--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: While we dance in the streets and pat…" description: "\"While we dance in the streets and pat ourselves on the back for being a nation great enough to reach beyond racial divides to elect our first African-A..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bf/harvey-fierstein-7875_african-american_while-we-dance-in-the-streets-and-pat-ou_577463.jpg" --- # While we dance in the streets and pat ourselves on the… ![“While we dance in the streets and pat ourselves on the back for being a nation great enough to reach beyond racial divides to elect our first African-American president, let us not forget that we remain a nation still proudly practicing prejudice.” quote by Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bf/harvey-fierstein-7875_african-american_while-we-dance-in-the-streets-and-pat-ou_577463.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bf/harvey-fierstein-7875_african-american_while-we-dance-in-the-streets-and-pat-ou_577463.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bf/harvey-fierstein-7875_african-american_while-we-dance-in-the-streets-and-pat-ou_577463.jpg) > “While we dance in the streets and pat ourselves on the back for being a nation great enough to reach beyond racial divides to elect our first African-American president, let us not forget that we remain a nation still proudly practicing prejudice.” [Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights the paradox of celebrating progress while acknowledging ongoing systemic prejudice. **In simple terms:** Celebrating progress while recognizing lingering racism. Key Takeaway Recognize and address hidden biases. Themes race politics progress paradox social justice Mood reflective critical hopeful Type political social commentary inspirational When to use this quote - elections - public discourse - community building - policy reform Key Concepts systemic racism celebration national identity Questions to Reflect On - How does celebration affect confronting prejudice? - What actions can reduce systemic bias? A Different Perspective The praise may mask deeper issues, hindering real change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [African american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/) [American president](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-president/) [Prejudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prejudice/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Streets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streets/) ## Related quotes > [We have been partners in nation-building and take our role in building the nation very proudly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-bhattacharya/we-have-been-partners-in-nation-building-and-take-our-role-in/) [Arundhati Bhattacharya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-bhattacharya/) > [We need to remain a nation that doesn't just welcome but that celebrates legal immigrants who come here seeking to pursue the American Dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/we-need-to-remain-a-nation-that-doesn-t-just-welcome-but-that/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [We are one nation under God, and we may call that God different names but we remain one nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-are-one-nation-under-god-and-we-may-call-that-god-different-names/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [And I will do everything that I can as long as I am President of the United States to remind the American people that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/and-i-will-do-everything-that-i-can-as-long-as-i-am-president-of-the/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I have never been more proud of the United States than I am this year. We have elected an African-American president. We have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-stockett/i-have-never-been-more-proud-of-the-united-states-than-i-am-this-year/) [Kathryn Stockett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-stockett/) > [I happen to think that Hillary Clinton is a beacon of hope for younger girls, as was Barack Obama in other inspirational areas. 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They see someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-meng/when-people-see-barack-obama-they-don-t-necessarily-see-an-african/) [Grace Meng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-meng/) > [There are individuals who are working very hard to promote fear and antagonism towards Islam and Muslims in this country. It's fueled, in part,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feisal-abdul-rauf/there-are-individuals-who-are-working-very-hard-to-promote-fear-and/) [Feisal Abdul Rauf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feisal-abdul-rauf/) > [Everyone says we have our first African American president. Has there ever been a Jewish president? An Italian president? They don't say a damn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monte-irvin/everyone-says-we-have-our-first-african-american-president-has-there/) [Monte Irvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monte-irvin/) > [I'm so tired of the left trying to divide us by race. One of the things I said today in my speech, we're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-jindal/i-m-so-tired-of-the-left-trying-to-divide-us-by-race-one-of-the/) [Bobby Jindal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-jindal/) > [Despite our founding principles and the many ways our constitution has protected individual liberties, we do, let's admit it, have a long history of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/despite-our-founding-principles-and-the-many-ways-our-constitution/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [The only thing we have to fear is fear itself-and possibly teh bogey man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-paulsen/the-only-thing-we-have-to-fear-is-fear-itself-and-possibly-teh-bogey/) [Pat Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-paulsen/) > [The American President resembles the commander of a ship at sea. He must have a helm to grasp, a course to steer, a port…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-american-president-resembles-the-commander-of-a-ship-at-sea-he/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) ## More by Harvey Fierstein > [I am thrilled - I can't stress that enough - thrilled when I see kids getting active.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/i-am-thrilled-i-can-t-stress-that-enough-thrilled-when-i-see-kids/) [Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/) > [I often say that if you want to really want to understand the contract of marriage, just ask anyone who has been divorced. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/i-often-say-that-if-you-want-to-really-want-to-understand-the/) [Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/) > [Always admit when you're wrong. You'll save thousands in therapy... and a few friendships too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/always-admit-when-you-re-wrong-you-ll-save-thousands-in-therapy-and-a/) [Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/) > [So, did I work with Warhol? I worked with him less on that play then I did on other things. He actually did a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/so-did-i-work-with-warhol-i-worked-with-him-less-on-that-play-then-i/) [Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/) > [I got the regular call, that they were doing a Broadway musical of Hairspray, and would I come and audition. I was familiar with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/i-got-the-regular-call-that-they-were-doing-a-broadway-musical-of/) [Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/) > [Is a gay play a play that has sex with other plays?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/is-a-gay-play-a-play-that-has-sex-with-other-plays/) [Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/) > [There are easier things in life than being a drag queen. But I ain't got no choice. Try as I may, I just can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/there-are-easier-things-in-life-than-being-a-drag-queen-but-i-ain-t/) [Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/) > [A thing of beauty is a joy till sunrise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-till-sunrise/) [Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/) > [You may feel powerless as a child, but the world will one day be yours. And you're responsible for it. So, seize the day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/you-may-feel-powerless-as-a-child-but-the-world-will-one-day-be-yours/) [Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/) > [The world is full of more interesting things than my voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/the-world-is-full-of-more-interesting-things-than-my-voice/) [Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/) > [I really am a theater person. That means you put something out there, and you let it go. Tomorrow night is a new performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/i-really-am-a-theater-person-that-means-you-put-something-out-there/) [Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/) > [Actually, I think the average voice is like 70 percent tone and 30 percent noise. My voice is 95 percent noise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/actually-i-think-the-average-voice-is-like-70-percent-tone-and-30/) [Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/) > [My father was brought up in an orphanage in the Catskills. He was a factory worker. And because his family wasn't there for him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/my-father-was-brought-up-in-an-orphanage-in-the-catskills-he-was-a/) [Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/) > [How time flies when you're doin all the talking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/how-time-flies-when-you-re-doin-all-the-talking/) [Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/) > [Pork was in 1971, and I stopped hanging out at The Factory by like 1973.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/pork-was-in-1971-and-i-stopped-hanging-out-at-the-factory-by-like-1973/) [Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/) [Explore all 86 Harvey Fierstein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/) ## More African american quotes > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) > [I agreed a long time ago, I would not live at any cost. 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I am here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-mehlman/some-republicans-gave-up-on-winning-the-african-american-vote-looking/) [Ken Mehlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-mehlman/) > [It's unfortunate that a lot of people think African-American female artists are monolithically R&B this-or-that, don't have to do anything by default.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/it-s-unfortunate-that-a-lot-of-people-think-african-american-female/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [Whereas our ancestors (not of choice) were the first successful cultivators of the wilds of America, we their descendants feel ourselves entitled to participate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-allen/whereas-our-ancestors-not-of-choice-were-the-first-successful/) [Richard Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-allen/) > [It may be changing, but still it's the one place, that total control of an institution, that African Americans have. 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