I thank you for giving me a voice.

[zombiehampster]

The "Palestinian and Jewish safety are intertwined" sign is spot on. Succinct and speaks volumes. That CBS interview...Dokoupil had the nerve to tell him he's still invited to some holiday get-together lol, that was just the icing on the cake. That interview was insulting beyond the norm that i would expect from corporate media. Coates response was great and congrats to him for not flying off the handle on them and keeping his cool. Coates comment at the very end of the interview reflect exactly how I feel about the issue. Great interview.

[adinahaun]

Congratulations on the marvelous book and deep bows of gratitude to Mr. Coates for writing it!

[sandracandelaria]

A very important message for ALL of US to hear especially Black Americans. 💚

[rodflo]

Ta-Nehisi Coates has a moral compass that is much to be admired. Continue to be the voice for the voiceless sir
It is vital that his book "The Message" needs to dominate the best sellers list for years to come

[Yutubsuk]

Thanks for speaking out against genocide.