Bans Quote by David B. Rivkin
![“By contrast, poll taxes were very effective in excluding blacks, as well as impacting many poor whites; in legal parlance, they were overly inclusive but nevertheless served their intended discriminatory purpose. This [Muslim ban] is fundamentally not the case here.” quote by David B. Rivkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/263/david-b-rivkin-43789_bans_by-contrast-poll-taxes-were-very-effecti_966368.jpg)
“By contrast, poll taxes were very effective in excluding blacks, as well as impacting many poor whites; in legal parlance, they were overly inclusive but nevertheless served their intended discriminatory purpose. This [Muslim ban] is fundamentally not the case here.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Legal commentary on voting rights, 2017
Poll taxes were designed to disenfranchise Black voters and also affected poor whites, achieving their discriminatory goal despite legal language suggesting otherwise.
In simple terms: Poll taxes excluded Black voters and poor whites, fulfilling discrimination.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how policies can mask intent with neutral language.
Themes
civil rights
voting law
discrimination
policy design
Mood
critical
concerned
Type
analytical
policy‑focused
When to use this quote
- election reform
- civil rights advocacy
- legislative drafting
- community education
Key Concepts
structural racism
legal loopholes
voter suppression
Questions to Reflect On
- How can laws be written to prevent hidden discrimination?
- What safeguards stop neutral wording from enabling bias?
A Different Perspective
Legal language can obscure the true impact of discriminatory policies.
![“You listen to all the [Barack] Obama intelligence officials all saying ISIS will infiltrate that [immigrants] population. We have so many majority-Muslim countries that are not impacted, but the media insists on calling this a Muslim ban.” quote by Sean Hannity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3d0/sean-hannity-3295_bans_you-listen-to-all-the-barack-obama-intel_878912.jpg)
![“Arab nation, Egypt, is not mentioned [in the Muslim Ban]? This is where facts are optional for the liberal media.” quote by Sebastian Gorka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/814/sebastian-gorka-21142_bans_arab-nation-egypt-is-not-mentioned-in-th_1938346.jpg)
![“[Bob Ferguson] won that huge ruling against the first version of the Muslim ban that resulted in it being stopped dead in the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.” quote by Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2ec/rachel-maddow-1240_appeals_bob-ferguson-won-that-huge-ruling-agains_1368136.jpg)
![“The fact that some former national security officials challenge the policy wisdom of the order, while other national security officials - most notably those of this [Donald Trump's] administration - support it, merely demonstrates that these are policy disputes that the judiciary is both…” quote by David B. Rivkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/04c/david-b-rivkin-43789_administration_the-fact-that-some-former-national-secur_3126900.jpg)
![“Ben Carson also denounced [Donald] Trump's ban all Muslims proposal saying we do not and would not advocate being selective on one's religion.” quote by Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0d7/rachel-maddow-1240_bans_ben-carson-also-denounced-donald-trump-s_674.jpg)
![“When observers look back 50 years from now, the arguments supporting Florida's ban on same-sex marriage, though just as sincerely held [as views of those who were opposed to interracial marriage], will again seem an obvious pretext for discrimination.” quote by Robert Lewis Hinkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b38/robert-lewis-hinkle-98058_argument_when-observers-look-back-50-years-from-n_108007.jpg)
