--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Television had a black president long…" description: "\"Television had a black president long before Barack Obama.\" — Rocky Carroll" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f99/rocky-carroll-23235_barack-obama_television-had-a-black-president-long-be_3097799.jpg" --- # Television had a black president long before Barack Obama. ![“Television had a black president long before Barack Obama.” quote by Rocky Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f99/rocky-carroll-23235_barack-obama_television-had-a-black-president-long-be_3097799.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f99/rocky-carroll-23235_barack-obama_television-had-a-black-president-long-be_3097799.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f99/rocky-carroll-23235_barack-obama_television-had-a-black-president-long-be_3097799.jpg) > “Television had a black president long before Barack Obama.” [Rocky Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rocky-carroll/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Television portrayed Black leadership before real‑world milestones, highlighting media’s role in shaping perception. **In simple terms:** TV showed Black leaders before Obama. Key Takeaway Recognize media’s early representation impact. Themes media representation politics Mood analytical critical Type journalistic commentary When to use this quote - historical analysis - media studies - political discourse Key Concepts social influence racial progress Questions to Reflect On - How does early representation affect public expectations? - What responsibilities do creators have in representation? A Different Perspective Media depictions may not reflect true societal change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Barack obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barack-obama/) [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Black President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-president-350688/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long Barack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-barack-5355212/) [President Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president-long-5355213/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Television Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television-black-881130/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) ## Related quotes > [Never mind what you've heard. Halle Berry was not the first black woman to win an Academy Award for Best Actress. She was actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-kluger/never-mind-what-you-ve-heard-halle-berry-was-not-the-first-black/) [Jeffrey Kluger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-kluger/) > [If Barack Obama now, or some black person in the future, should become president, neither Jesse Jackson nor Al Sharpton would be out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/if-barack-obama-now-or-some-black-person-in-the-future-should-become/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [Even Toni Morrison claiming Bill Clinton as 'black' could not prepare us for the election of America's first undeniably black president, Barack Obama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-young/even-toni-morrison-claiming-bill-clinton-as-black-could-not-prepare/) [Kevin Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-young/) > [When I first heard that Barack Obama was going to be the first black president, I wanted to do the smallest, biggest tribute in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willard-wigan/when-i-first-heard-that-barack-obama-was-going-to-be-the-first-black/) [Willard Wigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willard-wigan/) > [But when I see a story on welfare on television, they only show black people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-barkley/but-when-i-see-a-story-on-welfare-on-television-they-only-show-black/) [Charles Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-barkley/) > [There's a time when it was an event for a black person to be on television. Where black households would gather around, 'Oh, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-k-brown/there-s-a-time-when-it-was-an-event-for-a-black-person-to-be-on/) [Sterling K. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-k-brown/) > [My philosophy, like color television, is all there in black and white.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-philosophy-like-color-television-is-all-there-in-black-and-white/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I started to work in television for three or four years, in 1954. There was one channel of television, black and white. But it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/i-started-to-work-in-television-for-three-or-four-years-in-1954-there/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [I don't think the mainstream media understands people of color are multidimensional. For some reason, there's an idea that only white people are relatable.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/i-don-t-think-the-mainstream-media-understands-people-of-color-are/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [I'm trying to use euphemisms here, trying to avoid saying there was no television for black folks, which they knew was for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-cornelius/i-m-trying-to-use-euphemisms-here-trying-to-avoid-saying-there-was-no/) [Don Cornelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-cornelius/) > [The first black president will be a politician who is black.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilder/the-first-black-president-will-be-a-politician-who-is-black/) [Douglas Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilder/) > [I wonder: Would there be a black president if people hadn't already begun imagining, through film and television, that a black man is president?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-nottage/i-wonder-would-there-be-a-black-president-if-people-hadn-t-already/) [Lynn Nottage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-nottage/) > [We've come a long way from the days of Jim Crow, and yes, we elected a black president, but racism lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-beckel/we-ve-come-a-long-way-from-the-days-of-jim-crow-and-yes-we-elected-a/) [Bob Beckel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-beckel/) > [In 2016, the conversation of the black experience is so broad, and it's very raw. I mean, c'mon, we have a black president. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-shaheed-muhammad/in-2016-the-conversation-of-the-black-experience-is-so-broad-and-it-s/) [Ali Shaheed Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-shaheed-muhammad/) > [I'm going to be the first black President of the United States. If Reagan can do it, I know I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-epps/i-m-going-to-be-the-first-black-president-of-the-united-states-if/) [Omar Epps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-epps/) ## More by Rocky Carroll > [New York is like America with the volume turned up to 10.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rocky-carroll/new-york-is-like-america-with-the-volume-turned-up-to-10/) [Rocky Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rocky-carroll/) > [When I grew up in Cincinnati in 1974, the Board of Education set up the performing school, similar to the New York performing arts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rocky-carroll/when-i-grew-up-in-cincinnati-in-1974-the-board-of-education-set-up/) [Rocky Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rocky-carroll/) > [You can play yourself and make a very good career out of it. Do the same type of role, the daring, good-looking, dashing kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rocky-carroll/you-can-play-yourself-and-make-a-very-good-career-out-of-it-do-the/) [Rocky Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rocky-carroll/) > [After the series 'Roc' ended, every role offer I got was for the wise-cracking, ne'er-do-well brother or boyfriend, and I could have made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rocky-carroll/after-the-series-roc-ended-every-role-offer-i-got-was-for-the-wise/) [Rocky Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rocky-carroll/) > [I'm the only one in the family who stumbled into acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rocky-carroll/i-m-the-only-one-in-the-family-who-stumbled-into-acting/) [Rocky Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rocky-carroll/) > ['Roc' was sort of an experiment because none of the lead actors on our show had any real television experience, especially in half-hour TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rocky-carroll/roc-was-sort-of-an-experiment-because-none-of-the-lead-actors-on-our/) [Rocky Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rocky-carroll/) > [The guy who shows up on time, who has a good work ethic, network executives and producers know that. It's a very small industry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rocky-carroll/the-guy-who-shows-up-on-time-who-has-a-good-work-ethic-network/) [Rocky Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rocky-carroll/) > [If you can appeal to another person's sense of humor, you can introduce ideas, thoughts, things that they may disagree with or not believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rocky-carroll/if-you-can-appeal-to-another-person-s-sense-of-humor-you-can/) [Rocky Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rocky-carroll/) > [It was 1995, the year Ben Crenshaw won the Masters. I was watching on TV, and I remember watching him sink his final putt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rocky-carroll/it-was-1995-the-year-ben-crenshaw-won-the-masters-i-was-watching-on/) [Rocky Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rocky-carroll/) > [You may look at the people who sell the pages of the tabloids, and they're more famous for their personal exploits. I know all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rocky-carroll/you-may-look-at-the-people-who-sell-the-pages-of-the-tabloids-and/) [Rocky Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rocky-carroll/) > [I was a class clown. I realized early on feeling very comfortable in front of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rocky-carroll/i-was-a-class-clown-i-realized-early-on-feeling-very-comfortable-in/) [Rocky Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rocky-carroll/) > [When you love somebody, and they go through a real adversity, you don't back away from that relationship. You don't say, 'When you're better,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rocky-carroll/when-you-love-somebody-and-they-go-through-a-real-adversity-you-don-t/) [Rocky Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rocky-carroll/) > [As an actor, you get into makeup, you get into hair, you come out of your trailer, and you hit your mark. As a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rocky-carroll/as-an-actor-you-get-into-makeup-you-get-into-hair-you-come-out-of/) [Rocky Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rocky-carroll/) > [One of the first guys I ever played golf with was Samuel L. Jackson. We did a movie many years ago and would play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rocky-carroll/one-of-the-first-guys-i-ever-played-golf-with-was-samuel-l-jackson-we/) [Rocky Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rocky-carroll/) > [My first live performance was the lead in 'Peter Pan.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rocky-carroll/my-first-live-performance-was-the-lead-in-peter-pan/) [Rocky Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rocky-carroll/) [Explore all 26 Rocky Carroll quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rocky-carroll/) ## More Barack obama quotes > [In 2008, Barack Obama did a phenomenal job of reaching out to minority groups, to younger people, and a lot of newer voters, Hispanics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-p-bush/in-2008-barack-obama-did-a-phenomenal-job-of-reaching-out-to-minority/) [George P. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-p-bush/) > [There has certainly been ugly, right-wing hatred targeting Barack Obama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/there-has-certainly-been-ugly-right-wing-hatred-targeting-barack-obama/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [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/) > [Just like Barack Obama, my views on gay marriage have evolved, and now I am a reluctant groom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/just-like-barack-obama-my-views-on-gay-marriage-have-evolved-and-now/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [It has been my honor to support and work with President Barack Obama, a man who has brought courage and character to the presidency.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-reid/it-has-been-my-honor-to-support-and-work-with-president-barack-obama/) [Harry Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-reid/) > [When the 2008 victory of Barack Obama and the defeat of grumpy old John McCain began looking, um, inevitable, I started fielding inquiries about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perlstein/when-the-2008-victory-of-barack-obama-and-the-defeat-of-grumpy-old/) [Rick Perlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perlstein/) > [President Barack Obama is a doer. And we in America will do big things with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-hunt/president-barack-obama-is-a-doer-and-we-in-america-will-do-big-things/) [Jim Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-hunt/) > [“Been living on this earth for so long now and still don't know what a happy life feels like. I'm ready for a change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-anthony-burkett/been-living-on-this-earth-for-so-long-now-and-still-don-t-know-what-a/) [Jonathan Anthony Burkett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-anthony-burkett/) > [“Attacking a lightning rod doesn't make you lightning..." Regarding Barack Obama”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-rafael-cimino/attacking-a-lightning-rod-doesn-t-make-you-lightning-regarding-barack/) [T. Rafael Cimino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-rafael-cimino/) > [Tell me why the limousine fleet has increased by 42 percent since Barack Obama took office. Why are we spending taxpayers' money on that?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-neumann/tell-me-why-the-limousine-fleet-has-increased-by-42-percent-since/) [Mark Neumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-neumann/) > [Trudeau, like President Barack Obama, is a champion of change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-klobuchar/trudeau-like-president-barack-obama-is-a-champion-of-change/) [Amy Klobuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-klobuchar/) > [There is the bipartisan pretense that the FBI is the only government agency in Washington that is above reproach. Yet, this is the agency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-fitton/there-is-the-bipartisan-pretense-that-the-fbi-is-the-only-government/) [Tom Fitton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-fitton/) > [Income inequality has gotten worse under President Barack Obama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/income-inequality-has-gotten-worse-under-president-barack-obama/) [Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/) > [For even the most seasoned observers of American politics, Barack Obama is a phenomenon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lammy/for-even-the-most-seasoned-observers-of-american-politics-barack/) [David Lammy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lammy/) > [When Caroline Kennedy endorsed Barack Obama in 2008 as her father's rightful heir, she laid upon him the mantle of Camelot and the enduring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitty-kelley/when-caroline-kennedy-endorsed-barack-obama-in-2008-as-her-father-s/) [Kitty Kelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kitty-kelley/) [Browse all 363 Barack obama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barack-obama/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Television had a black president long before Barack Obama.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rocky Carroll" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rocky-carroll/television-had-a-black-president-long-before-barack-obama/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Barack obama" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rocky-carroll/television-had-a-black-president-long-before-barack-obama/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f99/rocky-carroll-23235_barack-obama_television-had-a-black-president-long-be_3097799.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f99/rocky-carroll-23235_barack-obama_television-had-a-black-president-long-be_3097799.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f99/rocky-carroll-23235_barack-obama_television-had-a-black-president-long-be_3097799.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Television had a black president long before Barack Obama.” — Rocky Carroll", "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": "Rocky Carroll", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rocky-carroll/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Television had a black president long...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rocky-carroll/television-had-a-black-president-long-before-barack-obama/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rocky-carroll/television-had-a-black-president-long-before-barack-obama/#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 } } ] } ```