--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: African-Americans who might have…" description: "\"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..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/809/alveda-king-7996_african-american_african-americans-who-might-have-disagre_382386.jpg" --- # African-Americans who might have disagreed with candidate… ![“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.” quote by Alveda King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/809/alveda-king-7996_african-american_african-americans-who-might-have-disagre_382386.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/809/alveda-king-7996_african-american_african-americans-who-might-have-disagre_382386.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/809/alveda-king-7996_african-american_african-americans-who-might-have-disagre_382386.jpg) > “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.” [Alveda King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alveda-king/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [African american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/) [Brown skin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brown-skin/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) ## Related quotes > [If everybody who voted in 2008 shows up in 2010, we will win this election. We will win this election.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/if-everybody-who-voted-in-2008-shows-up-in-2010-we-will-win-this/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [If everybody that voted in 2008 shows up in 2010, we will win this election. We will win this election.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/if-everybody-that-voted-in-2008-shows-up-in-2010-we-will-win-this/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [My Uncle, of course, would have been pleased to see someone with brown skin holding the office of president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alveda-king/my-uncle-of-course-would-have-been-pleased-to-see-someone-with-brown/) [Alveda King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alveda-king/) > [While liberals had embraced Obama as someone who had left-wing progressive ideas, the truth is that by personality he's a very incremental guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/while-liberals-had-embraced-obama-as-someone-who-had-left-wing/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [“Obama was left with but a single task: Negotiate a new status-of-forces agreement (SOFA) to reinforce these gains and create a strategic partnership with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-krauthammer/obama-was-left-with-but-a-single-task-negotiate-a-new-status-of/) [Charles Krauthammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-krauthammer/) > [ 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… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/even-in-these-tough-economic-times-barack-obama-has-left-the-va/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [Virtually nothing Barack Obama has done has left America or the world better since he became president. Nearly everything he has touched has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/virtually-nothing-barack-obama-has-done-has-left-america-or-the-world/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [Sure, this country has a black president, but when you look at a black president, President Obama is left with his foot stuck in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-aaron/sure-this-country-has-a-black-president-but-when-you-look-at-a-black/) [Hank Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-aaron/) > [“by pointing to the agencies without mentioning any misjudgments of his own, Mr. Obama left intelligence officials bristling about being made into scapegoats and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/by-pointing-to-the-agencies-without-mentioning-any-misjudgments-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sure, this country has a black president, but when you look at a black president, President Obama is left with his foot stuck in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-aaron/sure-this-country-has-a-black-president-but-when-you-look-at-a-black-2/) [Hank Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-aaron/) > [I've been looking at some video clips on YouTube of President Obama, then candidate Obama, going through Iowa making promises. I think the gap…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-ve-been-looking-at-some-video-clips-on-youtube-of-president-obama/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [As a candidate, Obama disdained the game of politics, a self-conscious contrast to all the tireless political athletes named Clinton.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/as-a-candidate-obama-disdained-the-game-of-politics-a-self-conscious/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [Obama the President needs to stand up for what Obama the candidate and what Obama the Senator and what Obama the Chicago community organizer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/obama-the-president-needs-to-stand-up-for-what-obama-the-candidate/) [Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/) > [Candidate Obama was either exceptionally naive or willfully disingenuous when he vowed to change the way Washington works. The very promise of Hope and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reince-priebus/candidate-obama-was-either-exceptionally-naive-or-willfully/) [Reince Priebus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reince-priebus/) > [As a candidate, Obama projected himself as a new Reagan, above narrow party politics. He wanted to please all but has ended up annoying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ali/as-a-candidate-obama-projected-himself-as-a-new-reagan-above-narrow/) [Tariq Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ali/) ## More by Alveda King > [Reconciliation means - in victory, I win and you're wrong, and then you lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alveda-king/reconciliation-means-in-victory-i-win-and-you-re-wrong-and-then-you/) [Alveda King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alveda-king/) > [Racism springs from the lie that certain human beings are less than fully human. It's a self-centered falsehood that corrupts our minds into believing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alveda-king/racism-springs-from-the-lie-that-certain-human-beings-are-less-than/) [Alveda King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alveda-king/) > [While I voted for Mr. Trump, my confidence remains in God for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alveda-king/while-i-voted-for-mr-trump-my-confidence-remains-in-god-for-life/) [Alveda King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alveda-king/) > [Observe with both friend and foe the ordinary rules of courtesy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alveda-king/observe-with-both-friend-and-foe-the-ordinary-rules-of-courtesy/) [Alveda King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alveda-king/) > [If the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is to live, our babies must live. Our mothers must choose life. If we refuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alveda-king/if-the-dream-of-dr-martin-luther-king-jr-is-to-live-our-babies-must/) [Alveda King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alveda-king/) > [Every baby saved, every mother helped to choose life is a step in the right direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alveda-king/every-baby-saved-every-mother-helped-to-choose-life-is-a-step-in-the/) [Alveda King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alveda-king/) > [Let's be honest about this; the liberal agenda with failed stimulus plans and government entitlement programs is crippling our economy and our quality of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alveda-king/let-s-be-honest-about-this-the-liberal-agenda-with-failed-stimulus/) [Alveda King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alveda-king/) > [Coming forth, you've got to love each other and you have to have faith. And you never lose hope. Even when things are really,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alveda-king/coming-forth-you-ve-got-to-love-each-other-and-you-have-to-have-faith/) [Alveda King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alveda-king/) > [As a survivor of the 20th-century Race Wars, my back remains unbent, and I move forward for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alveda-king/as-a-survivor-of-the-20th-century-race-wars-my-back-remains-unbent/) [Alveda King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alveda-king/) > [This is the 21st century, and we would all like to think racism is dead in America. Actually, that's not the case: still there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alveda-king/this-is-the-21st-century-and-we-would-all-like-to-think-racism-is/) [Alveda King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alveda-king/) > [I did have some secret abortions myself, which I repented from when I was born again in 1983. I drank the abortion Kool-Aid temporarily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alveda-king/i-did-have-some-secret-abortions-myself-which-i-repented-from-when-i/) [Alveda King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alveda-king/) > [Refrain from the violence of fist, tongue or heart. And heart is real important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alveda-king/refrain-from-the-violence-of-fist-tongue-or-heart-and-heart-is-real/) [Alveda King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alveda-king/) > [While writing, saying, and doing much, Mr. Trump is apologizing for his past sins. He's walking away from supporting abortion, hurling insults and more.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alveda-king/while-writing-saying-and-doing-much-mr-trump-is-apologizing-for-his/) [Alveda King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alveda-king/) > [The non-violent movement seeks justice and reconciliation, not victory - or not just victory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alveda-king/the-non-violent-movement-seeks-justice-and-reconciliation-not-victory/) [Alveda King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alveda-king/) > [In the 21st Century, the anti-traditional marriage community is in league with the anti-life community, and together with the NAACP and other sympathizers, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alveda-king/in-the-21st-century-the-anti-traditional-marriage-community-is-in/) [Alveda King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alveda-king/) [Explore all 85 Alveda King quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alveda-king/) ## More African american quotes > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) > [I agreed a long time ago, I would not live at any cost. If I am moved or forced away from what I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-agreed-a-long-time-ago-i-would-not-live-at-any-cost-if-i-am-moved/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [“This popularity extended to Trump himself, who, according to private demographic research conducted at the time, was even more popular with African American and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-green/this-popularity-extended-to-trump-himself-who-according-to-private/) [Joshua Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-green/) > [American civil rights leader, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? Lynching is a murder. For the past four hundred years our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/american-civil-rights-leader-where-do-we-go-from-here-chaos-or/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I know I'm more forgiving than most African Americans when it comes to second chances for White people who not only commit a racial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-capehart/i-know-i-m-more-forgiving-than-most-african-americans-when-it-comes/) [Jonathan Capehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-capehart/) > [Some Republicans gave up on winning the African-American vote, looking the other way or trying to benefit politically from racial polarization. I am here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-mehlman/some-republicans-gave-up-on-winning-the-african-american-vote-looking/) [Ken Mehlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-mehlman/) > [It's unfortunate that a lot of people think African-American female artists are monolithically R&B this-or-that, don't have to do anything by default.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/it-s-unfortunate-that-a-lot-of-people-think-african-american-female/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [Whereas our ancestors (not of choice) were the first successful cultivators of the wilds of America, we their descendants feel ourselves entitled to participate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-allen/whereas-our-ancestors-not-of-choice-were-the-first-successful/) [Richard Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-allen/) > [It may be changing, but still it's the one place, that total control of an institution, that African Americans have. So sometimes, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-emerson/it-may-be-changing-but-still-it-s-the-one-place-that-total-control-of/) [Michael Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-emerson/) > [Most of the more celebrated names among African-American authors, poets, and artists are known to the world because of their association with specific cultural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aberjhani/most-of-the-more-celebrated-names-among-african-american-authors/) [Aberjhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aberjhani/) > [I think it's easier for African American and white comics to be praised than it is Latinos because they think our culture or our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/i-think-it-s-easier-for-african-american-and-white-comics-to-be/) [George Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lopez/) > [“Alabama in 1927 alone, 27,701 men were arrested on misdemeanor charges and offered for sale by county sheriffs. In Blackmon’s estimation, “roughly half of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-haney-l-pez/alabama-in-1927-alone-27-701-men-were-arrested-on-misdemeanor-charges/) [Ian Haney López](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-haney-l-pez/) > [I'm just trying to touch the world and touch the people and just get good material. And show them that we can get it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-hardrict/i-m-just-trying-to-touch-the-world-and-touch-the-people-and-just-get/) [Cory Hardrict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-hardrict/) [Browse all 1,848 African american quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alveda King" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alveda-king/african-americans-who-might-have-disagreed-with-candidate-obama-s/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "African american" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alveda-king/african-americans-who-might-have-disagreed-with-candidate-obama-s/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/809/alveda-king-7996_african-american_african-americans-who-might-have-disagre_382386.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/809/alveda-king-7996_african-american_african-americans-who-might-have-disagre_382386.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/809/alveda-king-7996_african-american_african-americans-who-might-have-disagre_382386.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“African-Americans who might have disagreed with candidate Obama's left-of-center politics voted for him in…” — Alveda King", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alveda King", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alveda-king/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "African-Americans who might have disagreed with...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alveda-king/african-americans-who-might-have-disagreed-with-candidate-obama-s/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alveda-king/african-americans-who-might-have-disagreed-with-candidate-obama-s/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```