--- title: "10 White Quotes By June Jordan" description: "10 White quotes by June Jordan. Plus more from June Jordan and more White sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c97/june-jordan-5050_brother_language-is-political-that-s-why-you-and_1790033.png" --- > [Language is political. That's why you and me, my Brother and Sister, that's why we supposed to choke our natural self into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/language-is-political-that-s-why-you-and-me-my-brother-and-sister/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c97/june-jordan-5050_brother_language-is-political-that-s-why-you-and_1790033.png) > [Overall, white men run America. From nuclear armaments to the filth and jeopardy of New York City subways to the cruel mismanagement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/overall-white-men-run-america-from-nuclear-armaments-to-the-filth-and/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f1/june-jordan-5050_america_overall-white-men-run-america-from-nucle_3172550.png) > [Let me just say, at once: I am not now nor have I ever been a white man. And, leaving aside the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/let-me-just-say-at-once-i-am-not-now-nor-have-i-ever-been-a-white-man/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b7/june-jordan-5050_african-american_let-me-just-say-at-once-i-am-not-now-nor_3126149.png) > [We do not deride the fears of prospering white America. A nation of violence and private property has every reason to dread…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/we-do-not-deride-the-fears-of-prospering-white-america-a-nation-of/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/june-jordan-5050_america_we-do-not-deride-the-fears-of-prospering_2144069.jpg) > [There is a man who exists as one of the most popular objects of leadership, legislation, and quasi-literature in the history of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/there-is-a-man-who-exists-as-one-of-the-most-popular-objects-of/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/251/june-jordan-5050_activity_there-is-a-man-who-exists-as-one-of-the_933173.jpg) > [In America, you can segregate the people, but the problems will travel. From slavery to equal rights, from state suppression of dissent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/in-america-you-can-segregate-the-people-but-the-problems-will-travel/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/984/june-jordan-5050_america_in-america-you-can-segregate-the-people_61323.png) > [South Africa used to seem so far away. Then it came home to me. It began to signify the meaning of white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/south-africa-used-to-seem-so-far-away-then-it-came-home-to-me-it/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16c/june-jordan-5050_against-war_south-africa-used-to-seem-so-far-away-th_364109.png) > [Anytime you see white men suppose to fight each other an you not white, well you know you got trouble, because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/anytime-you-see-white-men-suppose-to-fight-each-other-an-you-not/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/306/june-jordan-5050_blah_anytime-you-see-white-men-suppose-to-fig_2381520.jpg) > [Lately... Americans have begun to understand that trouble does not start somewhere on the other side of town. It seems to originate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/lately-americans-have-begun-to-understand-that-trouble-does-not-start/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f35/june-jordan-5050_absolutes_lately-americans-have-begun-to-understan_1829883.png) > [When that devil's bullet lodged itself inside the body of Martin Luther King, he had already begun an astonishing mobilization of poor,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/when-that-devil-s-bullet-lodged-itself-inside-the-body-of-martin/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c78/june-jordan-5050_action_when-that-devil-s-bullet-lodged-itself-i_2779203.png) ## Other authors on White ## More by June Jordan > [But, based on my friendship with Evie as young mothers, I started going on freedom rides in 1966.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/but-based-on-my-friendship-with-evie-as-young-mothers-i-started-going/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [I am working never to be late again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/i-am-working-never-to-be-late-again/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [To tell the truth is to become beautiful, to begin to love yourself, value yourself. And that's political, in its most profound way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/to-tell-the-truth-is-to-become-beautiful-to-begin-to-love-yourself/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [In America, you can segregate the people, but the problems will travel. From slavery to equal rights, from state suppression of dissent to crime,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/in-america-you-can-segregate-the-people-but-the-problems-will-travel/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [We survive our love because we go on loving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/we-survive-our-love-because-we-go-on-loving/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [Americans have begun to understand that trouble does not start somewhere on the other side of town. It seems to originate inside the absolute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/americans-have-begun-to-understand-that-trouble-does-not-start/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [The United States Supreme Court, once a reliable if ultimate recourse for progressive and even revolutionary grievances, has become a retrograde wellspring for enormous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/the-united-states-supreme-court-once-a-reliable-if-ultimate-recourse/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [My father was very intense, passionate and over-the-top. He was my hero and my tyrant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/my-father-was-very-intense-passionate-and-over-the-top-he-was-my-hero/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [The purpose of polite behavior is never virtuous. Deceit, surrender, and concealment these are not virtues. The goal of the mannerly is comfort, per…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/the-purpose-of-polite-behavior-is-never-virtuous-deceit-surrender-and/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [“the motivation behind every sentence is the wish to say something real to somebody real.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/the-motivation-behind-every-sentence-is-the-wish-to-say-something/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [Bisexuality means I am free and I am as likely to want to love a woman as I am likely to want to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/bisexuality-means-i-am-free-and-i-am-as-likely-to-want-to-love-a/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [“...love without being destroyed...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/love-without-being-destroyed/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [Body and soul, Black America reveals the extreme questions of contemporary life, questions of freedom and identity: How can I be who I am?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/body-and-soul-black-america-reveals-the-extreme-questions-of/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [South Africa used to seem so far away. Then it came home to me. It began to signify the meaning of white hatred here.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/south-africa-used-to-seem-so-far-away-then-it-came-home-to-me-it/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [The thing about genius is it will never yield to circumstances. Genius regards what's given as the beginning of its need to find or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/the-thing-about-genius-is-it-will-never-yield-to-circumstances-genius/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white/june-jordan/#itemlist", "name": "10 White Quotes By June Jordan", "numberOfItems": 10, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Language is political. 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And, leaving aside the joys of unearned privilege, this leaves me feeling pretty good.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "June Jordan" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/let-me-just-say-at-once-i-am-not-now-nor-have-i-ever-been-a-white-man/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b7/june-jordan-5050_african-american_let-me-just-say-at-once-i-am-not-now-nor_3126149.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b7/june-jordan-5050_african-american_let-me-just-say-at-once-i-am-not-now-nor_3126149.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b7/june-jordan-5050_african-american_let-me-just-say-at-once-i-am-not-now-nor_3126149.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Let me just say, at once: I am not now nor have I ever been a white man. 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A nation of violence and private property has every reason to dread the violated and the deprived.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "June Jordan" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/we-do-not-deride-the-fears-of-prospering-white-america-a-nation-of/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/june-jordan-5050_america_we-do-not-deride-the-fears-of-prospering_2144069.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/june-jordan-5050_america_we-do-not-deride-the-fears-of-prospering_2144069.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/june-jordan-5050_america_we-do-not-deride-the-fears-of-prospering_2144069.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We do not deride the fears of prospering white America. 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From slavery to equal rights, from state suppression of dissent to crime, drugs and unemployment, I can't think of a supposedly Black issue that hasn't wasted the original Black target group and then spread like measles to outlying white experience.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "June Jordan" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/in-america-you-can-segregate-the-people-but-the-problems-will-travel/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/984/june-jordan-5050_america_in-america-you-can-segregate-the-people_61323.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/984/june-jordan-5050_america_in-america-you-can-segregate-the-people_61323.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/984/june-jordan-5050_america_in-america-you-can-segregate-the-people_61323.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In America, you can segregate the people, but the problems will travel. From slavery to equal rights, from…” — June Jordan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 7, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "South Africa used to seem so far away. Then it came home to me. It began to signify the meaning of white hatred here. That was what the sheets and the suits and the ties covered up, not very well. That was what the cowardly guys calling me names from their speeding truck wanted to happen to me, to all of me: to my people. That was what would happen to me if I walked around the corner into the wrong neighborhood. That was Birmingham. That was Brooklyn. That was Reagan. That was the end of reason. South Africa was how I came to understand that I am not against war; I am against losing the war.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "June Jordan" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/south-africa-used-to-seem-so-far-away-then-it-came-home-to-me-it/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16c/june-jordan-5050_against-war_south-africa-used-to-seem-so-far-away-th_364109.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16c/june-jordan-5050_against-war_south-africa-used-to-seem-so-far-away-th_364109.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16c/june-jordan-5050_against-war_south-africa-used-to-seem-so-far-away-th_364109.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“South Africa used to seem so far away. Then it came home to me. It began to signify the meaning of white…” — June Jordan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 8, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Anytime you see white men suppose to fight each other an you not white, well you know you got trouble, because they blah-blah loud about Democrat or Republican an they huffing an puff about democracy someplace else but relentless, see, the deal come down evil on somebody don have no shirt an tie, somebody don live in no whiteman house no whiteman country.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "June Jordan" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/anytime-you-see-white-men-suppose-to-fight-each-other-an-you-not/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/306/june-jordan-5050_blah_anytime-you-see-white-men-suppose-to-fig_2381520.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/306/june-jordan-5050_blah_anytime-you-see-white-men-suppose-to-fig_2381520.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/306/june-jordan-5050_blah_anytime-you-see-white-men-suppose-to-fig_2381520.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Anytime you see white men suppose to fight each other an you not white, well you know you got trouble…” — June Jordan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 9, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Lately... Americans have begun to understand that trouble does not start somewhere on the other side of town. It seems to originate inside the absolute middle of the homemade cherry pie. In our history, the state has failed to respond to the weak. You could be white, male, Presbyterian and heterosexual besides, but if you get fired or if you get sick tomorrow, you might as well be Black, for all the state will want to hear from you.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "June Jordan" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/lately-americans-have-begun-to-understand-that-trouble-does-not-start/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f35/june-jordan-5050_absolutes_lately-americans-have-begun-to-understan_1829883.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f35/june-jordan-5050_absolutes_lately-americans-have-begun-to-understan_1829883.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f35/june-jordan-5050_absolutes_lately-americans-have-begun-to-understan_1829883.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Lately... Americans have begun to understand that trouble does not start somewhere on the other side of…” — June Jordan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 10, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When that devil's bullet lodged itself inside the body of Martin Luther King, he had already begun an astonishing mobilization of poor, Black, white, latino Americans who had nothing to lose. They would challenge our government to eliminate exploitative, merciless, and war-mongering policies, nationwide, or else \"tie up the country\" through \"means of civil disobedience.\" Dr. King intended to organize those legions into \"coercive direct actions\" that would make of Babylon a dysfunctional behemoth begging for relief. Is it any wonder he was killed?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "June Jordan" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/when-that-devil-s-bullet-lodged-itself-inside-the-body-of-martin/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c78/june-jordan-5050_action_when-that-devil-s-bullet-lodged-itself-i_2779203.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c78/june-jordan-5050_action_when-that-devil-s-bullet-lodged-itself-i_2779203.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c78/june-jordan-5050_action_when-that-devil-s-bullet-lodged-itself-i_2779203.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When that devil's bullet lodged itself inside the body of Martin Luther King, he had already begun an…” — June Jordan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } } ] }, { "@type": "CollectionPage", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white/june-jordan/#webpage", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white/june-jordan/", "name": "White Quotes by June Jordan", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white/june-jordan/#itemlist" }, "primaryImageOfPage": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c97/june-jordan-5050_brother_language-is-political-that-s-why-you-and_1790033.png" }, "description": "10 White quotes by June Jordan. 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