--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think that we need to have an honest…" description: "\"I think that we need to have an honest conversation in this country. This idea that somehow we're beyond sexism, beyond racism is just wrong. And this ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21b/cory-booker-2546_communication_i-think-that-we-need-to-have-an-honest-c_361023.jpg" --- # I think that we need to have an honest conversation in… ![“I think that we need to have an honest conversation in this country. This idea that somehow we're beyond sexism, beyond racism is just wrong. And this is where having an honest conversation with white men about their issues and their concerns, and having honest conversations about the experiences…” quote by Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21b/cory-booker-2546_communication_i-think-that-we-need-to-have-an-honest-c_361023.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21b/cory-booker-2546_communication_i-think-that-we-need-to-have-an-honest-c_361023.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21b/cory-booker-2546_communication_i-think-that-we-need-to-have-an-honest-c_361023.jpg) > “I think that we need to have an honest conversation in this country. This idea that somehow we're beyond sexism, beyond racism is just wrong. And this is where having an honest conversation with white men about their issues and their concerns, and having honest conversations about the experiences that African-Americans are still having, despite who's the president of the United States, in the criminal justice system that we see in sentencing, we see in policing and a lot of these issues.” [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acknowledging ongoing systemic racism and sexism is essential for genuine progress. **In simple terms:** We must confront persistent inequality. Key Takeaway Engage in honest dialogues about race and gender. Themes justice equality dialogue policy Mood hopeful determined Type political inspirational When to use this quote - political debate - community forums - legislative reform Key Concepts systemic bias intersectionality Questions to Reflect On - What steps can foster open conversations? - How to address backlash? A Different Perspective Conversations may be resisted or dismissed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Conversations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversations/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Criminal justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminal-justice/) [Criminal justice system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminal-justice-system/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Honest Conversation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest-conversation/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Justice system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice-system/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Sexism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexism/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [The first thing we should be concerned about the BLM movement should be the issues that the Black Lives Matter movement is bringing forward.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/the-first-thing-we-should-be-concerned-about-the-blm-movement-should/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [Ultimately, we must either abandon our reliance on stop and search or abandon any hope for a criminal justice system grounded in equality, impartiality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lammy/ultimately-we-must-either-abandon-our-reliance-on-stop-and-search-or/) [David Lammy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lammy/) > [“It is a general misconception that the police exist to protect the public. This is true only in the most generic sense--i.e., once a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-waters/it-is-a-general-misconception-that-the-police-exist-to-protect-the/) Robert A. Waters > [“..I began speaking.. First, I took issue with the media's characterization of the post-Katrina New Orleans as resembling the third world as its poor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-sothern/i-began-speaking-first-i-took-issue-with-the-media-s-characterization/) [Billy Sothern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-sothern/) > [I have complete faith and trust in our criminal justice system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shamna-kasim/i-have-complete-faith-and-trust-in-our-criminal-justice-system/) [Shamna Kasim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shamna-kasim/) > [It's been crazy to not only learn about the criminal justice system, but to see how it starts so young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mccourty/it-s-been-crazy-to-not-only-learn-about-the-criminal-justice-system/) [Jason McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mccourty/) > [I'm very mindful of the need to ensure we have a criminal justice system in which people have confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-grayling/i-m-very-mindful-of-the-need-to-ensure-we-have-a-criminal-justice/) [Chris Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-grayling/) > [Whether or not we can save Lake Michigan, whether or not we can avoid a breakdown in our criminal justice system are more important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-scott/whether-or-not-we-can-save-lake-michigan-whether-or-not-we-can-avoid/) [Bill Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-scott/) > [Victims of crime and the wider community deserve a grown-up debate on our criminal justice system and how we can make it work -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiq-khan/victims-of-crime-and-the-wider-community-deserve-a-grown-up-debate-on/) [Sadiq Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiq-khan/) > [A large portion of American citizens, especially people of color, have lost confidence in our criminal justice system. Many have called for appointing special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/a-large-portion-of-american-citizens-especially-people-of-color-have/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [Our criminal justice system has swallowed up too many people I love. I am proud to join the ACLU in the fight to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-k-williams/our-criminal-justice-system-has-swallowed-up-too-many-people-i-love-i/) [Michael K. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-k-williams/) > [The people who have been unjustly disenfranchised by our criminal justice system and the people who daily fight for them always have, and always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jenkins/the-people-who-have-been-unjustly-disenfranchised-by-our-criminal/) [Malcolm Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jenkins/) > [America's criminal justice system isn't known for rehabilitation. I'm not sure that, as a society, we are even interested in that concept anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/america-s-criminal-justice-system-isn-t-known-for-rehabilitation-i-m/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) > [It's encouraging to watch bipartisan leaders from different states recognize the need for fair and rational legislation focused on creating second chances for those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-g-rubin/it-s-encouraging-to-watch-bipartisan-leaders-from-different-states/) [Michael G. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-g-rubin/) > [We need to incorporate that age-old concept of redemption into the work that we do in the criminal justice system in California.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamala-harris/we-need-to-incorporate-that-age-old-concept-of-redemption-into-the/) [Kamala Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamala-harris/) ## More by Cory Booker > [We've got to get back to a country that can get things done. And my whole career has been marching and charging at and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/we-ve-got-to-get-back-to-a-country-that-can-get-things-done-and-my/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [If you want the things people don't have, you have to do the things other people will not do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/if-you-want-the-things-people-don-t-have-you-have-to-do-the-things/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [“Deterrents properly placed can help. But that is not enough. 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It did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/i-celebrate-ideals-of-individual-excellence-self-reliance-and/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [The history in our country speaks to our highest values of people who did not accept things as they are and go along with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/the-history-in-our-country-speaks-to-our-highest-values-of-people-who/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [My dad set a clear model for me for what manhood was all about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/my-dad-set-a-clear-model-for-me-for-what-manhood-was-all-about/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [Can you every single day tell a true testimony of who you are? That's really what life is about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/can-you-every-single-day-tell-a-true-testimony-of-who-you-are-that-s/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [2016 is an election like I've never seen before. And I think it reflects the fact that many people have a dissatisfaction with politics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/2016-is-an-election-like-i-ve-never-seen-before-and-i-think-it/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [I do not believe that marijuana is a gateway drug, and having been a mayor trying to keep my community safe, if there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/i-do-not-believe-that-marijuana-is-a-gateway-drug-and-having-been-a/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [Any Democrat running is trying to get that Barack Obama coalition, which is an increasingly diverse voter base. It's young folks. It's minorities, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/any-democrat-running-is-trying-to-get-that-barack-obama-coalition/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) [Explore all 161 Cory Booker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) ## More Communication quotes > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. 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