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Robert F. Kennedy Predicted a Black President in 1961
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by Karen Hatter | November 6, 2008 at 10:04 am
4849 views | 97 Recommendations | 15 comments
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"There's no question that in the next thirty or forty years, a Negro can also achieve the same position that my brother has as President of the United States, certainly within that period of time."
Appearing in an article in the New York Times on May 27, 1961, it was reported these words were spoken during a radio interview given by Robert F. Kennedy to Voice of America, while he served as U.S. Attorney General in his brother President John F. Kennedy's administration.
The remarks of Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy were broadcast to over sixty countries and translated into thirty languages.
His remarks came during a discussion on race relations while responding to the attacks on Freedom Riders, who had traveled through the South in the United States to register African Americans to vote during the 1960s.
Click here to view a copy of the article.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (15)
at 10:26 on November 6th, 2008
Took kind of a while, but at least he was right.
at 10:28 on November 6th, 2008
Nostradamus also predicted it I'm pretty sure.
at 13:14 on November 6th, 2008
Cool!
at 13:16 on November 6th, 2008
This is the America that King and the Kennedy's wanted and died for... hopefully one day race will be an after thought, not an issue.
at 13:25 on November 6th, 2008
That's right. It's already not an issue for most. We have some rough years ahead but this won't be an issue.
at 13:47 on November 6th, 2008
Although, election of an African American president is a great step forward for America, representing a non issue for many in the U.S., it has not eliminated issues related to race, as evidenced by all of the stories and comments reporting that Barack Obama's race is and was a factor among those of the electorate that did not vote for him.
at 14:05 on November 6th, 2008
No doubt. The Republican National Party had little or no outreach this year, and that means financial support and encouragement of Black Republicans. They have to see this was a factor in the loss of 30 or Congressional seats as well as the top of the ticket.
at 16:24 on November 6th, 2008
I totally agree. I think that this is an incredible step in the right direction for the US and I am so excited to see what this will mean for the world in general. Now if only North America can get it together to recognize a female leader soon... Canada is so far behind the rest of the world, our politics are still dominated by a white male minority. Like I said in my twitter feed on election night, "I'm looking forward to getting to know the new America."
at 20:24 on November 6th, 2008
Hi Tina,I agree... hopefully with Harper appointing many women to the cabinet, this will start to change.
Many of the new faces in cabinet are women. There are 11 female ministers, up from seven in the last session. Women now make up 29 per cent of the cabinet, comparable to the ratio from Paul Martin's Liberal cabinet in 2003-04 (30 per cent) and up from 22 per cent in the last cabinet.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/10/30/f-cabinet-who.html
I still pinch myself that the USA elected a black president.
at 15:09 on November 8th, 2008
"I still pinch myself that the USA elected a black president."
It makes you a bit giddy for sure :) I'm glad I lived to see the day, I think this is a very good thing for the Americans.
at 13:46 on November 6th, 2008
My thanks to all who have recommended this article and for your comments.
at 15:06 on November 6th, 2008
Such a positive note several years after a "Saturday Night Live" routine that portrayed the Kennedy brothers as insisting (privately at the White House between themselves) about the whole idea of desegregation:
"It's too soon! We can't do it now!"
This South Carolinian, his brother and our 86 year-old World War II veteran, Depression-Era Mississippian father were all jubilant to see Obama win. Go to http://www.electoral-vote.com/ to see that South Carolina turned out to be a "Weak GOP" state this time and not a bright, bold, deep red one.
at 15:30 on November 6th, 2008
Amazing that it actually happened this way.
at 16:53 on November 6th, 2008
Look at this strange, nearly symmetrical polling pattern for South Carolina, for something amazing: http://www.electoral-vote.com/evp2008/Pres/Graphs/south-carolina.html
at 17:36 on November 6th, 2008
He was about 17 years early in his prediction. How about this,.. there will be a woman president in the next 30 years... Just make sure you quote me... LOL