Black Quote by Howard Zinn
““One percent of the nation owns a third of the wealth. The rest of the wealth is distributed in such a way as to turn those in the 99 percent against one another: small property owners against the propertyless, black against white, native-born against foreign-born, intellectuals and professionals against the uneducated and unskilled. These groups have resented one another and warred against one another with such vehemence and violence as to obscure their common position as sharers of leftovers in a very wealthy country.””
About This Quote
Source Book: A People's History of the United States, 1980, Howard Zinn on wealth inequality
He argues that wealth concentration creates divisions among the poor, obscuring their shared interests
In simple terms: Wealth inequality pits marginalized groups against each other
Key Takeaway
Recognize common interests across class lines
Themes
inequality
division
class struggle
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
political
historical
When to use this quote
- labor organizing
- solidarity campaigns
- policy advocacy
- education initiatives
Key Concepts
social stratification
political manipulation
Questions to Reflect On
- How can solidarity overcome engineered divisions?
- What actions can reduce wealth disparity?
A Different Perspective
Structural forces can limit agency
