There will no doubt be many, many books and articles reflecting on the Obama presidency in the years to come. But I think it unlikely that very many will be as eloquent, carefully argued, and thoughtful as this piece by Ta-Nehisi Coates — concluded just days after the 2016 election. Read it. It is a masterful reflection on the tortured history which is race in the US, the specific family circumstances that shaped President Obama, and the perilous times we are living through.