--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's not the people in the South who…" description: "\"It's not the people in the South who create racial problems - it's the people who are governing.\" — Nat King Cole" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/816/nat-king-cole-15878_governing_it-s-not-the-people-in-the-south-who-cre_1750945.jpg" --- # It's not the people in the South who create racial… ![“It's not the people in the South who create racial problems - it's the people who are governing.” quote by Nat King Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/816/nat-king-cole-15878_governing_it-s-not-the-people-in-the-south-who-cre_1750945.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/816/nat-king-cole-15878_governing_it-s-not-the-people-in-the-south-who-cre_1750945.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/816/nat-king-cole-15878_governing_it-s-not-the-people-in-the-south-who-cre_1750945.jpg) > “It's not the people in the South who create racial problems - it's the people who are governing.” [Nat King Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-king-cole/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Racial issues stem from governance, not geography. **In simple terms:** Leadership creates racial problems. Key Takeaway Address policies, not regions. Themes politics race leadership Mood concerned determined Type analytical activist When to use this quote - legislative reform - community activism - education programs Key Concepts systemic bias governance responsibility Questions to Reflect On - Who holds power to change policies? - How can citizens influence governance? A Different Perspective Changing leadership alone may not shift deep cultural attitudes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Governing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governing/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Governing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-governing-902503/) [People South](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-south-550026/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Problems People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problems-people/) [Racial Problems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racial-problems-309298/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [South](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/south/) ## Related quotes > [Today, the people are governing the governments. And when they begin to talk to each other, they are surprised, they can be friends. Why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/today-the-people-are-governing-the-governments-and-when-they-begin-to/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [My faith in the people governing is, on the whole, infinitesimal; my faith in the people governed is, on the whole, illimitable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/my-faith-in-the-people-governing-is-on-the-whole-infinitesimal-my/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [The Palestinian people were governing themselves before the creation of the State of Israel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-sarsour/the-palestinian-people-were-governing-themselves-before-the-creation/) [Linda Sarsour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-sarsour/) > [I think it's pretty clear when you make a choice that's against all public health information and data out there, that it's not based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-psaki/i-think-it-s-pretty-clear-when-you-make-a-choice-that-s-against-all/) [Jen Psaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-psaki/) > [Clearly, I think that there have been racial problems in America for a long time. I still think that, particularly during the second half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-walsh/clearly-i-think-that-there-have-been-racial-problems-in-america-for-a/) [Marty Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-walsh/) > [Racial problems can't be easily reconciled with a pat account about racism and discrimination that lets us sort of relax into saying when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-loury/racial-problems-can-t-be-easily-reconciled-with-a-pat-account-about/) [Glenn Loury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-loury/) > [I believe there are certainly racial problems in this country, and I believe that peaceful solutions can help bring the races together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-shapiro/i-believe-there-are-certainly-racial-problems-in-this-country-and-i/) [Robert Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-shapiro/) > [Many of the racial problems in America are caused by the fact that people are innately tribal, and politicians know how to exploit that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-goad/many-of-the-racial-problems-in-america-are-caused-by-the-fact-that/) [Jim Goad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-goad/) > [People often get racism mixed up with bigotry or prejudice. We need to get our terminology straightened out. We obviously have racial problems that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/people-often-get-racism-mixed-up-with-bigotry-or-prejudice-we-need-to/) [Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) > [ There are definitely racial problems in this country \[the USA\]. Comedy is a way we can figure out how to solve it, and how… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/there-are-definitely-racial-problems-in-this-country-the-usa-comedy/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [A politician finds anything to do with racial problems far more frightening than a gun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-breslin/a-politician-finds-anything-to-do-with-racial-problems-far-more/) [Jimmy Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-breslin/) > [Things seem to be at a boiling point all the time. In fact, it has been that way my whole life. I find it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/things-seem-to-be-at-a-boiling-point-all-the-time-in-fact-it-has-been/) [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) > [“so absorbed is the white world with its domestic dissensions that it pays scant heed to racial problems whose importance for the future of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-lothrop-stoddard/so-absorbed-is-the-white-world-with-its-domestic-dissensions-that-it/) [T. Lothrop Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-lothrop-stoddard/) > [All were artists, playing foolish, having fights and making love as if the rest of the world had no racial problems whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-berry/all-were-artists-playing-foolish-having-fights-and-making-love-as-if/) [Chuck Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-berry/) > [“The racial problems that consumed Guitar were the most boring of all. He wondered what they would do if they didn't have black and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/the-racial-problems-that-consumed-guitar-were-the-most-boring-of-all/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) ## More by Nat King Cole > [The people who know nothing about music are the ones always talking about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/the-people-who-know-nothing-about-music-are-the-ones-always-talking/) [Nat King Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-king-cole/) > [Critics don't buy records. They get 'em free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/critics-don-t-buy-records-they-get-em-free/) [Nat King Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-king-cole/) > [When I first organized the King Cole Trio back in 1937, we were strictly what you would call an instrumental group. To break the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/when-i-first-organized-the-king-cole-trio-back-in-1937-we-were/) [Nat King Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-king-cole/) > [I'm in the music business for one purpose - to make money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/i-m-in-the-music-business-for-one-purpose-to-make-money/) [Nat King Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-king-cole/) > [Get me well so I can get on television and tell people to stop smoking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/get-me-well-so-i-can-get-on-television-and-tell-people-to-stop-smoking/) [Nat King Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-king-cole/) > [I make no claim to being a business genius. You can make so much money in this business that it loses its value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/i-make-no-claim-to-being-a-business-genius-you-can-make-so-much-money/) [Nat King Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-king-cole/) > [If you smile through your fear and sorrow, smile and maybe tomorrow you'll see the sun come shining through for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/if-you-smile-through-your-fear-and-sorrow-smile-and-maybe-tomorrow/) [Nat King Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-king-cole/) > [Smile and maybe tomorrow you'll see that life is still worth while if you just smile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/smile-and-maybe-tomorrow-you-ll-see-that-life-is-still-worth-while-if/) [Nat King Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-king-cole/) > [Although it's been said many times, many ways...Merry Christmas to you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/although-it-s-been-said-many-times-many-ways-merry-christmas-to-you/) [Nat King Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-king-cole/) > [I'm a musician at heart. I know I'm not really a singer. I couldn't compete with real singers. But I sing because the public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/i-m-a-musician-at-heart-i-know-i-m-not-really-a-singer-i-couldn-t/) [Nat King Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-king-cole/) > [“Oh, my darling, it’s incredible, that someone so unforgettable should think I am unforgettable, too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/oh-my-darling-it-s-incredible-that-someone-so-unforgettable-should/) [Nat King Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-king-cole/) > [Madison Avenue is afraid of the dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/madison-avenue-is-afraid-of-the-dark/) [Nat King Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-king-cole/) > [Primarily I'm a meat man, although once in a while I toy with a few vegetables.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/primarily-i-m-a-meat-man-although-once-in-a-while-i-toy-with-a-few/) [Nat King Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-king-cole/) > [The Supreme Court is having a hard time integrating schools. What chance do I have to integrate audiences?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/the-supreme-court-is-having-a-hard-time-integrating-schools-what/) [Nat King Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-king-cole/) > [If you ever plan to motor west, travel my way, take the highway that is best. Get your kicks, on Route Sixty-six.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/if-you-ever-plan-to-motor-west-travel-my-way-take-the-highway-that-is/) [Nat King Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-king-cole/) [Explore all 41 Nat King Cole quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-king-cole/) ## More Governing quotes > [The prediction of nuclear winter is drawn not, of course, from any direct experience with the consequences of global nuclear war, but rather from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-prediction-of-nuclear-winter-is-drawn-not-of-course-from-any/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [The US has developed two coordinate governing classes: the one, called 'business,' building cities, manufacturing and distributing goods, and holding complete and autocratic power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurman-arnold/the-us-has-developed-two-coordinate-governing-classes-the-one-called/) [Thurman Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurman-arnold/) > [It will be of little avail to the people, that the laws are made by men of their own choice, if the laws be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/it-will-be-of-little-avail-to-the-people-that-the-laws-are-made-by/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [While receiving radiation treatment for a thyroid illness, I had refused to take beta-blockers - a medication that would have eased its side effects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-devers/while-receiving-radiation-treatment-for-a-thyroid-illness-i-had/) [Gail Devers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-devers/) > [Plato long ago pointed out the importance of being governed by men with sufficient sense of responsibility and comprehension of public duties to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/plato-long-ago-pointed-out-the-importance-of-being-governed-by-men/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [For me, governing starts with people. It doesn't start with bureaucracy. It doesn't start with policy. It starts with people and what people need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-hodges/for-me-governing-starts-with-people-it-doesn-t-start-with-bureaucracy/) [Betsy Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-hodges/) > [The EU Constitution is something new in human history. Though it is not as eloquent as the French and U.S. constitutions, it is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-rifkin/the-eu-constitution-is-something-new-in-human-history-though-it-is/) [Jeremy Rifkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-rifkin/) > [A Prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/a-prohibition-law-strikes-a-blow-at-the-very-principles-upon-which/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The attack on youth is a national pathology, unwarranted by fact, smokescreen for the failure of adulthood and its leadership to confront larger predicaments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-a-males/the-attack-on-youth-is-a-national-pathology-unwarranted-by-fact/) [Mike A. Males](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-a-males/) > [“If you do not have a moral question in your governing process, then you do not have a process that is going to survive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oren-lyons/if-you-do-not-have-a-moral-question-in-your-governing-process-then/) [Oren Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oren-lyons/) > [ \[The current governing judicial philosophy is:\] If you want something passionately enough, it is guaranteed by the Constitution. No need to fiddle around gathering… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bork/the-current-governing-judicial-philosophy-is-if-you-want-something/) [Robert Bork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bork/) > [It is already clear that, because of advances in technology, drones are going to play an increased role in warfare in the years ahead.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-alexander/it-is-already-clear-that-because-of-advances-in-technology-drones-are/) [Douglas Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-alexander/) > [Following World War II, the U.S. was the architect of the UN system, and the world financial system, and the Human Rights Declaration, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/following-world-war-ii-the-u-s-was-the-architect-of-the-un-system-and/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [This isn't about fans, greed or money. It's about being morally right or wrong. Nobody is governing the way music gets from artists to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lars-ulrich/this-isn-t-about-fans-greed-or-money-it-s-about-being-morally-right/) [Lars Ulrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lars-ulrich/) > [The skill of telemarketing does not necessarily translate into governing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-murphy/the-skill-of-telemarketing-does-not-necessarily-translate-into/) [Chris Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-murphy/) [Browse all 394 Governing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's not the people in the South who create racial problems - it's the people who are governing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nat King Cole" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/it-s-not-the-people-in-the-south-who-create-racial-problems-it-s-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Governing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/it-s-not-the-people-in-the-south-who-create-racial-problems-it-s-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/816/nat-king-cole-15878_governing_it-s-not-the-people-in-the-south-who-cre_1750945.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/816/nat-king-cole-15878_governing_it-s-not-the-people-in-the-south-who-cre_1750945.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/816/nat-king-cole-15878_governing_it-s-not-the-people-in-the-south-who-cre_1750945.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's not the people in the South who create racial problems - it's the people who are governing.” — Nat King Cole", "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": "Nat King Cole", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-king-cole/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's not the people in the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/it-s-not-the-people-in-the-south-who-create-racial-problems-it-s-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/it-s-not-the-people-in-the-south-who-create-racial-problems-it-s-the/#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 } } ] } ```