--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whether or not any of us become racists…" description: "\"“Whether or not any of us become racists is a choice we make. And we are called to choose again and again where we stand on the issue of racism at diff..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ec/bell-hooks-464_anti-racist_whether-or-not-any-of-us-become-racists_1975842.jpg" --- # Whether or not any of us become racists is a choice we… ![“Whether or not any of us become racists is a choice we make. And we are called to choose again and again where we stand on the issue of racism at different moments in our life.” quote by bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ec/bell-hooks-464_anti-racist_whether-or-not-any-of-us-become-racists_1975842.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ec/bell-hooks-464_anti-racist_whether-or-not-any-of-us-become-racists_1975842.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ec/bell-hooks-464_anti-racist_whether-or-not-any-of-us-become-racists_1975842.jpg) > ““Whether or not any of us become racists is a choice we make. And we are called to choose again and again where we stand on the issue of racism at different moments in our life.”” [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing to confront racism is a continual, conscious decision we must reaffirm throughout life **In simple terms:** Racism is a personal choice we must repeatedly decide against Key Takeaway Commit to anti‑racist actions daily Themes justice choice morality Mood determined hopeful Type philosophical social When to use this quote - education - workplace - family gatherings - political activism Key Concepts systemic oppression personal responsibility ethical decision‑making Questions to Reflect On - What choices can you make today to oppose racism? - How do you stay accountable over time? A Different Perspective Change is hindered by denial and complacency ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anti racist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anti-racist/) [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) ## Related quotes > [I will never ally with Islamophobes and racists. But in the choice between 'community' and Muslim women, I will always choose my sisters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mona-eltahawy/i-will-never-ally-with-islamophobes-and-racists-but-in-the-choice/) [Mona Eltahawy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mona-eltahawy/) > [People are calling you all sort of names I know but remember that God did too. Its not what you are called but what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/efiosiugbore/people-are-calling-you-all-sort-of-names-i-know-but-remember-that-god/) @efiosiugbore > [“Even in the most uneventful of our lives, we are called upon to choose our battles...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/even-in-the-most-uneventful-of-our-lives-we-are-called-upon-to-choose/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [“It has to do with conquest, with oppression. If you’re robbing somebody, oppressing them, dictating their lives, it’s a very rare person who can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/it-has-to-do-with-conquest-with-oppression-if-you-re-robbing-somebody/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“Because race is different. Racism is different. It’s fraught, and it’s hard to discuss, and so as a result we often don’t.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/because-race-is-different-racism-is-different-it-s-fraught-and-it-s/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [A lot of people experience racism at different times on different terms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/a-lot-of-people-experience-racism-at-different-times-on-different/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [I experienced racism in different settings: I was followed in stores, in cars. The way you experience racism depends on how you deal with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perry-bellegarde/i-experienced-racism-in-different-settings-i-was-followed-in-stores/) [Perry Bellegarde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perry-bellegarde/) > [People say that being a vegan creates a social problem in that others may react negatively. But isnt that the case if you take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/people-say-that-being-a-vegan-creates-a-social-problem-in-that-others/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [“To pay attention to the American political process, and what the candidates for this nation’s highest office have to say and not say about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/to-pay-attention-to-the-american-political-process-and-what-the/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [Whatever your issue is, whether it's racism or homophobia or policy issues or taxes or urban decay or health care, you're not going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/whatever-your-issue-is-whether-it-s-racism-or-homophobia-or-policy/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [The issue of racism and racial prejudice. It is very, very difficult to discuss. It is difficult to discuss the issue of apartheid. Many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/the-issue-of-racism-and-racial-prejudice-it-is-very-very-difficult-to/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) > [The issue of racism happens all over the world. Granted, people - especially Americans - don't know the the Canadian culture. But if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/the-issue-of-racism-happens-all-over-the-world-granted-people/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [“Whether they are able to enact it as lived practice or not, many white folks active in anti-racist struggle today are able to acknowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/whether-they-are-able-to-enact-it-as-lived-practice-or-not-many-white/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [We got to do something about these Asians coming in and opening up business and dirty shops. They ought to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-barry/we-got-to-do-something-about-these-asians-coming-in-and-opening-up/) [Marion Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-barry/) > [What we need in South Africa is for egos to be suppressed in favour of peace. We need to create a new breed of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hani/what-we-need-in-south-africa-is-for-egos-to-be-suppressed-in-favour/) [Chris Hani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hani/) ## More by bell hooks > [Right now, for many Americans, class is being foregrounded like never before because of the economic situation. It doesn't mean that race doesn't matter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/right-now-for-many-americans-class-is-being-foregrounded-like-never/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Most folks believe we are hardwired biologically to long for sex but they do not believe we are hardwired to long for love. Almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/most-folks-believe-we-are-hardwired-biologically-to-long-for-sex-but/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [... we need to interrogate "reverence," for idolization can be another way one is objectified and not really taken seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/we-need-to-interrogate-reverence-for-idolization-can-be-another-way/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Couples who rarely or never have sex can know lifelong love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/couples-who-rarely-or-never-have-sex-can-know-lifelong-love/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [The power of patriarchy has been to make maleness feared and to make men feel that it is better to be feared that to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/the-power-of-patriarchy-has-been-to-make-maleness-feared-and-to-make/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“I feel enormously blessed to be a successful black woman writer in this culture, but I have found my small fame, such as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/i-feel-enormously-blessed-to-be-a-successful-black-woman-writer-in/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Language is also a place of struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/language-is-also-a-place-of-struggle/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [In this culture, the phrase 'black woman' is not synonymous with 'tender,' or 'gentle.' It's as if those words couldn't possibly speak to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/in-this-culture-the-phrase-black-woman-is-not-synonymous-with-tender/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [It's interesting to look at all the aspects where everyday Americans, many of whom are not college educated, are thinking deeply now about our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/it-s-interesting-to-look-at-all-the-aspects-where-everyday-americans/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [The true teacher is within us. A good teacher is someone who can help you to go back and touch the true teacher within,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/the-true-teacher-is-within-us-a-good-teacher-is-someone-who-can-help/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Advancing the notion that there can be many "feminisms" has served the conservative and liberal political interests of women seeking status and privileged class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/advancing-the-notion-that-there-can-be-many-feminisms-has-served-the/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [I love my family, even as I critique their dysfunctionalities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/i-love-my-family-even-as-i-critique-their-dysfunctionalities/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [You must have courage to love, you have to have a profound will to do what is right to love, and it does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/you-must-have-courage-to-love-you-have-to-have-a-profound-will-to-do/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [To truly love we must learn to mix various ingredients - care, affection, recognition, respect, commitment, and trust, as well as honest and open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/to-truly-love-we-must-learn-to-mix-various-ingredients-care-affection/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Often emphasis on identity and lifestyle is appealing because it creates a false sense that one is engaged in praxis. However, praxis within any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/often-emphasis-on-identity-and-lifestyle-is-appealing-because-it/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) [Explore all 541 bell hooks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) ## More Anti racist quotes > [What we need in South Africa is for egos to be suppressed in favour of peace. We need to create a new breed of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hani/what-we-need-in-south-africa-is-for-egos-to-be-suppressed-in-favour/) [Chris Hani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hani/) > [“Whether they are able to enact it as lived practice or not, many white folks active in anti-racist struggle today are able to acknowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/whether-they-are-able-to-enact-it-as-lived-practice-or-not-many-white/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [We got to do something about these Asians coming in and opening up business and dirty shops. They ought to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-barry/we-got-to-do-something-about-these-asians-coming-in-and-opening-up/) [Marion Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-barry/) > [I find that white people in general, including white liberals and even revolutionaries, are most inclined to call you a racist when they don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/runoko-rashidi/i-find-that-white-people-in-general-including-white-liberals-and-even/) [Runoko Rashidi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/runoko-rashidi/) > [I want to go up to the closest white person and say: 'You can't understand this, it's a black thing' and then slap him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-barron/i-want-to-go-up-to-the-closest-white-person-and-say-you-can-t/) Charles Barron > [The system of patriarchy is a historic construct; it has a beginning; it will have an end. Its time seems to have nearly run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerda-lerner/the-system-of-patriarchy-is-a-historic-construct-it-has-a-beginning/) [Gerda Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerda-lerner/) > [Controlling women as the means of reproduction is made even more necessary by any race or caste or class system. It just comes together,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/controlling-women-as-the-means-of-reproduction-is-made-even-more/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [Hollywood has successfully produced many films framed by anti-racist or pro-integrationist story lines. I'm going to guess that since 'Gone With The Wind,' Hollywood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/hollywood-has-successfully-produced-many-films-framed-by-anti-racist/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [Islam doesn't try to destroy cultures; it cleans them up. You can keep your language but get rid of your racist speech. You can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nouman-ali-khan/islam-doesn-t-try-to-destroy-cultures-it-cleans-them-up-you-can-keep/) [Nouman Ali Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nouman-ali-khan/) > [We must never remain silent in the face of bigotry. We must condemn those who seek to divide us. In all quarters and at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/we-must-never-remain-silent-in-the-face-of-bigotry-we-must-condemn/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [A few years ago, (Barack Obama) would have been getting us coffee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/a-few-years-ago-barack-obama-would-have-been-getting-us-coffee/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [“The belief in the power of "institutional racism" allows black civil rights leaders to denounce America as a "racist" society, when it is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-horowitz/the-belief-in-the-power-of-institutional-racism-allows-black-civil/) [David Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-horowitz/) > [I, with millions of other Americans, have the same dream Martin Luther King Jr. had; when I wake up I wish some of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-with-millions-of-other-americans-have-the-same-dream-martin-luther/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [It does no service to the cause of racial equality for white people to content themselves with judging themselves to be nonracist. Few people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-page/it-does-no-service-to-the-cause-of-racial-equality-for-white-people/) [Clarence Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-page/) > [“An anti-racist person is on a life-long journey that includes forming new understanding of and ways to live her or his racial identity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-derman-sparks/an-anti-racist-person-is-on-a-life-long-journey-that-includes-forming/) Louise Derman-Sparks [Browse all 56 Anti racist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anti-racist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Whether or not any of us become racists is a choice we make. 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