Unfortunately, it seems like Ta-Nehisi Coates does not respond well to positive motivation. After the genius grant and massive popular adulation, he lost his touch and started publishing incoherent, rambling pieces that make little sense.
First, there was an article that pretty much accused Bernie Sanders of being a white supremacist. Given that Sanders is a Jew, this is a needlessly offensive accusation that is unlikely to achieve anything useful.
Nobody seems to have understood what Coates was trying to say in this piece, but instead of letting the whole thing go, the writer decided to explain what he really meant, which is always a losing strategy.
In another disorganized piece, Coates informs readers that the European welfare state did not “banish racism” and hence the policies Bernie advocates will not “banish racism” either. Coates is not dumb. It is not possible that he actually believes in the capacity of any policy to “banish racism.” This must mean that his entire attack on Bernie is nothing but a vacuous attempt to remain relevant while riding on the coattails of Sanders’s popularity.
Clarissa's Blog 
I cannot say I’ve ever found him that compelling, but I do feel for him now.
I suspect, as you write, that he doesn’t feel comfortable unless he’s swimming upstream (that is he’s a contrarian – how would I ever be able to recognize one of those?)
A couple of links audio links (one with video that can be ignored)
Glenn Loury and John Mcwhorter discuss Coates (not for the first time) I agree with the great majority of what they say.
http://bloggingheads.tv/videos/36141?in=06:45&out=19:23
A long time friend of his visits him in Paris, finds all is not well…
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/573/status-update?act=2#play
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Every successful movement has its moderates and radicals, even if it’s in relation to each other. The problem is that moderate pragmatic proponents of reparations do not exist. I have no idea what that would even look like. He could couch arguments for reparations in the most beautiful moderate tones and it would still be offensive to 96% of people in America. Reparations is an essentially radical proposal just like eliminating slavery was in 1840.
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Coates ‘ s article on reparations was beautiful. But this piece is not about reparations at all. It’s a gratuitous and rambling attack on Bernie Sanders. I don’t want Bernie to get the nomination but throwing around these weird accusations is not the way.
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Being a Jew who isn’t a white supremacist, I’d like to think that “…accused Bernie Sanders of being a white supremacist. Given that Sanders is a Jew, this is a needlessly offensive accusation….” would make perfect sense. Have you forgotten Sheldon Adelson who is, sad to say, hardly unique?
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Unique in what, specifically?
Are you aware of what white supremacists think of Jews? A small hint: white supremacists’ idol is Hitler.
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I would merely note that white supremacists come in various “shades,” many of whom hate each other.
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Are you incapable of answering simple questions?
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