Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.
Analysis
The statement is a direct quote from Obama's speech on June 3, 2008, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, after securing the Democratic nomination. The phrase 'We are the ones we've been waiting for' was a recurring theme in his campaign, emphasizing grassroots action. The wording matches official transcripts and widely reported coverage.
Background
The speech marked a pivotal moment in the 2008 U.S. presidential election, as Obama became the presumptive Democratic nominee. The quote reflects his campaign's message of empowerment and collective responsibility, often attributed to a paraphrase of a line by poet June Jordan.
Verdict summary
Barack Obama did say this in his 2008 primary victory speech in Chicago.
Sources consulted
— C-SPAN Archives: Barack Obama 2008 Victory Speech (https://www.c-span.org/video/?312054-1/democratic-presidential-candidate-barack-obama-speech)
— The New York Times: Obama Claims Nomination; First Black Candidate to Lead a Major Party Ticket (https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/04/us/politics/04cnd-obama.html)
— Obama Campaign Transcript, June 3, 2008 (archived at https://www.barackobama.com/2008/06/03/remarks_of_senator_barack_obam_8.php)