--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is a certain percentage of the…" description: "\"There is a certain percentage of the white population ... if they started having more middle-class black kids who are friends with their kids, eating C..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52b/barack-obama-17_attitude_there-is-a-certain-percentage-of-the-whi_1213612.jpg" --- # There is a certain percentage of the white population… ![“There is a certain percentage of the white population ... if they started having more middle-class black kids who are friends with their kids, eating Cheerios in their kitchen, their attitudes start changing.” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52b/barack-obama-17_attitude_there-is-a-certain-percentage-of-the-whi_1213612.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52b/barack-obama-17_attitude_there-is-a-certain-percentage-of-the-whi_1213612.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52b/barack-obama-17_attitude_there-is-a-certain-percentage-of-the-whi_1213612.jpg) > “There is a certain percentage of the white population ... if they started having more middle-class black kids who are friends with their kids, eating Cheerios in their kitchen, their attitudes start changing.” [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. Increasing interracial friendships among children can shift white attitudes positively. **In simple terms:** Cross‑racial friendships change perceptions. Key Takeaway Promote diverse friendships. Themes social integration race relations education community Mood hopeful empathetic Type social policy When to use this quote - school programs - neighborhood events - family outreach - policy making Key Concepts bias reduction social cohesion Questions to Reflect On - How to foster authentic cross‑racial friendships? - What barriers exist in community integration? A Different Perspective Change may be slow and uneven. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Attitudes Start](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitudes-start-1381243/) [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Black Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-kids/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Eating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eating/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Kitchen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kitchen/) [Kitchen Attitudes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kitchen-attitudes-3689743/) [Middle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle/) [Middle class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-class/) [Percentage White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/percentage-white-3689742/) [Percentages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/percentages/) [Population](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/population/) [White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white/) [White Population](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-population-2243521/) ## Related quotes > [If you want to change attitudes, start with a change in behavior. In other words, begin to act the part, as well as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-glasser/if-you-want-to-change-attitudes-start-with-a-change-in-behavior-in/) [William Glasser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-glasser/) > [If you want to change attitudes, start with a change in behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-want-to-change-attitudes-start-with-a-change-in-behavior/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The white population of Texas from before the war, then, was never truly beaten, never truly surrendered, and was never brought violently to terms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-himes/the-white-population-of-texas-from-before-the-war-then-was-never/) [Andrew Himes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-himes/) > [We are of the opinion that an important and irreversible process is taking place among the white population. Just as with the blacks, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-slovo/we-are-of-the-opinion-that-an-important-and-irreversible-process-is/) [Joe Slovo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-slovo/) > [The middle class, in the white population, encompasses a wide swath.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-baker-motley/the-middle-class-in-the-white-population-encompasses-a-wide-swath/) [Constance Baker Motley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-baker-motley/) > [“Under the white population of the United States of America only the reactionary classes oppress the black population. Under no circumstance can they represent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/under-the-white-population-of-the-united-states-of-america-only-the/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [As South Africa has a white population of only 2.8 million or thereabouts, you can see that every other central organization in the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-ron-hubbard/as-south-africa-has-a-white-population-of-only-2-8-million-or/) [L. Ron Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-ron-hubbard/) > [The white population could not possibly be unaffected by those events - some whites more stubborn in their defense of segregation, but others beginning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/the-white-population-could-not-possibly-be-unaffected-by-those-events/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [I actually believe that some residue of discrimination would lessen, because it's my view that there is a certain percentage of the white population…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-actually-believe-that-some-residue-of-discrimination-would-lessen/) [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/) > [Look, first of all, the climate is changing. I don't think the science is clear what percentage is man-made and what percentage is natural.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/look-first-of-all-the-climate-is-changing-i-don-t-think-the-science/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [When I think back, I felt like I had the life that a lot of white American kids grew up with in the suburbs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/when-i-think-back-i-felt-like-i-had-the-life-that-a-lot-of-white/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [My peers at the time: you know, young black kids from off the streets of Harlem, having these conversations with me in my small,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/my-peers-at-the-time-you-know-young-black-kids-from-off-the-streets/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [I just wish all these young black kids would realize how significant it is to stop acting a fool out there, killing each other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-barkley/i-just-wish-all-these-young-black-kids-would-realize-how-significant/) [Charles Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-barkley/) > [The welfare state has done to Black Americans what slavery (and Jim Crow and racism) could not have done. . .break up the black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stossel/the-welfare-state-has-done-to-black-americans-what-slavery-and-jim/) [John Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stossel/) ## 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 Attitude quotes > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) [Isaiah Harden (Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-harden-me/) > [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/) [Sheye Hassan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheye-hassan/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) [Browse all 9,543 Attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is a certain percentage of the white population ... if they started having more middle-class black kids who are friends with their kids, eating Cheerios in their kitchen, their attitudes start changing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Barack Obama" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/there-is-a-certain-percentage-of-the-white-population-if-they-started/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attitude" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/there-is-a-certain-percentage-of-the-white-population-if-they-started/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52b/barack-obama-17_attitude_there-is-a-certain-percentage-of-the-whi_1213612.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52b/barack-obama-17_attitude_there-is-a-certain-percentage-of-the-whi_1213612.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52b/barack-obama-17_attitude_there-is-a-certain-percentage-of-the-whi_1213612.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There is a certain percentage of the white population ... if they started having more middle-class black…” — 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": "There is a certain percentage of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/there-is-a-certain-percentage-of-the-white-population-if-they-started/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/there-is-a-certain-percentage-of-the-white-population-if-they-started/#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 } } ] } ```