--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everyone says we have our first African…" description: "\"Everyone says we have our first African American president. Has there ever been a Jewish president? An Italian president? They don't say a damn thing a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/243/monte-irvin-26420_about_everyone-says-we-have-our-first-african_303814.jpg" --- # Everyone says we have our first African American… ![“Everyone says we have our first African American president. Has there ever been a Jewish president? An Italian president? They don't say a damn thing about that. You think we're still fighting the Civil War or something. If you want to mention it in passing, OK. But don't dwell on it.” quote by Monte Irvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/243/monte-irvin-26420_about_everyone-says-we-have-our-first-african_303814.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/243/monte-irvin-26420_about_everyone-says-we-have-our-first-african_303814.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/243/monte-irvin-26420_about_everyone-says-we-have-our-first-african_303814.jpg) > “Everyone says we have our first African American president. Has there ever been a Jewish president? An Italian president? They don't say a damn thing about that. You think we're still fighting the Civil War or something. If you want to mention it in passing, OK. But don't dwell on it.” [Monte Irvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monte-irvin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker critiques the focus on race while ignoring other ethnicities, urging broader inclusion in political discourse. **In simple terms:** Calls for recognizing all minority groups in leadership. Key Takeaway Consider all backgrounds when evaluating representation. Themes diversity politics race representation Mood critical thoughtful Type analytical commentary When to use this quote - political debates - media analysis - educational curricula - public policy discussions Key Concepts intersectionality media bias historical context Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure equitable representation for all groups? - What biases affect our perception of leadership diversity? A Different Perspective May overlook systemic barriers faced by non‑Black minorities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [African](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african/) [African american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/) [American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) [American president](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-president/) [Been](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/been/) [Civil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil/) [Civil war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-war/) [Damn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damn/) [Damn thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damn-thing/) [Damn things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damn-things/) [Dwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dwell/) [Ever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ever/) [Everyone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everyone/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Italian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/italian/) [Jewish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jewish/) [Mention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mention/) [Ok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ok/) [Our](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our/) [Passing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passing/) [Passings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passings/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [President Jewish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president-jewish-2897369/) [Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say/) [Says](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/says/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Still](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/still/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [People apparently only read mystery stories of any length. With mysteries, the longer the better, and people will read any damn thing. But the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/people-apparently-only-read-mystery-stories-of-any-length-with/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [Nothing that's good works by itself, you've got to make the damn thing work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/nothing-that-s-good-works-by-itself-you-ve-got-to-make-the-damn-thing/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [And I really haven't done a damn thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-tillman/and-i-really-haven-t-done-a-damn-thing/) [Pat Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-tillman/) > [Every damn thing is your own fault, if you are any good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/every-damn-thing-is-your-own-fault-if-you-are-any-good/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [We don't owe the blacks a damn thing, anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/we-don-t-owe-the-blacks-a-damn-thing-anyway/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [After you've been working fairly intensively on a novel for six months you never want to see the damn thing again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/after-you-ve-been-working-fairly-intensively-on-a-novel-for-six/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I'm the best damn thing that your eyes have ever seen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avril-lavigne/i-m-the-best-damn-thing-that-your-eyes-have-ever-seen/) [Avril Lavigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avril-lavigne/) > [If it weren't for fear, I wouldn't have to teach you a damn thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-johnstone/if-it-weren-t-for-fear-i-wouldn-t-have-to-teach-you-a-damn-thing/) [Keith Johnstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-johnstone/) > [History is one damn thing after another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-a-l-fisher/history-is-one-damn-thing-after-another/) [H. A. L. Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-a-l-fisher/) > [The reason we had an all-black outfield in '51 is Don Mueller got hurt, so Hank Thompson was a legitimate replacement. So what? People…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monte-irvin/the-reason-we-had-an-all-black-outfield-in-51-is-don-mueller-got-hurt/) [Monte Irvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monte-irvin/) > [“Okay. For one, that damn thing is ugly as all get out, and for two, I just sat there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-aleo/okay-for-one-that-damn-thing-is-ugly-as-all-get-out-and-for-two-i/) [Toni Aleo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-aleo/) > [I always choose to remember the moment that was the best of Jeanne Cooper - those photos where she's in that wild dress triumphantly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corbin-bernsen/i-always-choose-to-remember-the-moment-that-was-the-best-of-jeanne/) [Corbin Bernsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corbin-bernsen/) > [“I turn the key and I turn the key and I turn the key and she doesn't do a damn thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-cohn/i-turn-the-key-and-i-turn-the-key-and-i-turn-the-key-and-she-doesn-t/) [Rachel Cohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-cohn/) > [We do the same damn thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swagg-mala/we-do-the-same-damn-thing/) [Swagg Mala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swagg-mala/) > [When you see something you want to do, go do the damn thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-mcafee/when-you-see-something-you-want-to-do-go-do-the-damn-thing/) [Pat McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-mcafee/) ## More by Monte Irvin > [Willie Wells, Ray Dandridge, Leon Day, Buck Leonard, Quincy Troupe, Satchel Paige - earlier than when he was called up - Oscar Charleston and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monte-irvin/willie-wells-ray-dandridge-leon-day-buck-leonard-quincy-troupe/) [Monte Irvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monte-irvin/) > [I was all-state in four sports in New Jersey, but sometimes I couldn't get served at a restaurant two blocks from my high school.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monte-irvin/i-was-all-state-in-four-sports-in-new-jersey-but-sometimes-i-couldn-t/) [Monte Irvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monte-irvin/) > [My mother was a Bible student, and when I was a youngster, both my mother and father would say, 'If people would only live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monte-irvin/my-mother-was-a-bible-student-and-when-i-was-a-youngster-both-my/) [Monte Irvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monte-irvin/) > [I always felt that I had a mission in life. I thought I was born to play sports. Even now, I still feel that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monte-irvin/i-always-felt-that-i-had-a-mission-in-life-i-thought-i-was-born-to/) [Monte Irvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monte-irvin/) > [We used to look at each other and say, 'We play the same game with the same rules, the same bat, the same ball,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monte-irvin/we-used-to-look-at-each-other-and-say-we-play-the-same-game-with-the/) [Monte Irvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monte-irvin/) > [Early in life I learned, just through observation, that right always wins out over wrong. If a person has good intentions in his heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monte-irvin/early-in-life-i-learned-just-through-observation-that-right-always/) [Monte Irvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monte-irvin/) > [I played for Almendares in Cuba. Guess who was trying out for the team? Castro. Fidel Castro, as a pitcher. He could throw pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monte-irvin/i-played-for-almendares-in-cuba-guess-who-was-trying-out-for-the-team/) [Monte Irvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monte-irvin/) > [For me, there was nothing like my time with the Eagles - ever. We were young, and the world was new to us. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monte-irvin/for-me-there-was-nothing-like-my-time-with-the-eagles-ever-we-were/) [Monte Irvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monte-irvin/) > [Many of the greatest black athletes of all time played baseball for no money and no recognition. I'm just sorry many major league fans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monte-irvin/many-of-the-greatest-black-athletes-of-all-time-played-baseball-for/) [Monte Irvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monte-irvin/) > [It was in 1942 and I flew from St. Louis to Mexico City. I had just gotten married and we were on our honeymoon.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monte-irvin/it-was-in-1942-and-i-flew-from-st-louis-to-mexico-city-i-had-just/) [Monte Irvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monte-irvin/) > [The reason we had an all-black outfield in '51 is Don Mueller got hurt, so Hank Thompson was a legitimate replacement. So what? People…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monte-irvin/the-reason-we-had-an-all-black-outfield-in-51-is-don-mueller-got-hurt/) [Monte Irvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monte-irvin/) > [Oscar Charleston was the Willie Mays of his day. Nobody ever played center field better than Willie Mays. Suppose they had never given Willie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monte-irvin/oscar-charleston-was-the-willie-mays-of-his-day-nobody-ever-played/) [Monte Irvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monte-irvin/) > [I'm a forgiver. I might not forget, but I forgive. My mother, father and older brother always told me: 'Don't hold grudges. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monte-irvin/i-m-a-forgiver-i-might-not-forget-but-i-forgive-my-mother-father-and/) [Monte Irvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monte-irvin/) > [I played with Willie Mays and against Hank Aaron. They were tremendous players, but they were no Josh Gibson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monte-irvin/i-played-with-willie-mays-and-against-hank-aaron-they-were-tremendous/) [Monte Irvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monte-irvin/) > [Baseball has done more to move America in the right direction than all of the professional patriots with all their cheap words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monte-irvin/baseball-has-done-more-to-move-america-in-the-right-direction-than/) [Monte Irvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monte-irvin/) [Explore all 21 Monte Irvin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monte-irvin/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) [Browse all 26,122 About quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Everyone says we have our first African American president. Has there ever been a Jewish president? An Italian president? They don't say a damn thing about that. You think we're still fighting the Civil War or something. If you want to mention it in passing, OK. 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