The biggest accomplishment, in racial terms, for Barack Obama was being elected. He had to overcome his blackness to be elected. He climbed the Mt. Everest of American politics, becoming an historic first. Randall Kennedy More Quotes by Randall Kennedy More Quotes From Randall Kennedy I will say go into the world and try to find good people that feel genuine affection and love for you, and disregard everything else about their background. Randall Kennedy and-love trying people In elite, primarily white institutions, there are many blacks who have white wives. So much so that sometimes there is almost the assumption that I would be married to a white woman. Randall Kennedy wife would-be white I was born in Columbia in 1954, the year the Supreme Court invalidated racial segregation in public schools. I visited frequently but did not live there. Randall Kennedy segregation years school The infamy of n - - is - it's a word that has been used to terrorize people, to put people down. But it has also been used in other ways. It's also been used as a way of putting a mirror up to racism. Randall Kennedy mirrors racism people Any successful black person will have to face suspicion within his or her own community about his or her loyalty to other blacks. Randall Kennedy community loyalty successful I think that many black people thought this would be a wonderful and extraordinary thing, for a black family to occupy the White House. Not only black people; a lot of white people thought that, too, but particularly black people. Randall Kennedy white people thinking What people should do is explain to their friends, to their neighbors how they feel when they confront the word n - - and why they feel the way they feel. Randall Kennedy neighbor people way Language of the Gun shows why Bernard Harcourt has earned a reputation as one of our most provocative and informative analysts of the administration of criminal justice. Thoroughly interdisciplinary, he brings to bear on his subject a remarkably wide range of sources. Most striking are his probing interviews with at-risk youths which provide a fascinating and rare glimpse into how they think about guns and gun carrying. This book bristles with insight and information. Randall Kennedy gun book thinking In 1619, when there are reports about the first blacks brought to British North America, they are referred to as N-I-G-G-U-H-S. Well, it doesn't seem that that was meant in a derogatory way. It seems merely descriptive. Randall Kennedy america way firsts Go back and take a look at what some black writers were saying in the 1820s, the 1830s. They make mention of how some white people would tell their children, if you don't behave, we're going to put you in the n - - seat. If you don't behave, we are going to make you sit with the n - - s. That's why we know that, by then, the word had become a slur. Randall Kennedy white children people If you want to put somebody down, analogize them to the n - - . Randall Kennedy ifs want There are some people who make a big distinction between n - a, which they say is OK, and n - - . Now, in my view, it's important to know about that distinction, because some people put a lot of weight on it. I don't. Randall Kennedy important views people The perception of linked fate and that feeling of being always on the spot as a representative of the race, at least in mixed company, are features of African American life that predate affirmative action and arise outside of its presence. Randall Kennedy feeling fate action life In law school, I earned the respect of professors and served on the editorial board of 'The Yale Law Journal.' Randall Kennedy earned respect law school I champion sensibly designed racial affirmative action, not because I have benefited from it personally - though I have. I support it because, on balance, it is conducive to the public good. Randall Kennedy good champion support balance As soon as you say that there is a community called, let's say, black Americans, you've immediately created a boundary line - who's in that group, who's outside that group. Randall Kennedy group you black community All white people in the United States have benefited from a white supremacy. But does that mean that a white person should be viewed badly because they turn against a white supremacist policy? Just because you've benefited from something shouldn't disable you from repudiating it. Randall Kennedy just-because you white people As important as the presidency is, that's not the only thing to take a look at in determining the racial health of the United States. Randall Kennedy racial look health important We know that we're not supposed to be racially biased, and we don't want to think of ourselves as racially biased, so we tell ourselves a different story. Randall Kennedy story think know want If you are socially isolated, you are more vulnerable to stereotypes and myths; you won't have the opportunity to have conversations with someone who has a different social background than you. Randall Kennedy stereotypes someone you opportunity
