wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

Comments

• [1] Darius from Prospect Heights December 01, 2008 - 11:03AM

  Great guest! Ask Mr. Coates about his criticisms of Obama's speech on race, particularly about how the history of racism and the views of immigrants interact. I know it's off topic but it's an interesting point.

  
  
• [2] Edward Helmrich from Larchmont, NY December 01, 2008 - 11:44AM

  President-elect Obama will continue the pro-choice policies of the last several decades, with a vengeance, so the responsibility of fathers for their children will not improve.

  
  
• [3] bridget December 01, 2008 - 11:48AM

  Obama's commitment to Michelle as a mother is also inspiring.. I get the feeling that not a day goes by that he doesn't appreciate the time she spends being a full-time mother, and the sacrifices she's made. Parenting is a team thing, and I think their dynamics are incredible.

  
  
• [4] JoshL December 01, 2008 - 11:52AM

  Just as the idea of having a beer w Bush resonated with lots of US voters --

  likewise I feel a connection with Obama the dad.

  
  
• [5] Cheryl Clarke from Jersey City December 01, 2008 - 11:54AM

  I take issue with President elect Obama's Father Day speech. I agree mostly with Mr. Coates (on your show today). I think this country has a destructive nostalgia for fatherhood and in tact families (so-called.)and children who are born in female headed (absent father) families are criticized and punished relentlessly. Let's champion all families--not only the in-tact, father-present,heterosexual. Obama has a sad nostalgia for his father. He turned out okay without his birth father. Didn't he? Let's give women some credit. Cheryl Clarke

  
  
• [6] MichaelB from UWS Manhattan December 01, 2008 - 11:55AM

  Problem with Ta-Nehisi Coates' point about solving 200 years of oppression in 40 years or so is that decades ago, closer to the oppression and with far less civil rights, the out of wedlock birthrate was far lower, as were so many other social indicators....

  
  
• [7] mark December 01, 2008 - 11:55AM

  Can one of these guys explain why racism causes absentee fathers? Gays are denied marriage in America not blacks.

  
  
• [8] Mireille LIong from Jersey City December 01, 2008 - 11:56AM

  Obama said in several interviews that he regret neglecting the parent who was there. His mother read his book while he was writing it.

  
  
• [9] MichaelB from UWS Manhattan December 01, 2008 - 11:57AM

  And BTW, ironically, white upper middle class society is wrestling with the role of fathers in children's lives, as the importance of fathers has been marginalized in divorce, and the notion of many well-to-do women having children via sperm bank mating.

  
  
• [10] john from upper west side December 01, 2008 - 12:13PM

  Obamas understanding goes beyond being interatial. For some time racial esthnecity and gender have overriden some basic and fundimental aspects of parenthood. With rights, recognition and freedom comes responsibility. Respect and discipline are a forgotten aspect in the education of our childrens character The family with a full time father and mother go a long way in helping to parent successfully. Children learn from example and prents are either good or bad examples.

  Our new president was fortunate to have strong parents and grand parents to assure his character. His diversity is a sure plus to be excepted with some strong medecine needed to redirect education in this country both at home and at school.

  
  
• [11] LM from Union Square December 01, 2008 - 04:45PM

  The guest, Adam Gopnik, mentioned a particular scene in the new Broadway show "In the Heights” where a biracial couple kiss. In his word this was intended to be a “dynamite kind of moment” in the play intended to shock the audience.

  I don't believe this was the intention of the play. It is an illustration of the diversity in our community. Of course there is racism and classism in Latin America, but in our Latin/Caribbean community a biracial couple is the norm, not the exception. Anyway, the actors were probably selected to play the part based on their talents, not on the color of their skin.

  
  
• [12] Cynthia from LES December 01, 2008 - 04:49PM

  I caught the show at the end and heard mention of a book comparing Lincoln and Darwin and their parenting - I think(?). Does anyone know what that was?