--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is so remarkable about the success…" description: "\"What is so remarkable about the success of affirmative action is that it has been accomplished despite the Justice Department and the policies of the f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/447/harold-washington-32200_accomplished_what-is-so-remarkable-about-the-success_2178681.jpg" --- # What is so remarkable about the success of affirmative… ![“What is so remarkable about the success of affirmative action is that it has been accomplished despite the Justice Department and the policies of the federal government.” quote by Harold Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/447/harold-washington-32200_accomplished_what-is-so-remarkable-about-the-success_2178681.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/447/harold-washington-32200_accomplished_what-is-so-remarkable-about-the-success_2178681.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/447/harold-washington-32200_accomplished_what-is-so-remarkable-about-the-success_2178681.jpg) > “What is so remarkable about the success of affirmative action is that it has been accomplished despite the Justice Department and the policies of the federal government.” [Harold Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-washington/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Affirmative action succeeds despite opposition from federal agencies, highlighting resilience of equity policies. **In simple terms:** Affirmative action works even when faced with governmental resistance. Key Takeaway Support and defend equity policies despite institutional pushback. Themes affirmative action equity political resistance Mood resolute optimistic Type political motivational When to use this quote - legislative lobbying - public education - legal challenges Key Concepts policy implementation social justice government opposition Questions to Reflect On - What strategies sustain affirmative action under hostile administrations? - How can public support be mobilized? A Different Perspective Success may depend on political climate and public opinion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accomplished](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplished/) [Accomplished Despite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplished-despite-4697114/) [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Affirmative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affirmative/) [Affirmative action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affirmative-action/) [Congratulations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congratulations/) [Department](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/department/) [Despite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despite/) [Despite Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despite-justice-4697116/) [Federal government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/federal-government/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policy/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Remarkable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remarkable/) [Remarkable Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remarkable-success-4697115/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Success Affirmative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-affirmative-4697117/) ## Related quotes > [Affirmative action works but we're going to need to muster all our political resources if we are to keep it in place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-washington/affirmative-action-works-but-we-re-going-to-need-to-muster-all-our/) [Harold Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-washington/) > [The third fallacy is that affirmative action doesn't work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-washington/the-third-fallacy-is-that-affirmative-action-doesn-t-work/) [Harold Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-washington/) > [In all my life I have treated the press with marked contempt and remarkable success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-menzies/in-all-my-life-i-have-treated-the-press-with-marked-contempt-and/) [Robert Menzies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-menzies/) > [One thing has not changed: to doubt the worth of minority students' achievement when they succeed is really only to present another face of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/one-thing-has-not-changed-to-doubt-the-worth-of-minority-students/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [Opinion polls consistently show that only about 5 percent of blacks have sensible political opinions, i.e. support the free market, individual liberty and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/opinion-polls-consistently-show-that-only-about-5-percent-of-blacks/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [Affirmative action has a negative effect on our society when it means counting us like so many beans and dividing us into separate piles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kasich/affirmative-action-has-a-negative-effect-on-our-society-when-it-means/) [John Kasich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kasich/) > [The purpose of affirmative action is to give our nation a way to finally address the systemic exclusion of individuals of talent on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/the-purpose-of-affirmative-action-is-to-give-our-nation-a-way-to/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [If Barack Obama believes there are no victims in U.S, then I assume he'll shut down all the civil rights offices throughout the federal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/if-barack-obama-believes-there-are-no-victims-in-u-s-then-i-assume-he/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Who knows what Yale thought it was getting when it hired Richard Rodriguez? The people who offered me the job thought there was nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rodriguez/who-knows-what-yale-thought-it-was-getting-when-it-hired-richard/) [Richard Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rodriguez/) > [My decision was sparked by affirmative action. There was a point in my life when affirmative action would have meant something to me -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rodriguez/my-decision-was-sparked-by-affirmative-action-there-was-a-point-in-my/) [Richard Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rodriguez/) > [The need of black conservatives to gain the respect of their white peers deeply shapes certain elements of their conservatism. In this regard, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/the-need-of-black-conservatives-to-gain-the-respect-of-their-white/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [I read American sagas (of the west) and I do not see people who went in search of material things. I see people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-keyes/i-read-american-sagas-of-the-west-and-i-do-not-see-people-who-went-in/) [Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/) > [Affirmative action was designed to recognize the uniquely difficult journey of African-Americans. This policy was justifiable and understandable, even to those who came from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-webb/affirmative-action-was-designed-to-recognize-the-uniquely-difficult/) [Jim Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-webb/) > [Without application of the mind; there is no drive for taking affirmative action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-mercado/without-application-of-the-mind-there-is-no-drive-for-taking/) [Joseph Mercado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-mercado/) > [The fact is that in too many parts of our country, we still have discrimination. And affirmative action is not just something that applies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/the-fact-is-that-in-too-many-parts-of-our-country-we-still-have/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) ## More by Harold Washington > [Throughout American history many of our social gains and much of our progress toward democracy were made possible by the active intervention of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-washington/throughout-american-history-many-of-our-social-gains-and-much-of-our/) [Harold Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-washington/) > [I am not interested in splitting the white vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-washington/i-am-not-interested-in-splitting-the-white-vote/) [Harold Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-washington/) > [The third fallacy is that affirmative action doesn't work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-washington/the-third-fallacy-is-that-affirmative-action-doesn-t-work/) [Harold Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-washington/) > [Business as usual will not be accepted by any part of this city.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-washington/business-as-usual-will-not-be-accepted-by-any-part-of-this-city/) [Harold Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-washington/) > [I am interested in garnering the white vote, and the black vote, and the Latin vote, and the Asian vote, and the business vote,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-washington/i-am-interested-in-garnering-the-white-vote-and-the-black-vote-and/) [Harold Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-washington/) > [Let's not be overconfident, we still have to count the votes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-washington/let-s-not-be-overconfident-we-still-have-to-count-the-votes/) [Harold Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-washington/) > [Chicago has been characterized as the most segregated city in the United States, a city they said could never change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-washington/chicago-has-been-characterized-as-the-most-segregated-city-in-the/) [Harold Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-washington/) > [That fallacy flies in the face of studies that show, every day, in every way, things are getting a little worse for America's minorities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-washington/that-fallacy-flies-in-the-face-of-studies-that-show-every-day-in/) [Harold Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-washington/) > [Chicago is one city. We shall work as one people for our common good and our common goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-washington/chicago-is-one-city-we-shall-work-as-one-people-for-our-common-good/) [Harold Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-washington/) > [I cannot watch the city of Chicago be destroyed by petty politics and bad government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-washington/i-cannot-watch-the-city-of-chicago-be-destroyed-by-petty-politics-and/) [Harold Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-washington/) > [Affirmative action works but we're going to need to muster all our political resources if we are to keep it in place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-washington/affirmative-action-works-but-we-re-going-to-need-to-muster-all-our/) [Harold Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-washington/) > [Our concern is to heal. Our concern is to bring together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-washington/our-concern-is-to-heal-our-concern-is-to-bring-together/) [Harold Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-washington/) > [I want to be a mayor who helped, really helped.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-washington/i-want-to-be-a-mayor-who-helped-really-helped/) [Harold Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-washington/) > [I have been urged by the earnest pleas of thousands of people to enter this race. Therefore, I hereby declare my candidacy for Mayor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-washington/i-have-been-urged-by-the-earnest-pleas-of-thousands-of-people-to/) [Harold Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-washington/) [Explore all 15 Harold Washington quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-washington/) ## More Accomplished quotes > [I never believed in trying to do anything. Whatever I set out to do I found I had already accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-never-believed-in-trying-to-do-anything-whatever-i-set-out-to-do-i/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [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/) > [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-you-have-accomplished-your-goal-simply-walk-away-this-is-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [... even the most sublimely accomplished non-stop talker can't consistently please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/even-the-most-sublimely-accomplished-non-stop-talker-can-t/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [ \[U\]nless oppressed groups stick together, and on alliances of self interest rather than do-goodism; nothing can be accomplished in the long run to dismantle… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shulamith-firestone/u-nless-oppressed-groups-stick-together-and-on-alliances-of-self/) [Shulamith Firestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shulamith-firestone/) > [Alas, you don't need monsters for monstrous deeds to be accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/alas-you-don-t-need-monsters-for-monstrous-deeds-to-be-accomplished/) [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) > [Like all writers, he measured the achievements of others by what they had accomplished, asking of them that they measure him by what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/like-all-writers-he-measured-the-achievements-of-others-by-what-they/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I'm proud of what I've accomplished and that is empowering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/violet-chachki/i-m-proud-of-what-i-ve-accomplished-and-that-is-empowering/) [Violet Chachki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/violet-chachki/) > [We do not know today whether we are busy or idle. In times when we thought ourselves indolent, we have afterwards discovered that much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/we-do-not-know-today-whether-we-are-busy-or-idle-in-times-when-we/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I don't know Beyoncé, but I have the impression that she's sincere, that she really is a feminist and wanted to put the word…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/i-don-t-know-beyonc-but-i-have-the-impression-that-she-s-sincere-that/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [The gain in self-confidence of having accomplished a tiresome labour is immense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/the-gain-in-self-confidence-of-having-accomplished-a-tiresome-labour/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [With Epcot Center, the Disney corporation has accomplished something I didn't think possible in today's world. They have created a land of make-believe that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/with-epcot-center-the-disney-corporation-has-accomplished-something-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Listing the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act could harm bear conservation efforts by eliminating revenues from the carefully-regulated sport hunting of polar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-ridenour/listing-the-polar-bear-under-the-endangered-species-act-could-harm/) [Amy Ridenour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-ridenour/) > [“Great things can be accomplished, when it doesnt matter who gets the credit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/great-things-can-be-accomplished-when-it-doesnt-matter-who-gets-the/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [If I could inspire you for even a moment to be yourself and love yourself, and not let what anyone has to say hinder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-neal-hartry/if-i-could-inspire-you-for-even-a-moment-to-be-yourself-and-love/) [Joshua Neal Hartry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-neal-hartry/) [Browse all 1,379 Accomplished quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplished/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What is so remarkable about the success of affirmative action is that it has been accomplished despite the Justice Department and the policies of the federal government.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Harold Washington" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-washington/what-is-so-remarkable-about-the-success-of-affirmative-action-is-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accomplished" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-washington/what-is-so-remarkable-about-the-success-of-affirmative-action-is-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/447/harold-washington-32200_accomplished_what-is-so-remarkable-about-the-success_2178681.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/447/harold-washington-32200_accomplished_what-is-so-remarkable-about-the-success_2178681.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/447/harold-washington-32200_accomplished_what-is-so-remarkable-about-the-success_2178681.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What is so remarkable about the success of affirmative action is that it has been accomplished despite the…” — Harold Washington", "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": "Harold Washington", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-washington/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What is so remarkable about the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-washington/what-is-so-remarkable-about-the-success-of-affirmative-action-is-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-washington/what-is-so-remarkable-about-the-success-of-affirmative-action-is-that/#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 } } ] } ```