--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Electing the first African-American…" description: "\"Electing the first African-American president was a tremendous accomplishment, but it hasn't erased racism.\" — Jack Schlossberg" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/842/jack-schlossberg-12683_accomplishment_electing-the-first-african-american-pres_1127214.jpg" --- # Electing the first African-American president was a… ![“Electing the first African-American president was a tremendous accomplishment, but it hasn't erased racism.” quote by Jack Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/842/jack-schlossberg-12683_accomplishment_electing-the-first-african-american-pres_1127214.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/842/jack-schlossberg-12683_accomplishment_electing-the-first-african-american-pres_1127214.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/842/jack-schlossberg-12683_accomplishment_electing-the-first-african-american-pres_1127214.jpg) > “Electing the first African-American president was a tremendous accomplishment, but it hasn't erased racism.” [Jack Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-schlossberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Electing a Black president was historic, yet systemic racism persists beyond symbolic victories. **In simple terms:** Historic win, racism still present. Key Takeaway Continue fighting structural inequality. Themes justice race politics Mood determined hopeful Type activist motivational When to use this quote - elections - policy reform - community activism - education initiatives Key Concepts systemic bias symbolic representation Questions to Reflect On - What concrete steps can reduce racism now? - How to balance pride with vigilance? A Different Perspective Celebrations can mask ongoing disparities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accomplishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplishment/) [Accomplishment Hasn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplishment-hasn-3079305/) [African american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/) [American president](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-president/) [Electing African](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electing-african-3079304/) [Erased](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/erased/) [Erased Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/erased-racism-3079307/) [First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Tremendous Accomplishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tremendous-accomplishment-3079306/) ## Related quotes > [There were people who voted for Obama simply because he was the first African-American. We had a lot of people that would not have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-were-people-who-voted-for-obama-simply-because-he-was-the-first/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I made it to the top five on 'Dancing with the Stars.' To me, that was just a tremendous accomplishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/i-made-it-to-the-top-five-on-dancing-with-the-stars-to-me-that-was/) [Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) > [It hasn't been for a lack of trying. But we really have to analyze in a deeper way why we have these problems -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-turner/it-hasn-t-been-for-a-lack-of-trying-but-we-really-have-to-analyze-in/) [Nina Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-turner/) > [Voters in 1960 elected the first Catholic president. In 2012, I voted to reelect the first African American president. Each was a vote for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-schlossberg/voters-in-1960-elected-the-first-catholic-president-in-2012-i-voted/) [Jack Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-schlossberg/) > [“My memories will be erased and then I'll be force-fed the story from the society pages?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianna-baggott/my-memories-will-be-erased-and-then-i-ll-be-force-fed-the-story-from/) [Julianna Baggott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianna-baggott/) > [I'm glad Wu-Tang was able to inspire other producers and artists, but I would never want to be erased or removed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/i-m-glad-wu-tang-was-able-to-inspire-other-producers-and-artists-but/) [Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [Hillary has now erased all of her emails, and she also had all of her pantsuits dry cleaned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/hillary-has-now-erased-all-of-her-emails-and-she-also-had-all-of-her/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [The past cannot be changed,forgotten,edited or erased.it can only be accepted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-past-cannot-be-changed-forgotten-edited-or-erased-it-can-only-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Pain is erased when inflicted upon others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crixus/pain-is-erased-when-inflicted-upon-others/) [Crixus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crixus/) > [“Our first kiss was going to be the lasting kind. 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Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“I knew we'd cross the line, so I quietly erased it while you weren't looking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-wolchin/i-knew-we-d-cross-the-line-so-i-quietly-erased-it-while-you-weren-t/) [Rachel Wolchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-wolchin/) > [Fame is like a big eraser. It's strange, now that I'm famous. In my parents' opinion, all the shitty things - all the wreckage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobcat-goldthwait/fame-is-like-a-big-eraser-it-s-strange-now-that-i-m-famous-in-my/) [Bobcat Goldthwait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobcat-goldthwait/) > [“The next morning, the refugees rose from their agitation to the realization that they were slowly being erased from the world, from its history…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-next-morning-the-refugees-rose-from-their-agitation-to-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Jack Schlossberg > [As a Democrat following the 2012 presidential election closely, I was happy to see that South Carolina voted overwhelmingly for Newt Gingrich, a candidate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-schlossberg/as-a-democrat-following-the-2012-presidential-election-closely-i-was/) [Jack Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-schlossberg/) > [I don't know what I'm going to do with my law degree. Hopefully I'll get the law degree - that's the first step.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-schlossberg/i-don-t-know-what-i-m-going-to-do-with-my-law-degree-hopefully-i-ll/) [Jack Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-schlossberg/) > [I am not a fan of Mitt Romney, but I admit that he is, politically speaking, a good candidate for president. He has no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-schlossberg/i-am-not-a-fan-of-mitt-romney-but-i-admit-that-he-is-politically/) [Jack Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-schlossberg/) > [The more government transparency, the better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-schlossberg/the-more-government-transparency-the-better/) [Jack Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-schlossberg/) > [In South Carolina, the Confederate flag flies high on countless flagpoles. 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Kennedy, praised leadership that put country above party, elevated principles over petty politics and promoted progress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-schlossberg/in-profiles-in-courage-my-grandfather-john-f-kennedy-praised/) [Jack Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-schlossberg/) > [In 2008, I was inspired by President Obama's vision for America and all the promises that he laid out for our country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-schlossberg/in-2008-i-was-inspired-by-president-obama-s-vision-for-america-and/) [Jack Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-schlossberg/) > [I'm inspired by my family's legacy of public service. It's something that I'm very proud of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-schlossberg/i-m-inspired-by-my-family-s-legacy-of-public-service-it-s-something/) [Jack Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-schlossberg/) > [Kennedy believed in religious liberty and the separation of church and state. He did not believe in the right of elected officials to impose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-schlossberg/kennedy-believed-in-religious-liberty-and-the-separation-of-church/) [Jack Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-schlossberg/) > [All too often our leaders shrink from their responsibilities and choose to do what is politically expedient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-schlossberg/all-too-often-our-leaders-shrink-from-their-responsibilities-and/) [Jack Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-schlossberg/) > [Most of the Republican Party denies climate change and has fought all efforts to address it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-schlossberg/most-of-the-republican-party-denies-climate-change-and-has-fought-all/) [Jack Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-schlossberg/) > [Obama set a record number of deportations of illegal immigrants in 2011, but that fact alone is misleading. 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The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [To accomplish much you must first lose everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/to-accomplish-much-you-must-first-lose-everything/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) > [One of the most important rules for success is this: Every great success is the result of hundreds and thousands of small efforts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/one-of-the-most-important-rules-for-success-is-this-every-great/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [For many of us, work is the one place where we feel appreciated. The things that we long to experience at home - pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlie-russell-hochschild/for-many-of-us-work-is-the-one-place-where-we-feel-appreciated-the/) [Arlie Russell Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlie-russell-hochschild/) > [Humility is an elusive virtue. The more we pursue it - and the more we seem to acquire it - the more we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-aquilina/humility-is-an-elusive-virtue-the-more-we-pursue-it-and-the-more-we/) [Mike Aquilina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-aquilina/) > [I'm not always right, but I learn from my mistakes and make it a productive experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-kolhoff/i-m-not-always-right-but-i-learn-from-my-mistakes-and-make-it-a/) [Carson Kolhoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-kolhoff/) > [Suffering in life can uncover untold depths of character and unknown strength for service. People who go through life unscathed by sorrow and untouched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/suffering-in-life-can-uncover-untold-depths-of-character-and-unknown/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/there-is-no-limit-to-the-amount-of-good-you-can-do-if-you-don-t-care/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Research is the live heart of the scientific life ... 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