--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...[T]hat combination of inferior status…" description: "\"“...[T]hat combination of inferior status and derogatory thought [is what] we call racism.”\" — Howard Zinn" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54c/howard-zinn-576_derogatory_t-hat-combination-of-inferior-status-and_292242.jpg" --- # ...\[T\]hat combination of inferior status and derogatory… ![“...[T]hat combination of inferior status and derogatory thought [is what] we call racism.” quote by Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54c/howard-zinn-576_derogatory_t-hat-combination-of-inferior-status-and_292242.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54c/howard-zinn-576_derogatory_t-hat-combination-of-inferior-status-and_292242.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54c/howard-zinn-576_derogatory_t-hat-combination-of-inferior-status-and_292242.jpg) > ““...\[T\]hat combination of inferior status and derogatory thought \[is what\] we call racism.”” [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Racism is defined as the blend of low social status and hateful attitudes. **In simple terms:** Racism = low status plus hateful thoughts. Key Takeaway Recognize and challenge both status and prejudice. Themes racism social hierarchy prejudice Mood serious analytical Type political educational When to use this quote - policy making - education - community organizing - media analysis Key Concepts critical theory social justice Questions to Reflect On - How do status and prejudice reinforce each other? - What actions can dismantle both? A Different Perspective Addressing status alone may not eliminate bias. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Derogatory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/derogatory/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) ## Related quotes > [“I thought I had it all figured out. I thought of racism as an inanimate, immortal system, not as a living, recognizable, mortal disease…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibram-x-kendi/i-thought-i-had-it-all-figured-out-i-thought-of-racism-as-an/) [Ibram X. Kendi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibram-x-kendi/) > [I grew up in a predominantly white community - Hinsdale, Illinois - and given that, I feel blessed because I could still count my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tomi-adeyemi/i-grew-up-in-a-predominantly-white-community-hinsdale-illinois-and/) [Tomi Adeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tomi-adeyemi/) > [It's the purest form of silver and our tagline is "Taking the 'except fors' out of movies." We're trying to make movies with pure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-waters/it-s-the-purest-form-of-silver-and-our-tagline-is-taking-the-except/) [Drew Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-waters/) > [I want to make movies - and I want to portray characters - that make people think. I want to make movies that have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-waters/i-want-to-make-movies-and-i-want-to-portray-characters-that-make/) [Drew Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-waters/) > [I think you have to work with people, and when I talk about managing relationships, don't think the derogatory ''managed relationships''. It is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anil-ambani/i-think-you-have-to-work-with-people-and-when-i-talk-about-managing/) [Anil Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anil-ambani/) > [I don't feel the individualist anarchists, particularly in the American tradition, including the Transcendental tradition of New England, in any way deserve the derogatory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-bookchin/i-don-t-feel-the-individualist-anarchists-particularly-in-the/) [Murray Bookchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-bookchin/) > [I know that there are many persons to whom it seems derogatory to link a body of philosophic ideas to the social life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/i-know-that-there-are-many-persons-to-whom-it-seems-derogatory-to/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [There must be a balance of honesty and charity in the workshop. Everyone must be aware of a fellow human being behind the work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilma-wolitzer/there-must-be-a-balance-of-honesty-and-charity-in-the-workshop/) [Hilma Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilma-wolitzer/) > [How one supposed to grow if you're generating derogatory feelings?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/how-one-supposed-to-grow-if-you-re-generating-derogatory-feelings/) [Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/) > [Children, do not listen to those who malign masters and sages. Never listen to or indulge in derogatory talk about anyone. When we harbor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/children-do-not-listen-to-those-who-malign-masters-and-sages-never/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [“Would it be politically incorrect to call a top-ranked female anchor (with a law degree) currently on the cover of Vanity Fair a bimbo?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-parker/would-it-be-politically-incorrect-to-call-a-top-ranked-female-anchor/) [Kathleen Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-parker/) > [There were moments where I was called many derogatory names. I've gotten into a couple of fights. People have jumped me. You know, I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mj-rodriguez/there-were-moments-where-i-was-called-many-derogatory-names-i-ve/) [Mj Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mj-rodriguez/) > [Some people are derogatory when they use the word 'south actor.' Some people just and ignorant about it and just use it because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-cassandra/some-people-are-derogatory-when-they-use-the-word-south-actor-some/) [Regina Cassandra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-cassandra/) > [We only feel dehumanized when we get trapped in the derogatory images of other people or thoughts of wrongness about ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-only-feel-dehumanized-when-we-get-trapped-in-the-derogatory-images/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I always think the really unfortunate thing about the Australian film industry is its lack of momentum. And I don't mean this in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-pearce/i-always-think-the-really-unfortunate-thing-about-the-australian-film/) [Guy Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-pearce/) ## More by Howard Zinn > [“A black man, Benjamin Banneker, who taught himself mathematics and astronomy, predicted accurately a solar eclipse, and was appointed to plan the new city…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/a-black-man-benjamin-banneker-who-taught-himself-mathematics-and/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/there-is-no-flag-large-enough-to-cover-the-shame-of-killing-innocent/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [“a good education is a synthesis of book learning and involvement in social action, because each enrich the other. The accumulation of knowledge, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/a-good-education-is-a-synthesis-of-book-learning-and-involvement-in/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [The mountain of history books under which we all stand leans so heavily in the other direction-so tremblingly respectful of states and statesmen and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/the-mountain-of-history-books-under-which-we-all-stand-leans-so/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [Let's face a historical truth: we have never had a "free market", we have always had government intervention in the economy, and indeed that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/let-s-face-a-historical-truth-we-have-never-had-a-free-market-we-have/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [I can UNDERSTAND pessimism, but I don't BELIEVE in it. It's not simply a matter of faith, but of historical EVIDENCE. Not overwhelming evidence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/i-can-understand-pessimism-but-i-don-t-believe-in-it-it-s-not-simply/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [Protest beyond the law is not a departure from democracy; it is absolutely essential to it. It is a corrective to the sluggishness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/protest-beyond-the-law-is-not-a-departure-from-democracy-it-is/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [Now I have been studying very closely what happens every day in the courts in Boston, Massachusetts. 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The New Yorker Cadwallader Colden,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/middle-class-americans-might-be-invited-to-join-a-new-elite-by/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [If those in charge of our society - politicians, corporate executives, and owners of press and television - can dominate our ideas, they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/if-those-in-charge-of-our-society-politicians-corporate-executives/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [We were not born critical of existing society. There was a moment in our lives (or a month, or a year) when certain facts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/we-were-not-born-critical-of-existing-society-there-was-a-moment-in/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [Behind the deceptive words designed to entice people into supporting violence -- words like democracy, freedom, self-defense, national security -- there is the reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/behind-the-deceptive-words-designed-to-entice-people-into-supporting/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [“George Washington had turned down the requests of blacks, seeking freedom, to fight in the Revolutionary army. So when the British military commander in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/george-washington-had-turned-down-the-requests-of-blacks-seeking/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) [Explore all 461 Howard Zinn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) ## More Derogatory quotes > [I always think the really unfortunate thing about the Australian film industry is its lack of momentum. And I don't mean this in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-pearce/i-always-think-the-really-unfortunate-thing-about-the-australian-film/) [Guy Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-pearce/) > [We only feel dehumanized when we get trapped in the derogatory images of other people or thoughts of wrongness about ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-only-feel-dehumanized-when-we-get-trapped-in-the-derogatory-images/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some people are derogatory when they use the word 'south actor.' Some people just and ignorant about it and just use it because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-cassandra/some-people-are-derogatory-when-they-use-the-word-south-actor-some/) [Regina Cassandra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-cassandra/) > [There were moments where I was called many derogatory names. I've gotten into a couple of fights. People have jumped me. You know, I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mj-rodriguez/there-were-moments-where-i-was-called-many-derogatory-names-i-ve/) [Mj Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mj-rodriguez/) > [“Would it be politically incorrect to call a top-ranked female anchor (with a law degree) currently on the cover of Vanity Fair a bimbo?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-parker/would-it-be-politically-incorrect-to-call-a-top-ranked-female-anchor/) [Kathleen Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-parker/) > [Children, do not listen to those who malign masters and sages. Never listen to or indulge in derogatory talk about anyone. When we harbor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/children-do-not-listen-to-those-who-malign-masters-and-sages-never/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [How one supposed to grow if you're generating derogatory feelings?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/how-one-supposed-to-grow-if-you-re-generating-derogatory-feelings/) [Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/) > [There must be a balance of honesty and charity in the workshop. Everyone must be aware of a fellow human being behind the work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilma-wolitzer/there-must-be-a-balance-of-honesty-and-charity-in-the-workshop/) [Hilma Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilma-wolitzer/) > [I know that there are many persons to whom it seems derogatory to link a body of philosophic ideas to the social life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/i-know-that-there-are-many-persons-to-whom-it-seems-derogatory-to/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [I don't feel the individualist anarchists, particularly in the American tradition, including the Transcendental tradition of New England, in any way deserve the derogatory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-bookchin/i-don-t-feel-the-individualist-anarchists-particularly-in-the/) [Murray Bookchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-bookchin/) > [I think you have to work with people, and when I talk about managing relationships, don't think the derogatory ''managed relationships''. It is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anil-ambani/i-think-you-have-to-work-with-people-and-when-i-talk-about-managing/) [Anil Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anil-ambani/) > [I want to make movies - and I want to portray characters - that make people think. I want to make movies that have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-waters/i-want-to-make-movies-and-i-want-to-portray-characters-that-make/) [Drew Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-waters/) > [It's the purest form of silver and our tagline is "Taking the 'except fors' out of movies." We're trying to make movies with pure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-waters/it-s-the-purest-form-of-silver-and-our-tagline-is-taking-the-except/) [Drew Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-waters/) > [I would never say anything derogatory about another actor even in my sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshaye-khanna/i-would-never-say-anything-derogatory-about-another-actor-even-in-my/) [Akshaye Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshaye-khanna/) > [Love shouldn't hurt. Love is to help the other grow with the right words instead of using derogatory remarks. 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