Skin color Quote by David Brion Davis
““Secretary of State John Quincy Adams, who had spent much of his youth in Europe, expressed surprise and shock when John C. Calhoun, a fellow cabinet member, confided to Adams that one of the major benefits of racial slavery was its effect on lower-class whites, who could now take pride in their skin color and feel equal to the wealthiest and most powerful whites. Thus slavery, in Calhoun’s eyes, defused class conflict. Precisely because slavery was the most extreme instance of inequality, it helped to make other relationships seem relatively equal.””
About This Quote
Slavery, as extreme inequality, was used to ease class tensions among whites, creating a false sense of equality.
In simple terms: Slavery eased class conflict for whites.
Key Takeaway
Recognize false equality.
Themes
inequality
race
class
Mood
analysis
historical
Type
Skin color:1
John Quincy Adams:1
John Calhoun:1
Racial Slavery:1
Slavery Calhoun:1
Inequality Helped:1
Whites Slavery:1
When to use this quote
- Moral justification of slavery is flawed.
Key Concepts
historical analysis
social justice
political theory
education
Questions to Reflect On
- critical
- thoughtful
A Different Perspective
How does oppression create perceived equality?;What lessons apply today?
![“John Quincy Adams subscribed to the thesis that his mother's generation was unique when he complained to [his wife] that there were no modern women like her. Abigail, God love her, shot back that women might act frivolous and flighty, but only because men wanted them to.” quote by Cokie Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/41a/cokie-roberts-27173_god-love_john-quincy-adams-subscribed-to-the-thes_261463.jpg)
