Ta-Nehisi Coates On CNN: “I Don't Know What Makes Rupert Murdoch -- Or Frankly Anybody Else ... A Judge Of What Is Really Black”

Coates: “If Obama Were Ever To Use That Trope To, That Sort Of Description To Describe Himself All Heck Would Break Loose”

From the October 8 edition of CNN's The Lead with Jake Tapper:

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JAKE TAPPER (HOST): Also in national news today, a media mogul sparking outrage for taking a shot at President Obama, Rupert Murdoch, the owner of Fox News Corporation among many other media properties, tweeting last night, “Ben and Candy Carson terrific. What about a real black President who can properly address the racial divide and much else?” Murdoch has since apologized, saying, “No offence meant. Personally find both men charming,” presumably talking about President Obama as well as Dr. Carson. But Murdoch's comments are yet again igniting a major debate over race in this country. Joining me to talk about all of this is Ta-Nehisi Coates, author of the book Between the World and Me.

[...]

TAPPER: So let me just ask you about this, about what Murdoch had to say about a real black president. What do you make of all that?

TA-NEHISI COATES: Well I don't know what makes Rupert Murdoch - or frankly anybody else - but certainly least of all Rupert Murdoch a judge of what is really black and what isn't really black. This is a trope that's been deployed, we saw Herman Cain actually deploy it four years ago when he said he was going to show America what a real black man would be. And it's very, very interesting because if Obama were ever to use that trope to, that sort of description to describe himself all heck would break loose. And so I don't know why there's a need to appropriate it.

Previously:

Rupert Murdoch Calls For “A Real Black President” On Twitter, Suggests Ben Carson

O'Reilly Forgets To Fact-Check Before Lecturing Obama For Not Addressing Black Issues

Hannity Ignores Cause Behind Rise Of Black Unemployment To Attack Obama