--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Today, blacks are no longer the litmus…" description: "\"Today, blacks are no longer the litmus paper or the barometer of social change. Blacks are in every segment of society and there are laws that help to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3f/bayard-rustin-13318_barometer_today-blacks-are-no-longer-the-litmus-pa_3132855.jpg" --- # Today, blacks are no longer the litmus paper or the… ![“Today, blacks are no longer the litmus paper or the barometer of social change. Blacks are in every segment of society and there are laws that help to protect them from racial discrimination. The new ‘niggers’ are gays. It is in this sense that gay people are the new barometer for social change…” quote by Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3f/bayard-rustin-13318_barometer_today-blacks-are-no-longer-the-litmus-pa_3132855.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3f/bayard-rustin-13318_barometer_today-blacks-are-no-longer-the-litmus-pa_3132855.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3f/bayard-rustin-13318_barometer_today-blacks-are-no-longer-the-litmus-pa_3132855.jpg) > “Today, blacks are no longer the litmus paper or the barometer of social change. Blacks are in every segment of society and there are laws that help to protect them from racial discrimination. The new ‘niggers’ are gays. It is in this sense that gay people are the new barometer for social change. The question of social change should be framed with the most vulnerable group in mind: gay people.” [Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote suggests that gay people now serve as the primary indicator of societal progress, replacing Black people as the most vulnerable group to watch. **In simple terms:** Gay people are now seen as the main measure of social change. Key Takeaway Focus on protecting the most vulnerable. Themes social justice vulnerability identity progress Mood reflective critical Type analytical social commentary When to use this quote - policy making - activism - media representation - community support Key Concepts Intersectionality social metrics Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure all marginalized groups are heard? - What metrics truly reflect social equity? A Different Perspective Overlooks ongoing systemic racism affecting Black communities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Discrimination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discrimination/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Gay people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay-people/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Racial discrimination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racial-discrimination/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Social change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-change/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) ## Related quotes > [I never will let anyone make, maneuver me into making a distinction between the Mississippi form of discrimination and the New York City form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/i-never-will-let-anyone-make-maneuver-me-into-making-a-distinction/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [The barometer for judging the character of people, in regard human rights, is now those who consider themselves gay, homosexual, lesbian. The judgment as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-rustin/the-barometer-for-judging-the-character-of-people-in-regard-human/) [Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) > [Twenty-five, 30 years ago, the barometer of human rights in the United States were black people. That is no longer true. The barometer for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-rustin/twenty-five-30-years-ago-the-barometer-of-human-rights-in-the-united/) [Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) > [If we were to use the success of 'Need You Now' as the barometer for every other song, then we'll probably be highly disappointed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kelley/if-we-were-to-use-the-success-of-need-you-now-as-the-barometer-for/) [Charles Kelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kelley/) > [Children, like dogs, have so sharp and fine a scent that they detect and hunt out everything--the bad before all the rest. They also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/children-like-dogs-have-so-sharp-and-fine-a-scent-that-they-detect/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [No matter how you feel about your extended family or family gatherings you will be attending. This is because now the ultimate reason for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/no-matter-how-you-feel-about-your-extended-family-or-family/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [Jazz is a good barometer of freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-ellington/jazz-is-a-good-barometer-of-freedom/) [Duke Ellington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duke-ellington/) > [Day by day. No yesterdays and no tomorrows. The barometer never changes, the flag is always at half-mast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/day-by-day-no-yesterdays-and-no-tomorrows-the-barometer-never-changes/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [The audience is the barometer of the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbra-streisand/the-audience-is-the-barometer-of-the-truth/) [Barbra Streisand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbra-streisand/) > [“Dignity is pride’s barometer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/dignity-is-pride-s-barometer/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [The barometer that shows "variable" is an ironic indictment of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-bergam-n/the-barometer-that-shows-variable-is-an-ironic-indictment-of-god/) [Jose Bergamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-bergam-n/) > [I can assure you that everyone that talks to me doesn't share my views. I seem to be a barometer of public opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-bernardi/i-can-assure-you-that-everyone-that-talks-to-me-doesn-t-share-my/) [Cory Bernardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-bernardi/) > [My body and its condition are a barometer that is always trying to tell me which direction to go for my maximum creativity, health…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-northrup/my-body-and-its-condition-are-a-barometer-that-is-always-trying-to/) [Christiane Northrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-northrup/) > [This sentiment of self-contempt is a frequent one in young people of both sexes. Their valuation of themselves varies as much as the barometer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humphry-davy/this-sentiment-of-self-contempt-is-a-frequent-one-in-young-people-of/) [Humphry Davy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humphry-davy/) > [As I and the rest of my Pittsburgh Steelers teammates prepared that week in late December 1974, we knew one thing: The road to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-greene/as-i-and-the-rest-of-my-pittsburgh-steelers-teammates-prepared-that/) [Joe Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-greene/) ## More by Bayard Rustin > [Black gay activists should try to build coalitions of people for the elimination of all injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-rustin/black-gay-activists-should-try-to-build-coalitions-of-people-for-the/) [Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) > [When you're wrong, you're wrong. But when you're right, you're wrong anyhow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-rustin/when-you-re-wrong-you-re-wrong-but-when-you-re-right-you-re-wrong/) [Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) > [Every indifference to prejudice is suicide because, if I don’t fight all bigotry, bigotry itself will be strengthened and, sooner or later, it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-rustin/every-indifference-to-prejudice-is-suicide-because-if-i-don-t-fight/) [Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) > [I am an opponent of war and of war preparations and an opponent of universal military training and conscription; but entirely apart from that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-rustin/i-am-an-opponent-of-war-and-of-war-preparations-and-an-opponent-of/) [Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) > [Martin Luther King, with whom I worked very closely, became very distressed when a number of the ministers working for him wanted him to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-rustin/martin-luther-king-with-whom-i-worked-very-closely-became-very/) [Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) > [If we desire a society of peace, then we cannot achieve such a society through violence. If we desire a society without discrimination, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-rustin/if-we-desire-a-society-of-peace-then-we-cannot-achieve-such-a-society/) [Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) > [The real radical is that person who has a vision of equality and is willing to do those things that will bring reality closer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-rustin/the-real-radical-is-that-person-who-has-a-vision-of-equality-and-is/) [Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) > [The only weapon we have is our bodies, and we need to tuck them in places so wheels don't turn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-rustin/the-only-weapon-we-have-is-our-bodies-and-we-need-to-tuck-them-in/) [Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) > [Bigotrys birthplace is the sinister back room of the mind where plots and schemes are hatched for the persecution and oppression of other human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-rustin/bigotrys-birthplace-is-the-sinister-back-room-of-the-mind-where-plots/) [Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) > [My activism did not spring from being black...The racial injustice that was present in this country during my youth was a challenge to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-rustin/my-activism-did-not-spring-from-being-black-the-racial-injustice-that/) [Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) > [If we desire a society in which men are brothers, then we must act towards one another with brotherhood. If we can build such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-rustin/if-we-desire-a-society-in-which-men-are-brothers-then-we-must-act/) [Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) > [We are all one - and if we don't know it, we will learn it the hard way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-rustin/we-are-all-one-and-if-we-don-t-know-it-we-will-learn-it-the-hard-way/) [Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) > [I believe there are certain types of movements which cannot be married.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-rustin/i-believe-there-are-certain-types-of-movements-which-cannot-be-married/) [Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) > [Looking back at his career, Mr. Rustin, a Quaker, once wrote: ‘The principal factors which influenced my life are 1) nonviolent tactics; 2) constitutional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-rustin/looking-back-at-his-career-mr-rustin-a-quaker-once-wrote-the/) [Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) > [When an individual is protesting society's refusal to acknowledge his dignity as a human being, his very act of protest confers dignity on him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-rustin/when-an-individual-is-protesting-society-s-refusal-to-acknowledge-his/) [Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) [Explore all 51 Bayard Rustin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) ## More Barometer quotes > [As I and the rest of my Pittsburgh Steelers teammates prepared that week in late December 1974, we knew one thing: The road to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-greene/as-i-and-the-rest-of-my-pittsburgh-steelers-teammates-prepared-that/) [Joe Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-greene/) > [This sentiment of self-contempt is a frequent one in young people of both sexes. Their valuation of themselves varies as much as the barometer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humphry-davy/this-sentiment-of-self-contempt-is-a-frequent-one-in-young-people-of/) [Humphry Davy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humphry-davy/) > [My body and its condition are a barometer that is always trying to tell me which direction to go for my maximum creativity, health…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-northrup/my-body-and-its-condition-are-a-barometer-that-is-always-trying-to/) [Christiane Northrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-northrup/) > [I can assure you that everyone that talks to me doesn't share my views. I seem to be a barometer of public opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-bernardi/i-can-assure-you-that-everyone-that-talks-to-me-doesn-t-share-my/) [Cory Bernardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-bernardi/) > [The barometer that shows "variable" is an ironic indictment of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-bergam-n/the-barometer-that-shows-variable-is-an-ironic-indictment-of-god/) [Jose Bergamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-bergam-n/) > [“Dignity is pride’s barometer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/dignity-is-pride-s-barometer/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [The audience is the barometer of the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbra-streisand/the-audience-is-the-barometer-of-the-truth/) [Barbra Streisand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbra-streisand/) > [Day by day. No yesterdays and no tomorrows. The barometer never changes, the flag is always at half-mast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/day-by-day-no-yesterdays-and-no-tomorrows-the-barometer-never-changes/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [Jazz is a good barometer of freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-ellington/jazz-is-a-good-barometer-of-freedom/) [Duke Ellington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duke-ellington/) > [No matter how you feel about your extended family or family gatherings you will be attending. This is because now the ultimate reason for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/no-matter-how-you-feel-about-your-extended-family-or-family/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [Children, like dogs, have so sharp and fine a scent that they detect and hunt out everything--the bad before all the rest. They also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/children-like-dogs-have-so-sharp-and-fine-a-scent-that-they-detect/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [If we were to use the success of 'Need You Now' as the barometer for every other song, then we'll probably be highly disappointed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kelley/if-we-were-to-use-the-success-of-need-you-now-as-the-barometer-for/) [Charles Kelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kelley/) > [When there's something that impacts a family member or friend, that is difficult for them, you want to do what you can to help.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/when-there-s-something-that-impacts-a-family-member-or-friend-that-is/) [Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/) > [Since when was the stock market an accurate barometer of anything?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-hailey/since-when-was-the-stock-market-an-accurate-barometer-of-anything/) [Arthur Hailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-hailey/) > [When you run a company, you need to be pretty open-minded. There are a lot of different views on faith, on religion, on many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-run-a-company-you-need-to-be-pretty-open-minded-there-are-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 94 Barometer quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Today, blacks are no longer the litmus paper or the barometer of social change. Blacks are in every segment of society and there are laws that help to protect them from racial discrimination. The new ‘niggers’ are gays. It is in this sense that gay people are the new barometer for social change. 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