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Quote by Ta-Nehisi Coates

“What it is is that Barack Obama was raised by a white mother and two white grandparents who, A, told him he was black and that there was nothing wrong with being black.”

Quote by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Author

Ta-Nehisi Coates

Ta-Nehisi Coates is an American writer known for his insightful social commentary and literary works. His writings often focus on themes of race, history, and social justice, with his most famous work being 'Between the World and Me', which won the Pulitzer Prize in 2015. more

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“[Barack Obama] grew up in Hawaii, far, far removed from the most, you know, sort of violent, you know, tendencies of Jim Crow and segregation. He wasn't directly exposed to that. He was untraumatized.”

Knows Grew Grew Up Violent Tendencies Barack Exposed Hawaii Segregation Crow Jim Crow

Author:Ta-Nehisi Coates

“[Grew up in Hawaii] that gave [Barack Obama] a kind of optimism, an ability to see things, you know, and frankly, an ability to trust, you know, in his fellow, you know, white countrymen in a way that I, for instance, you know, and the vast majority of black people I know never really could.”

People Knows Way Kind Black Ability White Grew Grew Up Optimism Fellows Majority Instance Barack Black People Hawaii Countrymen Ability To See

Author:Ta-Nehisi Coates

“[Winning the White House was an achievement], but as an African-American, [Barack Obama], I think the symbolism is in how he conducted himself. The symbolism was in - and this sounds really, really small, but it's actually big for African-Americans - the symbolism was not in being an embarrassment, but to being a figure that folks were actually proud of.”

Thinking Bigs House Winning Sound White Figures Proud Achievement Folks Barack African American White House Embarrassment Symbolism

Author:Ta-Nehisi Coates

“In particular in how [Barack Obama] has directed what you could describe as patronizing remarks to African-American communities.”

Community Particular Barack African American Remarks Patronizing

Author:Ta-Nehisi Coates

“Part of that is ordinary African-Americans, you come out of your house and you see the conditions in your neighborhood and you see, folks in your neighborhood doing certain things that, are irresponsible. You know, the thing I always think about, you get up early in the morning to go to work and there's some dude outside drinking and you come home and the same dude is outside drinking hanging on the corner. And then this engenders a level of anger I think and a level of shame.”

Thinking Knows Home Certain House Levels Morning Conditions Ordinary Shame Drinking Folks Corners Get Up African American Neighborhood Coming Home Irresponsible Up Early Hanging On

Author:Ta-Nehisi Coates

“My mom used to tell me, I can't use this phrase on the radio - but basically don't be one of those dudes hanging on the corner.”

I Can Use Used Mom Radio Corners My Mom Phrases Hanging On Tell Me I Can T

Author:Ta-Nehisi Coates

“I think the president [Barack Obama] adopted some of that same language, but took it into the White House. And I think, like, there's a crucial difference between being, you know, Joe Schmo in the neighborhood and being the head, you know, of the government that, you know, in many ways is largely responsible for those conditions in the first place.”

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Author:Ta-Nehisi Coates

“I would flip this the other way and say over 90 percent of African-Americans voted against Donald Trump.”

Way Trump Percent African American Flip

Author:Ta-Nehisi Coates

“Any time you have, you know, upwards of 90 percent of a demographic voting against somebody, that's a statement.”

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Author:Ta-Nehisi Coates

“It was a week after Donald Trump had won. And initially he was still optimistic. He felt that things would be OK ultimately. And I have to tell you, this is the area where, you know, I see, you know, some degree of contradiction. I mean, the president, you know, at one point when he was campaigning said I believe that Donald Trump was not qualified to run a 7-Eleven.”

Knows Believe Mean Said Stills Would Be Running I Believe Felt President Week Trump Degrees Areas Optimistic Contradiction Qualified Eleven Campaigning

Author:Ta-Nehisi Coates