Samuel L. Jackson's 'racist' reason for voting Obama: 'Because he was black'

In an interview with Ebony, Jackson shares his views on the American political system. Not everyone is appreciative

Samuel L. Jackson
(Image credit: Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

Amid grumbling from some black intellectuals and media personalities about Obama's record on tackling poverty, says Newsweek's Allison Samuels, Black Hollywood is weighing how much to support President Obama's reelection campaign. When Ebony asked actor Samuel L. Jackson where he stood, his answer raised some eyebrows. Obama's "message didn't mean sh*t to me," Jackson said, according to the New York Post. "I just hoped he would do some of what he said he was gonna do." Implying that Obama has not yet been able to behave like a "scary" "n*gga," Jackson said he hopes Obama will be more "scary" in his second term, "cuz he ain't gotta worry about getting re-elected." "I voted for Barack because he was black," Jackson said. "Cuz that’s why other folks vote for other people — because they look like them." Is this an honest insight, or gross intolerance?

Give him points for honesty: Well, "leave it to Samuel L. Jackson to keep it real," says ReBecca Theodore-Vachon in The Urban Daily. Agree with him or not, he "has no shame in his game that he voted for President Obama because of his race."

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