Even if you meet the perfect person, it ain’t gonna be at the perfect time. You’re married, they’re single. That’s right. You’re Jewish, they’re Palestinian. You’re a Mexican, they’re a raccoon. You’re a black woman, he’s a black man.
Chris RockRead
So, to say Barack Obama is progress is saying that he's the first black person that is qualified to be president. That's not black progress. That's white progress.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote critiques the perception of progress in racial terms, emphasizing that true progress cannot be defined solely by the achievements of individuals in positions of power.
Chris Rock's quote draws attention to the complexities of racial progress in America by suggesting that Barack Obama's presidency, rather than being a milestone solely for the black community, reflects a broader acceptance by white society. The implication is that mere representation in high office does not equate to racial equality or justice and that true progress requires systemic change rather than the success of a few individuals based on race.
Themes
ProgressRacePresidencyObamaSocietyEquality
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about racial representation in politics.
More from Chris Rock
All quotes →I kind of keep my personality in my pocket a lot. When I start to do stand-up, that's not my true personality either. It's the personality of a guy who hasn't been able to say what he wanted to say.
Chris RockRead
There's some downsides to being famous, which are not even worth mentioning. But to combat the bad sides of being famous, you really should take advantage of the good sides. The good sides are, you can use that fame to get projects you might not normally get.
Chris RockRead
If you want to prevent abortions, you make sure everyone has health care, a high school education and birth control. Not the exact opposite.
Chris RockRead
Happy white peoples independence day the slaves weren't free but I'm sure they enjoyed fireworks.
Chris RockRead
Karaoke isn't fair when you're a comedian. The whole idea is to get people laughing and enjoying themselves, and I'm a professional funny guy.
Chris RockRead
Similar quotes
I would rather sleep in the southern corner of a little country churchyard than in the tomb of the Capulets.
Edmund BurkeRead
We earth men have a talent for ruining big, beautiful things.
Ray BradburyRead
That a lie which is all a lie may be met and fought with outright, But a lie which is part a truth is a harder matter to fight.
Alfred Lord TennysonRead
Memory is all we are. Moments and feelings, captured in amber, strung on filaments of reason. Take a man’s memories and you take all of him. Chip away a memory at a time and you destroy him as surely as if you hammered nail after nail through his skull.
Mark LawrenceRead
If the government is to try and ban private consumption of alcohol and tobacco, it must surely ban such activities as hang-gliding, skiing, rock-climbing and so on. Where should it stop? Rugby? American Football? Ice Hockey? _x000D_ Insofar as the government has information not generally available about the merits or demerits of the items we ingest or the activities we engage in, let it give us the information. But let it leave us free to choose what chances we want to take with our own lives.
Milton FriedmanRead
The essence of life is statistical improbability on a colossal scale.
Richard DawkinsRead