First met Quote by David Horowitz
““ELDRIDGE CLEAVER (1953-I998) was a man who made a a significant imprint on our times, and not for the best. But I mourn his passing nonetheless. I first met Eldridge when he was Ramparts magazine's most famous and most bloodthirsty ex-con. 'I'm perfectly aware that I'm in prison, that I'm a Negro, that I've been a rapist," he wrote in a notorious epistle that Ramparts published. "My answer to all such thoughts lurking in their split-level heads, crouching behind their squinting bombardier eyes, is that the blood of Vietnamese peasants has paid off all my debts." This nihilism became an iconographic comment for the times, a ready excuse for all the destructive acts radicals like us went on to commit.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Revenge of the Right, David Horowitz, 2002
The quote describes Eldridge Cleaver’s self‑identification with oppression and his justification of violence, reflecting extremist nihilism that rationalized radical actions.
In simple terms: Cleaver used his suffering to excuse violent deeds.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how personal trauma can be twisted into harmful ideology.
Themes
radicalism
identity
violence
nihilism
political extremism
Mood
critical
reflective
somber
Type
historical
political
analytical
When to use this quote
- activist circles
- political protests
- historical analysis of 1960s movements
- education on extremist rhetoric
Key Concepts
psychology of oppression
moral justification
radical ideology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies confront extremist narratives without glorifying them?
- What responsibilities do leaders have in shaping moral discourse?
A Different Perspective
Such justifications ignore the humanity of victims and can perpetuate cycles of violence.
![“All I can say is, it's a good thing we didn't win the revolution [laughter]. We would've ended up with people like Abie Hoffman and Eldridge Cleaver at the helm; we would've been in big trouble. Big trouble. It would've been such a Stalinist purge ... All those people that were the top names in…” quote by R. Crumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/34b/r-crumb-89259_60s_all-i-can-say-is-it-s-a-good-thing-we-di_1363086.jpg)
![“I don't want people to think he [Eldridge Cleaver] is so important - our party is important because our party works for the people and no individual is important in our party, including myself.” quote by Huey Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e3e/huey-newton-8581_cleaver_i-don-t-want-people-to-think-he-eldridge_1104929.jpg)
![“When Andrew [Ridgeley] first met my family, he heard my mom calling me "Yorgos." He just abbreviated it to Yog, and unfortunately it stuck. I hated it is a teenager. It was not the most glamorous-sounding name in the world.” quote by George Michael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/00b/george-michael-1332_andrew_when-andrew-ridgeley-first-met-my-family_12039.jpg)
