Story highlights Coates had recently criticized Sanders in a controversial article

The writer expressed concerns about Hillary Clinton's role in pushing tough 1990s criminal justice laws

Washington (CNN) Award-winning writer Ta-Nehisi Coates revealed on Wednesday that he plans to vote for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in the Democratic presidential primary.

Coates said in an interview with "Democracy Now!" that he was "stunned" after Sanders cruised to victory in New Hampshire.

"Had you told me this a year ago, I certainly would not have expected an avowed socialist to be putting up these sorts of numbers and contending for the Democratic Party nomination," Coates said. "But I think it's awesome. I think it's great."

Coates, a correspondent for The Atlantic and author of the best-selling "Between the World and Me," rose to national prominence in 2014 with the publication of his article, "The Case for Reparations." Already an acclaimed writer, the essay earned him a place among the country's most influential African-American social and political commentators.

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