--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Afro-American is not a bestial race." description: "\"The Afro-American is not a bestial race.\" — Ida B. Wells" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91f/ida-b-wells-16137_afro_the-afro-american-is-not-a-bestial-race_2772393.jpg" --- # The Afro-American is not a bestial race. ![“The Afro-American is not a bestial race.” quote by Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91f/ida-b-wells-16137_afro_the-afro-american-is-not-a-bestial-race_2772393.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91f/ida-b-wells-16137_afro_the-afro-american-is-not-a-bestial-race_2772393.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91f/ida-b-wells-16137_afro_the-afro-american-is-not-a-bestial-race_2772393.jpg) > “The Afro-American is not a bestial race.” [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) ## 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 asserts the humanity of African Americans, rejecting racist dehumanization. **In simple terms:** African Americans are human, not animalistic. Key Takeaway Recognize and affirm dignity of all peoples. Themes equality human rights racism Mood determined hopeful Type activist historical When to use this quote - public advocacy - education - policy reform Key Concepts civil rights human dignity Questions to Reflect On - How can we confront lingering dehumanizing language? - What actions affirm humanity today? A Different Perspective The statement may be dismissed by those entrenched in prejudice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afro/) [Afro American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afro-american/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) ## Related quotes > [The Afro-American is not a bestial race. If this work can contribute in any way towards proving this, and at the same time arouse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/the-afro-american-is-not-a-bestial-race-if-this-work-can-contribute/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [We are not only a Latin American nation, we are an Afro-American nation also.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fidel-castro/we-are-not-only-a-latin-american-nation-we-are-an-afro-american/) [Fidel Castro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fidel-castro/) > [Since the age of 12, all my musical thinking has been influenced by Afro-American music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-korner/since-the-age-of-12-all-my-musical-thinking-has-been-influenced-by/) [Alexis Korner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-korner/) > [A lot of great art comes from the Afro-American male experience. Black men are geniuses, and many times their desperation, their position as being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-reed/a-lot-of-great-art-comes-from-the-afro-american-male-experience-black/) [Ishmael Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-reed/) > [If you are serious about American culture and you are serious about Afro-American culture, you are in a lot of pain. You are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/if-you-are-serious-about-american-culture-and-you-are-serious-about/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [My work sometimes can be abstract and appear not to have a direct relationship to Afro-American concerns, but, in fact, it is based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-byrd/my-work-sometimes-can-be-abstract-and-appear-not-to-have-a-direct/) [Donald Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-byrd/) > [The mob spirit has grown with the increasing intelligence of the Afro-American.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/the-mob-spirit-has-grown-with-the-increasing-intelligence-of-the-afro/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [The Afro-American is thus the backbone of the South.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/the-afro-american-is-thus-the-backbone-of-the-south/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [Somebody must show that the Afro-American race is more sinned against than sinning, and it seems to have fallen upon me to do so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/somebody-must-show-that-the-afro-american-race-is-more-sinned-against/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [The only times an Afro-American who was assaulted got away has been when he had a gun and used it in self-defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/the-only-times-an-afro-american-who-was-assaulted-got-away-has-been/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [The lesson this teaches and which every Afro-American should ponder well, is that a Winchester rifle should have a place of honor in every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/the-lesson-this-teaches-and-which-every-afro-american-should-ponder/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [The hearts of Afro-American women are too warm and too large for race hatred. Long suffering has so chastened them that they are developing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-barrier-williams/the-hearts-of-afro-american-women-are-too-warm-and-too-large-for-race/) Fannie Barrier Williams > [When I did the Abyssinian mass, I went through the whole history of the church music and the gospel music, even with the Anglo…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/when-i-did-the-abyssinian-mass-i-went-through-the-whole-history-of/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [When I say Afro-American aesthetic, I'm not just talking about the United States, I'm talking about the Americas. People in the Latin countries read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-reed/when-i-say-afro-american-aesthetic-i-m-not-just-talking-about-the/) [Ishmael Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-reed/) > [The final test of Afro-American studies will be the extent to which they rid the minds of whites and blacks alike of false learning,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-saunders-redding/the-final-test-of-afro-american-studies-will-be-the-extent-to-which/) [Jay Saunders Redding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-saunders-redding/) ## More by Ida B. Wells > [The nineteenth century lynching mob cuts off ears, toes, and fingers, strips off flesh, and distributes portions of the body as souvenirs among the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/the-nineteenth-century-lynching-mob-cuts-off-ears-toes-and-fingers/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [The white man’s victory soon became complete by fraud, violence, intimidation and murder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/the-white-man-s-victory-soon-became-complete-by-fraud-violence/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [Lynching is color line murder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/lynching-is-color-line-murder/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [Although lynchings have steadily increased in number and barbarity during the last twenty years, there has been no single effort put forth by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/although-lynchings-have-steadily-increased-in-number-and-barbarity/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [In slave times the Negro was kept subservient and submissive by the frequency and severity of the scourging, but, with freedom, a new system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/in-slave-times-the-negro-was-kept-subservient-and-submissive-by-the/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [There is nothing we can do about the lynching now, as we are out-numbered and without arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/there-is-nothing-we-can-do-about-the-lynching-now-as-we-are-out/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [The appeal to the white man's pocket has ever been more effectual than all the appeals ever made to his conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/the-appeal-to-the-white-man-s-pocket-has-ever-been-more-effectual/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [The people must know before they can act, and there is no educator to compare with the press.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/the-people-must-know-before-they-can-act-and-there-is-no-educator-to/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [The Afro-American is not a bestial race. If this work can contribute in any way towards proving this, and at the same time arouse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/the-afro-american-is-not-a-bestial-race-if-this-work-can-contribute/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [I had an instinctive feeling that the people who have little or no school training should have something coming into their homes weekly which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/i-had-an-instinctive-feeling-that-the-people-who-have-little-or-no/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [Thus lynch law held sway in the far West until civilization spread into the Territories and the orderly processes of law took its place.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/thus-lynch-law-held-sway-in-the-far-west-until-civilization-spread/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [Virtue knows no color line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/virtue-knows-no-color-line/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [The doors of churches, hotels, concert halls and reading rooms are alike closed against the Negro as a man, but every place is open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/the-doors-of-churches-hotels-concert-halls-and-reading-rooms-are/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [The alleged menace of universal suffrage having been avoided by the absolute suppression of the negro vote, the spirit of mob murder should have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/the-alleged-menace-of-universal-suffrage-having-been-avoided-by-the/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [I am only a mouthpiece through which to tell the story of lynching and I have told it so often that I know it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/i-am-only-a-mouthpiece-through-which-to-tell-the-story-of-lynching/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) [Explore all 40 Ida B. Wells quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) ## More Afro quotes > [I had the afro when I was in high school. I had the flattop during a short period in the early '90s. And I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-meadows/i-had-the-afro-when-i-was-in-high-school-i-had-the-flattop-during-a/) [Tim Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-meadows/) > [In Italy, I had an Afro, and a lot of the kids came up and felt my hair. It really was funny. I wish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/in-italy-i-had-an-afro-and-a-lot-of-the-kids-came-up-and-felt-my-hair/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [If you are serious about American culture and you are serious about Afro-American culture, you are in a lot of pain. You are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/if-you-are-serious-about-american-culture-and-you-are-serious-about/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [I might be a Cuban American, but I'm also an Afro-Cuban American.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-secada/i-might-be-a-cuban-american-but-i-m-also-an-afro-cuban-american/) [Jon Secada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-secada/) > [“Appearance His afro is wavy,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/canada-s-wiki-page-on-wikipizzle/appearance-his-afro-is-wavy/) Canada's Wiki Page on Wikipizzle > [“But I like my big Afro. I also liked when my hair was longer and relaxed. I’m happy to have choices. They’re mine to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-yoon/but-i-like-my-big-afro-i-also-liked-when-my-hair-was-longer-and/) [Nicola Yoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-yoon/) > [The Afro-American is thus the backbone of the South.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/the-afro-american-is-thus-the-backbone-of-the-south/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [I was the only black girl at my junior high school. I had an afro, a Jamaican accent, I looked really old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-jones/i-was-the-only-black-girl-at-my-junior-high-school-i-had-an-afro-a/) [Grace Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-jones/) > [Michael Jackson fundamentally altered the terms of the debate about African American music. Remember, he was a chocolate, cherubic-faced genius with an African American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/michael-jackson-fundamentally-altered-the-terms-of-the-debate-about/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [“An afro is a poor man’s haircut.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/an-afro-is-a-poor-man-s-haircut/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [The mob spirit has grown with the increasing intelligence of the Afro-American.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/the-mob-spirit-has-grown-with-the-increasing-intelligence-of-the-afro/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [My work sometimes can be abstract and appear not to have a direct relationship to Afro-American concerns, but, in fact, it is based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-byrd/my-work-sometimes-can-be-abstract-and-appear-not-to-have-a-direct/) [Donald Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-byrd/) > [A lot of great art comes from the Afro-American male experience. Black men are geniuses, and many times their desperation, their position as being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-reed/a-lot-of-great-art-comes-from-the-afro-american-male-experience-black/) [Ishmael Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-reed/) > [“I hate it when Africans fail to simply celebrate our features, without reminding us of the traumas they carry. Instead of making a contrast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitta-xinindlu/i-hate-it-when-africans-fail-to-simply-celebrate-our-features-without/) [Mitta Xinindlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitta-xinindlu/) > [Who I was was not acceptable to black L.A. youth: the way I spoke and my sense of humor. Everybody else had relaxers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/who-i-was-was-not-acceptable-to-black-l-a-youth-the-way-i-spoke-and/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) [Browse all 32 Afro quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afro/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Afro-American is not a bestial race.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ida B. 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