--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's a class divide in black America…" description: "\"There's a class divide in black America that doesn't seem to trouble black Americans so much, but whites use it and exploit it. The progress of a few i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ea/darryl-pinckney-19796_america_there-s-a-class-divide-in-black-america_3157047.jpg" --- # There's a class divide in black America that doesn't seem… ![“There's a class divide in black America that doesn't seem to trouble black Americans so much, but whites use it and exploit it. The progress of a few is allowed to stand for the progress of everyone. We can't afford that kind of disaffection at the moment.” quote by Darryl Pinckney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ea/darryl-pinckney-19796_america_there-s-a-class-divide-in-black-america_3157047.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ea/darryl-pinckney-19796_america_there-s-a-class-divide-in-black-america_3157047.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ea/darryl-pinckney-19796_america_there-s-a-class-divide-in-black-america_3157047.jpg) > “There's a class divide in black America that doesn't seem to trouble black Americans so much, but whites use it and exploit it. The progress of a few is allowed to stand for the progress of everyone. We can't afford that kind of disaffection at the moment.” [Darryl Pinckney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-pinckney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A racial class divide exists in Black America, exploited by whites, while Black Americans may not feel its impact. **In simple terms:** A hidden class gap is used by whites, unnoticed by many Black people. Key Takeaway Recognize and address the hidden divide. Themes race class inequality social justice Mood critical thoughtful Type sociopolitical analytical When to use this quote - policy debates - community organizing - education reform - media analysis Key Concepts Systemic bias economic disparity identity politics Questions to Reflect On - How does class intersect with race? - What can be done to expose and fix the divide? A Different Perspective The statement may overgeneralize Black experiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Black america](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-america/) [Black americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-americans/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Class Divide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class-divide-1836365/) [Divide Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divide-black-4820315/) [Divides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divides/) [Exploits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exploits/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Trouble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trouble/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Whites Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whites-use-3900592/) ## Related quotes > [In fact, the class divide in the black community is now seen by some as a permanent aspect of our existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-gates/in-fact-the-class-divide-in-the-black-community-is-now-seen-by-some/) [Henry Louis Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-gates/) > [The language of violence that many whites use to describe anti-racist endeavors is not without significance, as it is another example of how white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-diangelo/the-language-of-violence-that-many-whites-use-to-describe-anti-racist/) [Robin DiAngelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-diangelo/) > [As long as the factories are in the hands of the whites, the housing is in the hands of the whites, the school system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/as-long-as-the-factories-are-in-the-hands-of-the-whites-the-housing/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [My biggest inspiration is black America and what they've done in the arts. I have always felt like an outsider in America, and what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hasan-minhaj/my-biggest-inspiration-is-black-america-and-what-they-ve-done-in-the/) [Hasan Minhaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hasan-minhaj/) > [My biggest inspiration is black America and what they've done in the arts. I have always felt like an outsider in America, and what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hasan-minhaj/my-biggest-inspiration-is-black-america-and-what-they-ve-done-in-the-2/) [Hasan Minhaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hasan-minhaj/) > [“Most people write me off when they see me. They do not know my story. They say I am just an African. They judge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idowu-koyenikan/most-people-write-me-off-when-they-see-me-they-do-not-know-my-story/) [idowu koyenikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idowu-koyenikan/) > [I was adopted my black Americans, I feel that I'm a 'Hybrid'. When I'm around Africans'I suddenly feel very black American. And when I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kola-boof/i-was-adopted-my-black-americans-i-feel-that-i-m-a-hybrid-when-i-m/) [Kola Boof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kola-boof/) > [I think the class divide is going to change. I think a lot more working class people are going to get published. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-mina/i-think-the-class-divide-is-going-to-change-i-think-a-lot-more/) [Denise Mina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-mina/) > [When you decorate with neon beer lights, it's hard to create a class divide. So, the dive bar is an institution that welcomes every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-evans/when-you-decorate-with-neon-beer-lights-it-s-hard-to-create-a-class/) [Sean Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-evans/) > [“A deepening class divide makes social mobility all but impossible. The result is a de facto caste system. This is not only morally wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-bruder/a-deepening-class-divide-makes-social-mobility-all-but-impossible-the/) [Jessica Bruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-bruder/) > [I think that the Vietnam War era is important because we tend not to want to revisit it. For black people, there was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-pinckney/i-think-that-the-vietnam-war-era-is-important-because-we-tend-not-to/) [Darryl Pinckney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-pinckney/) > [Audiences want great story telling; it's why white people watch my show 'Black in America.' It's why black people watch 'Latina in America.' All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/audiences-want-great-story-telling-it-s-why-white-people-watch-my/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [It is utterly exhausting being Black in America - physically, mentally, and emotionally. While many minority groups and women feel similar stress, there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/it-is-utterly-exhausting-being-black-in-america-physically-mentally/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [Jeremiah Wright is one of the greatest prophetic preachers that black America has produced. What I find striking is that many white brothers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/jeremiah-wright-is-one-of-the-greatest-prophetic-preachers-that-black/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [Most of black America is in housing projects, without jobs, living on welfare. And this is not the case in 'The Cosby Show,' because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-wilson/most-of-black-america-is-in-housing-projects-without-jobs-living-on/) [August Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-wilson/) ## More by Darryl Pinckney > [You can get away with anything as long as it works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-pinckney/you-can-get-away-with-anything-as-long-as-it-works/) [Darryl Pinckney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-pinckney/) > [As for the not-black black president issue - white people can imagine blacks worse off than them, no problem. And now they can imagine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-pinckney/as-for-the-not-black-black-president-issue-white-people-can-imagine/) [Darryl Pinckney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-pinckney/) > [It's not nothing when you're abroad and you don't have a washing machine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-pinckney/it-s-not-nothing-when-you-re-abroad-and-you-don-t-have-a-washing/) [Darryl Pinckney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-pinckney/) > [What happened after World War I was disgraceful. Most veterans, like my great-uncle, were squashed back into place. Congress couldn't pass an anti-lynching bill.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-pinckney/what-happened-after-world-war-i-was-disgraceful-most-veterans-like-my/) [Darryl Pinckney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-pinckney/) > [I think that the Vietnam War era is important because we tend not to want to revisit it. For black people, there was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-pinckney/i-think-that-the-vietnam-war-era-is-important-because-we-tend-not-to/) [Darryl Pinckney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-pinckney/) > [“Some books you never get over, like a first love. Some books that made an enormous impression on you when you were young you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-pinckney/some-books-you-never-get-over-like-a-first-love-some-books-that-made/) [Darryl Pinckney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-pinckney/) > [It's not true that voting doesn't make a difference. To check out is political suicide. This is especially true for our young black artists.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-pinckney/it-s-not-true-that-voting-doesn-t-make-a-difference-to-check-out-is/) [Darryl Pinckney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-pinckney/) > [Obama can't be everything to everyone. He changed. He did. I never thought I'd hear Obama say, "Let's go back to nuclear arms," but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-pinckney/obama-can-t-be-everything-to-everyone-he-changed-he-did-i-never/) [Darryl Pinckney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-pinckney/) > [Hillary certainly needs the black vote, and Democrats need it. She's not doing anything too soon; she's raising her money and not wanting any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-pinckney/hillary-certainly-needs-the-black-vote-and-democrats-need-it-she-s/) [Darryl Pinckney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-pinckney/) > [It's important for the progressive youth to remember that the agenda you set today is the agenda that will matter tomorrow. If you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-pinckney/it-s-important-for-the-progressive-youth-to-remember-that-the-agenda/) [Darryl Pinckney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-pinckney/) > [People from Europe and people from Africa encountered one another long before the invention of "Europe" and "Africa" and "white people" and "black people."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-pinckney/people-from-europe-and-people-from-africa-encountered-one-another/) [Darryl Pinckney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-pinckney/) > [Being a liberal progressive has been demonized as anti-white or overly on the side of blacks. There's nothing that can be done about that;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-pinckney/being-a-liberal-progressive-has-been-demonized-as-anti-white-or/) [Darryl Pinckney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-pinckney/) > [ In her excellent, entirely readable Richard Wright, Hazel Rowley accomplishes what \[previous biographer\] Michel Fabre would have liked to do with once-guarded letters, aging… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-pinckney/in-her-excellent-entirely-readable-richard-wright-hazel-rowley/) [Darryl Pinckney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-pinckney/) > [I think at the beginning of one's writing life, negative reviews are what one does to get attention and stake out your territory. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-pinckney/i-think-at-the-beginning-of-one-s-writing-life-negative-reviews-are/) [Darryl Pinckney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-pinckney/) > [Freedom is having real choice. This offers a limited amount of choices. This is participating in a very imperfect system that we're desperately hanging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-pinckney/freedom-is-having-real-choice-this-offers-a-limited-amount-of-choices/) [Darryl Pinckney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-pinckney/) [Explore all 32 Darryl Pinckney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-pinckney/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There's a class divide in black America that doesn't seem to trouble black Americans so much, but whites use it and exploit it. The progress of a few is allowed to stand for the progress of everyone. We can't afford that kind of disaffection at the moment.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Darryl Pinckney" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-pinckney/there-s-a-class-divide-in-black-america-that-doesn-t-seem-to-trouble/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "America" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-pinckney/there-s-a-class-divide-in-black-america-that-doesn-t-seem-to-trouble/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ea/darryl-pinckney-19796_america_there-s-a-class-divide-in-black-america_3157047.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ea/darryl-pinckney-19796_america_there-s-a-class-divide-in-black-america_3157047.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ea/darryl-pinckney-19796_america_there-s-a-class-divide-in-black-america_3157047.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There's a class divide in black America that doesn't seem to trouble black Americans so much, but whites use…” — Darryl Pinckney", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Darryl Pinckney", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-pinckney/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There's a class divide in black...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-pinckney/there-s-a-class-divide-in-black-america-that-doesn-t-seem-to-trouble/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-pinckney/there-s-a-class-divide-in-black-america-that-doesn-t-seem-to-trouble/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```