Author

Although skin color is undoubtedly the most salient signal of racial identity in America, other actual or imagined bodily features have also been seen as distinctive markers of Negritude. These include the shapes of heads, feet, lips, and noses as well as the texture of hair.

From Randall Kennedy

Segregation, in a sense, helped create and maintain black solidarity.

From Randall Kennedy

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.

From Randall Kennedy

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.

From Randall Kennedy

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.

From Randall Kennedy

In law school, I earned the respect of professors and served on the editorial board of 'The Yale Law Journal.'

From Randall Kennedy

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.

From Randall Kennedy

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.

From Randall Kennedy

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.

From Randall Kennedy

Any successful black person will have to face suspicion within his or her own community about his or her loyalty to other blacks.

From Randall Kennedy

Randall Kennedy

Notable Quotes

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