African american Quote by Alveda King
“African-Americans who might have disagreed with candidate Obama's left-of-center politics voted for him in 2008 because electing a candidate with brown skin was too historic an opportunity to miss.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: 2008 Presidential Election Remarks, Alveda King, 2008
Voters chose Obama partly for the historic significance of electing a Black president, beyond policy alignment.
In simple terms: Historic symbolism influenced voting more than policy.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the power of representation.
Themes
politics
race
representation
voting
identity
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
political
social commentary
When to use this quote
- campaign strategy
- voter outreach
- community mobilization
Key Concepts
symbolic politics
identity politics
electoral behavior
Questions to Reflect On
- Did you ever vote for a candidate for symbolic reasons?
- How do symbols shape political decisions?
A Different Perspective
Historical symbolism may overlook substantive policy issues.
![“Even in these tough economic times, Barack [Obama] has left the VA budget as is so that they're prepared to deal with this influx of men and women who are coming home and dealing with a whole array of issues, not just around mental health but just caregiving and the stresses of reconnecting with…” quote by Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1c6/michelle-obama-518_away-from-each-other_even-in-these-tough-economic-times-barac_1139722.jpg)
