There's a kind of optimism specifically within Christianity about the world - about whose side God is on. Well, I didn't have any of that in my background. I had physicality and chaos.
Ta-Nehisi CoatesRead
It is often said that Trump has no real ideology, which is not true - his ideology is white supremacy, in all its truculent and sanctimonious power.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote asserts that Trump's ideology is fundamentally rooted in white supremacy, despite claims to the contrary.
In this quote, Ta-Nehisi Coates argues against the assertion that Donald Trump lacks a coherent ideology, suggesting instead that his beliefs and actions are consistently aligned with white supremacy. Coates emphasizes the pervasive influence of this ideology, characterizing it as both aggressive and self-righteous, thereby pointing out the dangers that come with such a worldview in positions of power.
Themes
IdeologyWhite SupremacyPowerPoliticsTrump
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture on contemporary politics, one might quote Coates to illustrate the ideological roots of certain leaders.
More from Ta-Nehisi Coates
All quotes βWe've got in the habit of not really understanding how freedom was in the 19th century, the idea of government of the people in the 19th century. America commits itself to that in theory.
Ta-Nehisi CoatesRead
I never expected my writing to become as popular as it did.
Ta-Nehisi CoatesRead
It's hard for me to view Baltimore outside the context of what Baltimore has always been in my mind: a violent place.
Ta-Nehisi CoatesRead
If I could have anything - you know, and this is across the board for any presidential candidate - I would have a greater acknowledgment of history in our policy and in our affairs.
Ta-Nehisi CoatesRead
You can't make a direct comparison between middle-class African Americans and middle-class white Americans, affluent African Americans and affluent white Americans. The amount of wealth tends to be less.
Ta-Nehisi CoatesRead
Similar quotes
We've had every official in Hawaii, Democrat and Republican, every news outlet that has investigated this, confirm that, yes, in fact, I was born in Hawaii, Aug. 4, 1961, in Kapiolani Hospital.
Barack ObamaRead
Any man who is under 30, and is not a liberal, has no heart; and any man who is over 30, and is not a conservative, has no brains.
Winston ChurchillRead
My first reaction to Trump being elected was a visceral one. I cried for black people in general but, more particularly, for those of us at the margins who have been struggling and who have never received enough support.
Patrisse CullorsRead
I suppose, indeed, that in public life, a man whose political principles have any decided character and who has energy enough to give them effect must always expect to encounter political hostility from those of adverse principles.
Thomas JeffersonRead
A Russia that gradually begins to gravitate toward the West will also be a Russia that ceases to disrupt the international system.
Zbigniew BrzezinskiRead
Election days come and go. But the struggle of the people to create a government which represents all of us and not just the one percent - a government based on the principles of economic, social, racial and environmental justice - that struggle continues.
Bernie SandersRead