Black Quote by Cornel West
“The condition of truth, is to allow suffering to speak. Which means attend to suffering of the least of these, of the orphan, the widow, the poor, the working people, the gay brother, the lesbian sister, the transgender, the black people.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Lecture on Social Justice, Cornell University, 2015
Truth requires listening to the marginalized and giving voice to their suffering.
In simple terms: Speak to the suffering of the oppressed.
Key Takeaway
Listen and act for the vulnerable.
Themes
justice
empathy
inclusion
Mood
compassionate
urgent
Type
ethical
activist
When to use this quote
- advocacy
- policy reform
- community support
- education
- public speaking
Key Concepts
social ethics
human rights
intersectionality
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we amplify unheard voices?
- What actions follow listening?
A Different Perspective
May overlook systemic causes beyond individual suffering.
![“You can't really move forward until you look back. [From Remaking America panel discussion at George Washington University]” quote by Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/273/cornel-west-708_george-w_you-can-t-really-move-forward-until-you_37313.jpg)
