Civilized Quote by Booker T. Washington
“No white American ever thinks that any other race is wholly civilized until he wears the white man’s clothes, eats the white man’s food, speaks the white man’s language, and professes the white man’s religion.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Atlanta Exposition, 1895
Cultural assimilation is portrayed as a prerequisite for civil acceptance, revealing racial bias in societal standards.
In simple terms: White standards dominate perceptions of civilization.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge imposed cultural norms.
Themes
racism
identity
assimilation
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
sociopolitical
analytical
When to use this quote
- education
- policy
- media representation
Key Concepts
social hierarchy
colonial mindset
Questions to Reflect On
- How does society define “civilized”?
- What are the costs of forced assimilation?
A Different Perspective
Assimilation can erase valuable cultural diversity.
![“We do not have an American culture. We have a white American culture and a black American culture. So when those two groups try to get together, [it's] very difficult because they each feel like they have the right to their culture.” quote by Michael Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/df1/michael-emerson-4622_american-culture_we-do-not-have-an-american-culture-we-ha_147976.jpg)
![“That country [Carthage] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws; and every step of intestine discord was marked by some deplorable victory of savage man over civilized society.” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/70c/edward-gibbon-710_barbarism_that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinkin_393.jpg)
