Constitution of the united states Quote by Howard Zinn
““The inferior position of blacks, the exclusion of Indians from the new society, the establishment of supremacy for the rich and powerful in the new nation—all this was already settled in the colonies by the time of the Revolution. With the English out of the way, it could now be put on paper, solidified, regularized, made legitimate, by the Constitution of the United States, drafted at a convention of Revolutionary leaders in Philadelphia.””
About This Quote
Source Book: A People’s History of the United States, 1980
Highlights how the Constitution entrenched existing racial and class hierarchies, formalizing oppression already present in colonial society.
In simple terms: Constitution codified existing inequalities.
Key Takeaway
Recognize systemic roots of inequality.
Themes
history
race
class
law
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
historical
political
When to use this quote
- legal reform
- education
- activism
- policy analysis
Key Concepts
colonialism
institutional racism
wealth disparity
Questions to Reflect On
- What mechanisms allowed these inequalities to persist?
- How can modern reforms address historic injustices?
A Different Perspective
Legal frameworks can reinforce oppression.
![“A lawyer’s either a social engineer or … a parasite on society … A social engineer [is] a highly skilled, perceptive, sensitive lawyer who [understands] the Constitution of the United States and [knows] how to explore its uses in the solving of problems of local communities and in bettering…” quote by Charles Hamilton Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/13e/charles-hamilton-houston-36638_african-american_a-lawyer-s-either-a-social-engineer-or-a_166045.jpg)
