Ta-Nehisi Coates Is Leaving The Atlantic As Its National Correspondent

After contributing numerous stories to the Atlantic that incited conversation and debate around topics such as race, politics, and culture, writer Ta-Nehisi Coates is leaving the publication.

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Coates is leaving the Atlantic as its national correspondent, according to the Washington Post. The author and journalist hasn't signed on with a competing publication.

"Our colleague, and dear friend, Ta-Nehisi Coates is stepping down as a national correspondent for The Atlantic," top Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldbergwrote in a note to Atlantic staff. "As he has explained to me — and as he's written in the recent past — the last few years for him have been years of significant changes. He's told me that he would like to take some time to reflect on these changes, and to figure out the best path forward, both as a person and as a writer."

Hired to the Atlantic back in 2008, Coates wrote a number of stories for the publication; his latest was "I'm Not Black, I'm Kanye" back in May. Along with writing for the Atlantic, he has written two well-received books — 2015's Between the World and Me: Notes on the First 150 Years in America and 2017's We Were Eight Years in Power: an American Tragedy.

But with Coates' rising profile also came difficulty. In December of last year, Coates' commentary on race in America was critiqued by Cornel West in an op-ed, which led to Coates defending himself via Twitter. However, the writer ended up deleting his account after white supremacist Richard Spencer said he agreed with West's opinion.

Goldberg's note to the Atlantic staff on Coates' leave can be read in full here.

Source: Washington Post