Always Quote by Ta-Nehisi Coates
“Typically, there's this perspective among writers - and black writers: there's this idea that there is one person - and maybe beyond writers - among blacks, there is always one person who everyone should go to learn about all things black.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Black Identity" in The Atlantic, 2015
The notion that one individual can represent an entire community oversimplifies diversity and places undue burden on that person.
In simple terms: One person can't represent all.
Key Takeaway
Seek multiple voices for fuller understanding.
Themes
representation
stereotype
diversity
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
essay
social commentary
When to use this quote
- media coverage
- education
- policy making
Key Concepts
identity
burden
community narrative
Questions to Reflect On
- Who else should be heard?
- How does this affect community self‑image?
A Different Perspective
Relying on a single voice can marginalize other perspectives.
![“[Winning the White House was an achievement], but as an African-American, [Barack Obama], I think the symbolism is in how he conducted himself. The symbolism was in - and this sounds really, really small, but it's actually big for African-Americans - the symbolism was not in being an…” quote by Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5dc/ta-nehisi-coates-733_achievement_winning-the-white-house-was-an-achieveme_47651.jpg)
![“[Grew up in Hawaii] that gave [Barack Obama] a kind of optimism, an ability to see things, you know, and frankly, an ability to trust, you know, in his fellow, you know, white countrymen in a way that I, for instance, you know, and the vast majority of black people I know never really could.” quote by Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/feb/ta-nehisi-coates-733_ability_grew-up-in-hawaii-that-gave-barack-obama_75931.jpg)
