--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Race remains a potent and often divisive…" description: "\"Race remains a potent and often divisive force in our society.\" — Barack Obama" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/703/barack-obama-17_force_race-remains-a-potent-and-often-divisive_949715.jpg" --- # Race remains a potent and often divisive force in our… ![“Race remains a potent and often divisive force in our society.” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/703/barack-obama-17_force_race-remains-a-potent-and-often-divisive_949715.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/703/barack-obama-17_force_race-remains-a-potent-and-often-divisive_949715.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/703/barack-obama-17_force_race-remains-a-potent-and-often-divisive_949715.jpg) > “Race remains a potent and often divisive force in our society.” [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. Race continues to shape society, often creating division and tension. **In simple terms:** Race is a powerful, divisive force. Key Takeaway Address racial issues openly. Themes race society division Mood hopeful serious Type political inspirational When to use this quote - policy making - community dialogue - education reform Key Concepts social justice identity politics inequality Questions to Reflect On - How can we bridge racial divides? - What policies best reduce racial tension? A Different Perspective Addressing race alone may not solve all inequities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Our society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-society/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) ## Related quotes > [No matter how old I get, the race remains one of life's most rewarding experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-a-sheehan/no-matter-how-old-i-get-the-race-remains-one-of-life-s-most-rewarding/) [George A. Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-a-sheehan/) > [Race remains a significant challenge in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/race-remains-a-significant-challenge-in-america/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [No matter how old I get, the race remains one of life's most rewarding experiences. My times become slower and slower, but the experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-a-sheehan/no-matter-how-old-i-get-the-race-remains-one-of-life-s-most-rewarding-2/) [George A. Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-a-sheehan/) > [“For many Americans—probably most Americans—race remains an unspoken consideration in decisions about where to live, what schools to attend, what clubs to join, whom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-taylor/for-many-americans-probably-most-americans-race-remains-an-unspoken/) [Jared Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-taylor/) > [It is time to leave behind the divisive battles of the past. It is time to move forward as one nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-is-time-to-leave-behind-the-divisive-battles-of-the-past-it-is/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Our lives are now in a telephone, all our data, all our finances, all our personal information, and so it's proper that we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/our-lives-are-now-in-a-telephone-all-our-data-all-our-finances-all/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [When we don't pay close attention to the decisions made by our leaders, when we fail to educate ourselves about the major issues of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/when-we-don-t-pay-close-attention-to-the-decisions-made-by-our-2/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Reinvigorating the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department, making sure that in our Department of Education, where we see evidence of black boys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/reinvigorating-the-civil-rights-division-of-the-justice-department/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I don't want to exaggerate; having as many African American men as we've had in the criminal-justice system, and the amount of time it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-don-t-want-to-exaggerate-having-as-many-african-american-men-as-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I continue to believe when I said in Hanover, that the E.U. remains one of the world's great political and economic achievements, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-continue-to-believe-when-i-said-in-hanover-that-the-e-u-remains-one/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > ['Chip Away' is somewhat of a rail against cable news and divisive agendas... all for the almighty dollar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duff-mckagan/chip-away-is-somewhat-of-a-rail-against-cable-news-and-divisive/) [Duff McKagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duff-mckagan/) > [I rather be divisive than boring. The last thing I want to be is a bowl of sugar free vanilla pudding, it's not something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-biersack/i-rather-be-divisive-than-boring-the-last-thing-i-want-to-be-is-a/) [Andy Biersack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-biersack/) > [If one in four Dutch people saying they will vote for my party, it's ridiculous to say we're divisive or extreme.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geert-wilders/if-one-in-four-dutch-people-saying-they-will-vote-for-my-party-it-s/) [Geert Wilders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geert-wilders/) > [Talking about class and identity can be as divisive as talking about race and racism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-olusoga/talking-about-class-and-identity-can-be-as-divisive-as-talking-about/) [David Olusoga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-olusoga/) > [South Carolina, as a matter of compromise, displays the Confederate flag on a flagpole in front of the state capitol. Because I grew up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edwards/south-carolina-as-a-matter-of-compromise-displays-the-confederate/) [John Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edwards/) ## 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 Divisive quotes > [South Carolina, as a matter of compromise, displays the Confederate flag on a flagpole in front of the state capitol. Because I grew up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edwards/south-carolina-as-a-matter-of-compromise-displays-the-confederate/) [John Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edwards/) > [Talking about class and identity can be as divisive as talking about race and racism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-olusoga/talking-about-class-and-identity-can-be-as-divisive-as-talking-about/) [David Olusoga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-olusoga/) > [If one in four Dutch people saying they will vote for my party, it's ridiculous to say we're divisive or extreme.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geert-wilders/if-one-in-four-dutch-people-saying-they-will-vote-for-my-party-it-s/) [Geert Wilders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geert-wilders/) > [I rather be divisive than boring. The last thing I want to be is a bowl of sugar free vanilla pudding, it's not something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-biersack/i-rather-be-divisive-than-boring-the-last-thing-i-want-to-be-is-a/) [Andy Biersack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-biersack/) > ['Chip Away' is somewhat of a rail against cable news and divisive agendas... all for the almighty dollar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duff-mckagan/chip-away-is-somewhat-of-a-rail-against-cable-news-and-divisive/) [Duff McKagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duff-mckagan/) > [I don't think it's particularly divisive to say fitness should be for everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-francis/i-don-t-think-it-s-particularly-divisive-to-say-fitness-should-be-for/) [Ben Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-francis/) > [Hollywood is very divisive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-bean/hollywood-is-very-divisive/) [Orson Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-bean/) > [“this man was even more divisive and dishonest than his presidential campaign revealed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-warren/this-man-was-even-more-divisive-and-dishonest-than-his-presidential/) [Elizabeth Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-warren/) > [All religions develop, become exclusive, become divisive and quarrelsome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/all-religions-develop-become-exclusive-become-divisive-and-quarrelsome/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Unfortunately, there's been a lot of very divisive, dark things said about Muslims.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/unfortunately-there-s-been-a-lot-of-very-divisive-dark-things-said/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [The divisive environment my grandfather created in the family is the water that Donald has always swum in, and that division continues to benefit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-l-trump/the-divisive-environment-my-grandfather-created-in-the-family-is-the/) [Mary L. Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-l-trump/) > [Donald Trump is a divisive name in a locker room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jenkins/donald-trump-is-a-divisive-name-in-a-locker-room/) [Malcolm Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jenkins/) > [Since my adolescence, divisive politics has bothered me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anubhav-sinha/since-my-adolescence-divisive-politics-has-bothered-me/) [Anubhav Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anubhav-sinha/) > [When you hear someone delivering a divisive message, that's endangering our country that you stay up and say, you know, as an American, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-williams/when-you-hear-someone-delivering-a-divisive-message-that-s/) [Juan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-williams/) > [AOC is divisive and disloyal to her own party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-devine/aoc-is-divisive-and-disloyal-to-her-own-party/) [Miranda Devine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-devine/) Browse all 87 Divisive quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Race remains a potent and often divisive force in our society.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Barack Obama" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/race-remains-a-potent-and-often-divisive-force-in-our-society/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Divisive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/race-remains-a-potent-and-often-divisive-force-in-our-society/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/703/barack-obama-17_force_race-remains-a-potent-and-often-divisive_949715.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/703/barack-obama-17_force_race-remains-a-potent-and-often-divisive_949715.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/703/barack-obama-17_force_race-remains-a-potent-and-often-divisive_949715.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Race remains a potent and often divisive force in our society.” — Barack Obama", "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": "Barack Obama", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Race remains a potent and often...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/race-remains-a-potent-and-often-divisive-force-in-our-society/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/race-remains-a-potent-and-often-divisive-force-in-our-society/#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 } } ] } ```