American values Quote by Barbara Ehrenreich
“There can be no more ancient and traditional American value than ignorance. English-only speakers brought it with them to this country three centuries ago, and they quickly imposed it on the Africans--who were not allowed to learn to read and write--and on the Native Americans, who were simply not allowed.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The American Dream and Its Discontents", 2005
Ignorance has been historically enforced to control marginalized groups.
In simple terms: Ignorance was used to oppress.
Key Takeaway
Challenge systemic ignorance.
Themes
education
oppression
history
Mood
critical
determined
Type
analytical
political
When to use this quote
- policy reform
- community education
- activism
- media literacy
Key Concepts
social justice
colonialism
Questions to Reflect On
- What policies perpetuate ignorance today?
- How can education be made inclusive?
A Different Perspective
Addressing ignorance requires confronting entrenched power structures.
![“What would it mean in practice to eliminate all the 'negative people' from one's life [as demanded by motivational speaker J.P. Maroney]? It might be a good idea to separate from a chronically carping spouse, but it is not so easy to abandon the whiny toddler, the colicky infant, or the sullen…” quote by Barbara Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/187/barbara-ehrenreich-1204_abandon_what-would-it-mean-in-practice-to-elimin_140275.jpg)
![“Robert Jackall’s book [ Moral Mazes ] impressed on me that corporate dress serves a far more important function than mere body covering. “Proper management of one’s external appearances,” he writes, “simply signals to one’s superiors that one is prepared to undertake other kinds of…” quote by Barbara Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ead/barbara-ehrenreich-1204_attire_robert-jackall-s-book-moral-mazes-impres_186386.jpg)
