--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Does that mean that all vestiges of past…" description: "\"Does that mean that all vestiges of past discrimination would be eliminated, that the income gap or the wealth gap or the education gap [between Afro-A..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2f/barack-obama-17_afros_does-that-mean-that-all-vestiges-of-past_2526100.jpg" --- # Does that mean that all vestiges of past discrimination… ![“Does that mean that all vestiges of past discrimination would be eliminated, that the income gap or the wealth gap or the education gap [between Afro-Americans and white] would be erased in five years or 10 years? Probably not, and so this is obviously a discussion we've had before when you talk…” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2f/barack-obama-17_afros_does-that-mean-that-all-vestiges-of-past_2526100.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2f/barack-obama-17_afros_does-that-mean-that-all-vestiges-of-past_2526100.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2f/barack-obama-17_afros_does-that-mean-that-all-vestiges-of-past_2526100.jpg) > “Does that mean that all vestiges of past discrimination would be eliminated, that the income gap or the wealth gap or the education gap \[between Afro-Americans and white\] would be erased in five years or 10 years? Probably not, and so this is obviously a discussion we've had before when you talk about something like reparations.” [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote questions whether systemic gaps can be fully closed quickly, acknowledging complexity and limits of policy solutions. **In simple terms:** Closing gaps quickly is unrealistic. Key Takeaway Recognize gradual progress needed. Themes inequality policy history justice systemic Mood reflective serious Type political analytical When to use this quote - public policy debates - legislative proposals - community activism Key Concepts social economics structural change racial equity Questions to Reflect On - What realistic timelines can we set for closing gaps? - How can we balance immediate relief with long‑term change? A Different Perspective Progress may be slower than promised. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afros/) [Discrimination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discrimination/) [Discussion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discussion/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Education Gap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education-gap-917806/) [Five](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/five/) [Five years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/five-years/) [Gaps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gaps/) [Income](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/income/) [Like Reparations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-reparations-1299165/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Past Discrimination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-discrimination-1299166/) [Reparations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reparations/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) [Wealth Gap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth-gap-917802/) [White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) [Years Probably](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-probably-1110731/) ## Related quotes > [If we win all those fights, and now let's say the income gap, and the wealth gap, and the education gap have for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/if-we-win-all-those-fights-and-now-let-s-say-the-income-gap-and-the/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [To me the question right now is: How do I close that first three-quarters of the achievement gap, education gap, wealth gap? What gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/to-me-the-question-right-now-is-how-do-i-close-that-first-three/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Let's say hypothetically, knowing what we know now about public policy, that we could close the education gap so that it was only a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/let-s-say-hypothetically-knowing-what-we-know-now-about-public-policy/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [They don't worship at the altar of forced busing and mandatory quotas. They don't believe you can remedy past discrimination by mandating new discrimination.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/they-don-t-worship-at-the-altar-of-forced-busing-and-mandatory-quotas/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [If you want to get at African American poverty, the income gap, wealth gap, achievement gap, that the most important thing is to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/if-you-want-to-get-at-african-american-poverty-the-income-gap-wealth/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Let's also say that the Justice Department and the courts are making sure, as I've said in a speech before, that when Jamal sends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/let-s-also-say-that-the-justice-department-and-the-courts-are-making/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We have very stable mechanisms of conflict resolution in terms of labor relations, we have a very good transportation infrastructure, we provide our children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/we-have-very-stable-mechanisms-of-conflict-resolution-in-terms-of/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [Nowadays excessive work and pressure are status symbols. Time to oneself is sooner equated with unemployment and laziness, certainly in countries where the wealth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/nowadays-excessive-work-and-pressure-are-status-symbols-time-to/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [There are many countries in the world that when they reached the middle-income stage, they witnessed serious structural problems such as growth stagnation, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/li-keqiang/there-are-many-countries-in-the-world-that-when-they-reached-the/) [Li Keqiang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/li-keqiang/) > [The difference between rich and poor is becoming more extreme, and as income inequality widens the wealth gap in major nations, education, health and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helene-d-gayle/the-difference-between-rich-and-poor-is-becoming-more-extreme-and-as/) [Helene D. Gayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helene-d-gayle/) > [Differences in homeownership rates remain the prime driver of the nation's racial wealth gap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-desmond/differences-in-homeownership-rates-remain-the-prime-driver-of-the/) [Matthew Desmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-desmond/) > [Some members of the ruling class are making a concerted effort to expand the wealth gap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-steyer/some-members-of-the-ruling-class-are-making-a-concerted-effort-to/) [Tom Steyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-steyer/) > [“The wealth gap is so big and so wide that something short of a miracle has to happen to get families of color where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/najah-roberts/the-wealth-gap-is-so-big-and-so-wide-that-something-short-of-a/) [Najah Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/najah-roberts/) > [I know people socially who live in countries where the wealth gap is more extreme than it is in America, and they live with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-johnson/i-know-people-socially-who-live-in-countries-where-the-wealth-gap-is/) [Jamie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-johnson/) > [Anger at the wealth gap is no longer about dukes in horse-drawn carriages; it's about vast, tax-dodging corporations. This will not be assuaged by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-coren-mitchell/anger-at-the-wealth-gap-is-no-longer-about-dukes-in-horse-drawn/) [Victoria Coren Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-coren-mitchell/) ## More by Barack Obama > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Donald Trump is temperamentally unfit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/donald-trump-is-temperamentally-unfit/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What we've said to the girls is: 'If you guys ever decide that you're going to get a tattoo, then mommy and me will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-we-ve-said-to-the-girls-is-if-you-guys-ever-decide-that-you-re/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Nobody is listening to your telephone calls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/nobody-is-listening-to-your-telephone-calls/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in America without taking on the responsibilities of living in America.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/all-of-us-take-offense-to-anyone-who-reaps-the-rewards-of-living-in/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The world is complicated and full of grays, but there's still truth there to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-world-is-complicated-and-full-of-grays-but-there-s-still-truth/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ That is another theme in the book \[Dreams from My Father\]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams-from-my-father-how-do-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I want to thank the Greek people publicly for their humanitarian response to the crisis of so many migrants and refugees seeking safety in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-thank-the-greek-people-publicly-for-their-humanitarian/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We had a farewell dinner for some of my senior staff, and generally everybody likes to talk about how cool I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-had-a-farewell-dinner-for-some-of-my-senior-staff-and-generally/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ It's good to get fresh legs in \[the White house\]. I think that it refreshes our democracy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-good-to-get-fresh-legs-in-the-white-house-i-think-that-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Believe it or not, entertainment is part of our American diplomacy, it is part of what makes us exceptional, part of what makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/believe-it-or-not-entertainment-is-part-of-our-american-diplomacy-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Explore all 3,624 Barack Obama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More Afros quotes > [Adam Clayton Powell's entire political career has to be looked at in the entire context of the American history and the history of, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/adam-clayton-powell-s-entire-political-career-has-to-be-looked-at-in/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I always thought he gave me that name because I have a kind of outgoing or sunny disposition. And in those days I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/surya-das/i-always-thought-he-gave-me-that-name-because-i-have-a-kind-of/) [Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/surya-das/) > [Malcolm X broke with the N.O.I. in March 1964, and in that last 11 chaotic months, he spent most of the time outside of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manning-marable/malcolm-x-broke-with-the-n-o-i-in-march-1964-and-in-that-last-11/) [Manning Marable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manning-marable/) > [The final test of Afro-American studies will be the extent to which they rid the minds of whites and blacks alike of false learning,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-saunders-redding/the-final-test-of-afro-american-studies-will-be-the-extent-to-which/) [Jay Saunders Redding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-saunders-redding/) > [When I say Afro-American aesthetic, I'm not just talking about the United States, I'm talking about the Americas. People in the Latin countries read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-reed/when-i-say-afro-american-aesthetic-i-m-not-just-talking-about-the/) [Ishmael Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-reed/) > [The miscegenation laws of the South only operate against the legitimate union of the races; they leave the white man free to seduce all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-miscegenation-laws-of-the-south-only-operate-against-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The hearts of Afro-American women are too warm and too large for race hatred. Long suffering has so chastened them that they are developing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-barrier-williams/the-hearts-of-afro-american-women-are-too-warm-and-too-large-for-race/) [Fannie Barrier Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-barrier-williams/) > [I had the afro when I was in high school. I had the flattop during a short period in the early '90s. And I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-meadows/i-had-the-afro-when-i-was-in-high-school-i-had-the-flattop-during-a/) [Tim Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-meadows/) > [Even his hair was bigger—a massive globe of blue-black frizz so thick that his lobster-claw horns appeared to be drowning as they tried to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/even-his-hair-was-bigger-a-massive-globe-of-blue-black-frizz-so-thick/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Music really influenced me when I was growing up. I did go through a Jimi Hendrix phase. My hair was naturally quite afro, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mccrory/music-really-influenced-me-when-i-was-growing-up-i-did-go-through-a/) [Helen McCrory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mccrory/) > [The Afro-American is not a bestial race. If this work can contribute in any way towards proving this, and at the same time arouse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/the-afro-american-is-not-a-bestial-race-if-this-work-can-contribute/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [Afro-Caribbean influences are in me as a creative being the same way Spanish influences were in Picasso's work. I think the notion of labels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-fagan/afro-caribbean-influences-are-in-me-as-a-creative-being-the-same-way/) [Garth Fagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-fagan/) > [The common goal of 22 million Afro-Americans is respect as human beings, the God-given right to be a human being. Our common goal is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/the-common-goal-of-22-million-afro-americans-is-respect-as-human/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [In Italy, I had an Afro, and a lot of the kids came up and felt my hair. It really was funny. I wish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/in-italy-i-had-an-afro-and-a-lot-of-the-kids-came-up-and-felt-my-hair/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [The separating of a section of America for Afro- Americans is similar to expecting a heaven in the sky somewhere after you die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/the-separating-of-a-section-of-america-for-afro-americans-is-similar/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) [Browse all 77 Afros quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afros/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Does that mean that all vestiges of past discrimination would be eliminated, that the income gap or the wealth gap or the education gap [between Afro-Americans and white] would be erased in five years or 10 years? 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