FROM THE ARCHIVES: Ryan Coogler and Ta-Nehisi Coates on BLACK PANTHER, Chadwick Boseman, and Writing

This February, we’re celebrating the 8th anniversary of the release of BLACK PANTHER! From the IN PROXIMITY archives, we’re rebroadcasting this conversation with BLACK PANTHER director and co-writer Ryan Coogler and Ta-Nehisi Coates, journalist and the bestselling author of THE MESSAGE, BETWEEN THE WORLD AND ME, WE WERE EIGHT YEARS IN POWER, THE WATER DANCER, and THE BEAUTIFUL STRUGGLE. Ta-Nehisi has also written successful comic book runs for CAPTAIN AMERICA and BLACK PANTHER, and wrote and hosted the WAKANDA FOREVER: THE OFFICIAL BLACK PANTHER PODCAST produced by Proximity Media and winner of the NAACP Image Award and Webby Award. For this special rerun, we combined their two-part episode back into one conversation where they discuss Ta-Nehisi’s writing influences and original rap dreams, the impact of hip-hop and artists like Nas and Tupac on their work, writing process, CREED, and shared experiences telling BLACK PANTHER stories.