---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Though this nation has proudly thought of…"
description: "\"Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and continue to be, in too many ways, e..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f3/eric-holder-7429_always_though-this-nation-has-proudly-thought-o_1377051.jpg"
---

#  Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an…

![“Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards.” quote by Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f3/eric-holder-7429_always_though-this-nation-has-proudly-thought-o_1377051.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f3/eric-holder-7429_always_though-this-nation-has-proudly-thought-o_1377051.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f3/eric-holder-7429_always_though-this-nation-has-proudly-thought-o_1377051.jpg)

> “Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards.”

[Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

America claims diversity but often avoids confronting deep racial issues, showing cowardice in confronting injustice.

**In simple terms:** The nation pretends to be inclusive while fearing true racial honesty.

Key Takeaway

Address racial truths directly.

Themes

race courage national identity honesty social critique

Mood

reflective critical somber

Type

analytical commentary

When to use this quote

- political discourse
- education reform
- community activism
- media analysis

Key Concepts

systemic racism collective denial ethical responsibility

Questions to Reflect On

- How does fear shape national narratives?
- What steps can break collective cowardice?

A Different Perspective

Ignoring racial realities perpetuates inequality.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Been](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/been/) [Continue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/continue/) [Cowards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowards/) [Essentially](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essentially/) [Essentially Nation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essentially-nation-436379/) [Ethnic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethnic/) [Ethnic Melting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethnic-melting-436378/) [Itself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/itself/) [Many](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/many/) [Melting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/melting/) [Melting pot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/melting-pot/) [Nation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nation/) [Nation Cowards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nation-cowards-436376/) [Pot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pot/) [Proudly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proudly/) [Racial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racial/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Though](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/though/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Thought Ethnic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-ethnic-436377/) [Too](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too/) [Ways](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ways/)

## Related quotes

> [Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and I believe continue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/though-this-nation-has-proudly-thought-of-itself-as-an-ethnic-melting/)

[Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/)

> [We remain essentially a nation under siege.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-c-sorensen/we-remain-essentially-a-nation-under-siege/)

[Theodore C. Sorensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-c-sorensen/)

> [I do my work and do the best I can. I'm quite happy with my anonymity. All I can ever hope for is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eamonn-walker/i-do-my-work-and-do-the-best-i-can-i-m-quite-happy-with-my-anonymity/)

[Eamonn Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eamonn-walker/)

> [You can't please everyone, so proudly exclude people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/you-can-t-please-everyone-so-proudly-exclude-people/)

[Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/)

> [“The truth will make us free, Charmian. The best we can do is carry the banner proudly in our own time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-graham/the-truth-will-make-us-free-charmian-the-best-we-can-do-is-carry-the/)

[Jo Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-graham/)

> [I wear Sweden across my chest and I do it proudly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armand-duplantis/i-wear-sweden-across-my-chest-and-i-do-it-proudly/)

[Armand Duplantis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armand-duplantis/)

> [I can't speak to being a force for change, but I take it and wear it proudly. I'll never deny it or be one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/measha-brueggergosman/i-can-t-speak-to-being-a-force-for-change-but-i-take-it-and-wear-it/)

[Measha Brueggergosman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/measha-brueggergosman/)

> [I have proudly spent several periods in government, but I'm not a career politician. I come from a family of 'citizen soldiers.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-webb/i-have-proudly-spent-several-periods-in-government-but-i-m-not-a/)

[Jim Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-webb/)

> [I still have my first 'Black Lightning' that I got way back in the day, and my first 'Steel.' And I proudly display those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/i-still-have-my-first-black-lightning-that-i-got-way-back-in-the-day/)

[John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/)

> [I fly my geek flag proudly. Absolutely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/levar-burton/i-fly-my-geek-flag-proudly-absolutely/)

[LeVar Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/levar-burton/)

> [“Love proudly. Let it burn anything between you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pleasefindthis/love-proudly-let-it-burn-anything-between-you/)

[pleasefindthis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pleasefindthis/)

> [On television, I have watched countless athletes from different countries, sports and Olympics stand proudly at the top of the podium and shed tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-kearney/on-television-i-have-watched-countless-athletes-from-different/)

[Hannah Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-kearney/)

> [When you walk alone, when everybody is against you, if you are sure with your ideas, walk strongly and proudly as if there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/when-you-walk-alone-when-everybody-is-against-you-if-you-are-sure/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [Do you have the right to proudly say, yes, I am a human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/do-you-have-the-right-to-proudly-say-yes-i-am-a-human/)

[Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/)

> [“Make good and sure your clients all call themselves Americans —proudly so, defiantly, loudly— but without any more thought about it than wearing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-wood/make-good-and-sure-your-clients-all-call-themselves-americans-proudly/)

[Geoffrey Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-wood/)

## More by Eric Holder

> [Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and I believe continue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/though-this-nation-has-proudly-thought-of-itself-as-an-ethnic-melting/)

[Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/)

> [The full resources of the Department of Justice have been committed to the investigation into Michael Brown's death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/the-full-resources-of-the-department-of-justice-have-been-committed/)

[Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/)

> [Ferguson and St. Louis County are not the first places that we have become engaged to ensure fair and equitable policing, and they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/ferguson-and-st-louis-county-are-not-the-first-places-that-we-have/)

[Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/)

> [Some have argued that the President is required to get permission from a federal court before taking action against a United States citizen who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/some-have-argued-that-the-president-is-required-to-get-permission/)

[Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/)

> [I look forward to working with the NRA to come up with ways in which we can use common sense approaches to reduce the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/i-look-forward-to-working-with-the-nra-to-come-up-with-ways-in-which/)

[Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/)

> [This is going to be a very transparent Justice Department. But I'm not gonna sacrifice the safety of the American people or our ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/this-is-going-to-be-a-very-transparent-justice-department-but-i-m-not/)

[Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/)

> [I have loved the Department of Justice ever since, as a young boy, I watched Robert Kennedy prove during the Civil Rights Movement how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/i-have-loved-the-department-of-justice-ever-since-as-a-young-boy-i/)

[Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/)

> [You constantly hear about voter fraud... but you don't see huge amounts of vote fraud out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/you-constantly-hear-about-voter-fraud-but-you-don-t-see-huge-amounts/)

[Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/)

> [I'm a 21st-century guy, secure in who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/i-m-a-21st-century-guy-secure-in-who-i-am/)

[Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/)

> [I'll leave here with my head held high and with confidence that history will judge my time here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/i-ll-leave-here-with-my-head-held-high-and-with-confidence-that/)

[Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/)

> [On a personal level, I've seen a lot in my time as attorney general, but few things have affected me as greatly as my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/on-a-personal-level-i-ve-seen-a-lot-in-my-time-as-attorney-general/)

[Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/)

> [It is the thing that keeps me up at night - the notion that you have individuals in the United States who are looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/it-is-the-thing-that-keeps-me-up-at-night-the-notion-that-you-have/)

[Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/)

> [Guantanamo is a chief recruiting tool for al-Qaida. It has put a wedge between the United States and at least some of its allies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/guantanamo-is-a-chief-recruiting-tool-for-al-qaida-it-has-put-a-wedge/)

[Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/)

> [I don't have any intention of resigning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/i-don-t-have-any-intention-of-resigning/)

[Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/)

> [Michael Brown's tragic death has revealed a deep distrust between some in the Ferguson community and its police force. It also developed a need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/michael-brown-s-tragic-death-has-revealed-a-deep-distrust-between/)

[Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/)

[Explore all 91 Eric Holder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/)

## More Always quotes

> [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/)

[Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/)

> [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/)

[Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/)

> [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/)

[Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/)

> [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/)

[William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/)

> [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/)

[Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/)

> [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/)

[Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/)

> [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/)

[Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/)

> [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/)

[Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/)

> [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/)

[Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/)

> [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/)

[Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/)

> [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/)

[Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/)

> [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/)

[Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/)

> [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/)

[Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/)

> [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/)

[Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/)

> [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/)

[Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/)

[Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Eric Holder"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/though-this-nation-has-proudly-thought-of-itself-as-an-ethnic-melting-2/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Always"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/though-this-nation-has-proudly-thought-of-itself-as-an-ethnic-melting-2/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f3/eric-holder-7429_always_though-this-nation-has-proudly-thought-o_1377051.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f3/eric-holder-7429_always_though-this-nation-has-proudly-thought-o_1377051.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f3/eric-holder-7429_always_though-this-nation-has-proudly-thought-o_1377051.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always…” — Eric Holder",
                "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": "Eric Holder",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Though this nation has proudly thought...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/though-this-nation-has-proudly-thought-of-itself-as-an-ethnic-melting-2/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/though-this-nation-has-proudly-thought-of-itself-as-an-ethnic-melting-2/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
