--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I voted for Barack because he was black…" description: "\"I voted for Barack because he was black. 'Cuz that's why other folks vote for other people - because they look like them... That's American politics, p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fc/samuel-l-jackson-3595_american_i-voted-for-barack-because-he-was-black_2242163.jpg" --- # I voted for Barack because he was black. 'Cuz that's why… ![“I voted for Barack because he was black. 'Cuz that's why other folks vote for other people - because they look like them... That's American politics, pure and simple.” quote by Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fc/samuel-l-jackson-3595_american_i-voted-for-barack-because-he-was-black_2242163.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fc/samuel-l-jackson-3595_american_i-voted-for-barack-because-he-was-black_2242163.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fc/samuel-l-jackson-3595_american_i-voted-for-barack-because-he-was-black_2242163.jpg) > “I voted for Barack because he was black. 'Cuz that's why other folks vote for other people - because they look like them... That's American politics, pure and simple.” [Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Voting based on racial identity simplifies complex political choices and reflects societal divisions. **In simple terms:** People often vote by race. Key Takeaway Consider broader criteria when voting. Themes politics race identity simplification Mood critical analytical Type political social commentary When to use this quote - elections - campaigns - community organizing - media analysis Key Concepts Sociology identity politics Questions to Reflect On - How does identity shape political decisions? - What are the risks of voting solely on race? A Different Perspective Racial voting can reinforce stereotypes and ignore policy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) [American politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-politics/) [Barack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barack/) [Barack Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barack-black-3392888/) [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Cuz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cuz/) [Folks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folks/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Pure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pure/) [Simple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/) [Vote People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote-people-553305/) [Voted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voted/) [Voted Barack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voted-barack-759184/) ## Related quotes > [Hope and Change had a powerful appeal. But tonight Id ask a simple question: If you felt that excitement when you voted for Barack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/hope-and-change-had-a-powerful-appeal-but-tonight-id-ask-a-simple/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I never stood for any president in my life, never voted, before Barack Obama. It changed my life to vote. It starts there with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-never-stood-for-any-president-in-my-life-never-voted-before-barack/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I don't really feel McCain. It ain't just because Barack is black; he can make change. Just like Bush equals recession, Barack equals progression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-jeezy/i-don-t-really-feel-mccain-it-ain-t-just-because-barack-is-black-he/) [Young Jeezy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-jeezy/) > [A lot of people who voted for Barack Obama expected and were led to expect something new in politics: a new tone of political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-goldberg/a-lot-of-people-who-voted-for-barack-obama-expected-and-were-led-to/) [Bernard Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-goldberg/) > [ In 2012, African-Americans were 13 percent of the electorate, and 93 percent of them voted for \[Barack\] Obama. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mara-liasson/in-2012-african-americans-were-13-percent-of-the-electorate-and-93/) [Mara Liasson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mara-liasson/) > [ A good many people voted for \[Barack\] Obama, and I'm not only talking about the black vote. A lot of people voted for Obama… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-hentoff/a-good-many-people-voted-for-barack-obama-and-i-m-not-only-talking/) [Nat Hentoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-hentoff/) > [In 2008, I was one of the young feminist whippersnappers who voted for Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primaries - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/in-2008-i-was-one-of-the-young-feminist-whippersnappers-who-voted-for/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [If you felt that excitement when you voted for Barack Obama, shouldn't you feel that way now that he's President Obama? You know there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/if-you-felt-that-excitement-when-you-voted-for-barack-obama-shouldn-t/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I voted for Barack Obama twice but I found his rather strong statements about Donald Trump a little unseemly, kind of thought that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-michael-cillizza/i-voted-for-barack-obama-twice-but-i-found-his-rather-strong/) [Christopher Michael Cillizza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-michael-cillizza/) > [ Against these two \[Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton\] I would \[vote\], but I never voted for \[Barack Obama\]. I always voted third party -… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/against-these-two-donald-trump-and-hillary-clinton-i-would-vote-but-i/) [Bill Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/) > [I hope Obama gets scary in the next four years, 'cuz he ain't gotta worry about getting re-elected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/i-hope-obama-gets-scary-in-the-next-four-years-cuz-he-ain-t-gotta/) [Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) > [The key is to vote because we need a vote to put the people in power that we want to represent us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dj-khaled/the-key-is-to-vote-because-we-need-a-vote-to-put-the-people-in-power/) [DJ Khaled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dj-khaled/) > [Elections are a kind of business. I have to present myself: 'I can do this and that for this area so please give me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takafumi-horie/elections-are-a-kind-of-business-i-have-to-present-myself-i-can-do/) [Takafumi Horie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takafumi-horie/) > [To me, it's not necessarily about whom you vote for, it's more about the fact that you go out and exercise that right. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-griffin-iii/to-me-it-s-not-necessarily-about-whom-you-vote-for-it-s-more-about/) [Robert Griffin III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-griffin-iii/) > [There's a total separation between the federal government and the people. So running for president was an attempt on my part to get people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-walsh/there-s-a-total-separation-between-the-federal-government-and-the/) [Joe Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-walsh/) ## More by Samuel L. Jackson > [I'm sure there are a lot of Italians who refer to themselves as goombahs and greaseballs and whatever. That's what people do. It gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/i-m-sure-there-are-a-lot-of-italians-who-refer-to-themselves-as/) [Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) > [Take a stand for what's right. Raise a ruckus and make a change. You may not always be popular, but you'll be part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/take-a-stand-for-what-s-right-raise-a-ruckus-and-make-a-change-you/) [Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) > [Quentin Tarantino was talking about Ordell a little bit, and I was like, "I'm sure Ordell is one of those people who thought Superfly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/quentin-tarantino-was-talking-about-ordell-a-little-bit-and-i-was/) [Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) > [ I grew up in the South with guns everywhere and we never shot anyone. This \[shooting\] is about people who aren't taught the value… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/i-grew-up-in-the-south-with-guns-everywhere-and-we-never-shot-anyone/) [Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) > [“Hold on to your butts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/hold-on-to-your-butts/) [Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) > [I was desperate on Coming To America set - not to buy drugs or anything, but I had a person at home, a girlfriend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/i-was-desperate-on-coming-to-america-set-not-to-buy-drugs-or-anything/) [Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) > [Jackson doesn't bother to read the scripts anymore. He just checks to make sure he has one loud scene where he gets to shout,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/jackson-doesn-t-bother-to-read-the-scripts-anymore-he-just-checks-to/) [Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) > [Because of where I come from, I never thought I'd see in my life a black candidate running for President.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/because-of-where-i-come-from-i-never-thought-i-d-see-in-my-life-a/) [Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) > [When you start to talk about comic books, a lot of the time, people forget about the comic part of it. They need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/when-you-start-to-talk-about-comic-books-a-lot-of-the-time-people/) [Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) > [I guess the worst day I have had was when I had to stand up in rehab in front of my wife and daughter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/i-guess-the-worst-day-i-have-had-was-when-i-had-to-stand-up-in-rehab/) [Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) > [I understood, through rehab, things about creating characters. I understood that creating whole people means knowing where we come from, how we can make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/i-understood-through-rehab-things-about-creating-characters-i/) [Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) > [When the riots happened in L.A., they didn't go to Beverly Hills to trash Rodeo Drive. They trashed their own neighborhoods. It's one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/when-the-riots-happened-in-l-a-they-didn-t-go-to-beverly-hills-to/) [Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) > [If you have an opportunity to use your voice you should use it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/if-you-have-an-opportunity-to-use-your-voice-you-should-use-it/) [Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) > [What kills me is that everybody thinks I like Jazz.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/what-kills-me-is-that-everybody-thinks-i-like-jazz/) [Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) > [I think the biggest challenges for franchises are keeping them fresh and exciting, and most times, you need a good bad guy to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/i-think-the-biggest-challenges-for-franchises-are-keeping-them-fresh/) [Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) [Explore all 126 Samuel L. Jackson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) ## More American quotes > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [William Maxwell's my favorite North American writer, I think. And an Irish writer who used to write for 'The New Yorker' called Maeve Brennan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/william-maxwell-s-my-favorite-north-american-writer-i-think-and-an/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [I have fallen in love with American names, the sharp names that never get fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/i-have-fallen-in-love-with-american-names-the-sharp-names-that-never/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) > [I really like a lot of American country stuff, so my music has that influence, but I don't like to be set within a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-bird/i-really-like-a-lot-of-american-country-stuff-so-my-music-has-that/) [Jade Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-bird/) > [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act in a tremendous investment to support millions of workers without a paycheck and behind on bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-auchincloss/congress-passed-the-american-rescue-plan-act-in-a-tremendous/) [Jake Auchincloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-auchincloss/) > [Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and employ almost half of the working population. Yet because of their size, they rarely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-lipinski/small-businesses-are-the-backbone-of-the-american-economy-and-employ/) [Dan Lipinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-lipinski/) > [Although I write in English, and despite the fact that I'm from America, I consider myself an Armenian writer. The words I use are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/although-i-write-in-english-and-despite-the-fact-that-i-m-from/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [When we first sold the Wallace and Gromit shorts to America, people suggested we get rid of the strange British accents and put clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/when-we-first-sold-the-wallace-and-gromit-shorts-to-america-people/) [Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/) > [Firefighters and rescue workers are American superheroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/firefighters-and-rescue-workers-are-american-superheroes/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [France has not only built a bureaucratic barrier against American culture, it has constructed a notorious intellectual case against it as well. The French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-cowen/france-has-not-only-built-a-bureaucratic-barrier-against-american/) [Tyler Cowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-cowen/) > [New York and San Francisco are distinctly different. San Francisco is driving the American media, not New York. You have young, microwaved millionaires and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-whitlock/new-york-and-san-francisco-are-distinctly-different-san-francisco-is/) [Jason Whitlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-whitlock/) > [Well look, CIA is an agency that has to collect intelligence, do operations. We have to take risks and it's important that we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/well-look-cia-is-an-agency-that-has-to-collect-intelligence-do/) [Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/) > [Food as a hobby used to be an elite pastime, and it has become something that is totally ordinary for people of every background.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-goodyear/food-as-a-hobby-used-to-be-an-elite-pastime-and-it-has-become/) [Dana Goodyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-goodyear/) > [It's important for American soldiers to be culturally sensitive when deployed in foreign countries. But it's just as important for the U.S. never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/it-s-important-for-american-soldiers-to-be-culturally-sensitive-when/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) [Browse all 7,717 American quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I voted for Barack because he was black. 'Cuz that's why other folks vote for other people - because they look like them... That's American politics, pure and simple.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel L. 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