---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But class divisions influence criminal…"
description: "\"“But class divisions influence criminal justice debates in black communities in less obvious ways as well: they explain, for example, why black elected..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af2/james-forman-jr-2-30625_african-american_but-class-divisions-influence-criminal-j_2371649.jpg"
---

#  But class divisions influence criminal justice debates in…

![“But class divisions influence criminal justice debates in black communities in less obvious ways as well: they explain, for example, why black elected officials have been much more likely to speak out against racial profiling (which harms African Americans of all classes) than against…” quote by James Forman Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af2/james-forman-jr-2-30625_african-american_but-class-divisions-influence-criminal-j_2371649.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af2/james-forman-jr-2-30625_african-american_but-class-divisions-influence-criminal-j_2371649.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af2/james-forman-jr-2-30625_african-american_but-class-divisions-influence-criminal-j_2371649.jpg)

> ““But class divisions influence criminal justice debates in black communities in less obvious ways as well: they explain, for example, why black elected officials have been much more likely to speak out against racial profiling (which harms African Americans of all classes) than against unconscionable prison conditions (which have little direct impact on middle-class or elite blacks).23””

[James Forman Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forman-jr-2/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Class divisions shape how black leaders address criminal justice, focusing more on profiling than prison conditions due to differing class impacts.

**In simple terms:** Class affects which justice issues get attention.

Key Takeaway

Recognize class bias in advocacy.

Themes

justice class racial profiling prison conditions

Mood

analytical concerned

Type

critical political

When to use this quote

- community organizing
- policy reform
- public discourse
- legal advocacy

Key Concepts

sociology political advocacy

Questions to Reflect On

- How does class influence which justice issues are prioritized?
- What can be done to address prison conditions across classes?

A Different Perspective

Class focus may overlook systemic prison issues affecting all classes.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[African american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/) [African americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-americans/) [Black Communities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-communities-318044/) [Class Divisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class-divisions-3872691/) [Criminal justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminal-justice/) [Divisions Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divisions-influence-5842406/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Justice Debates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice-debates-5842407/) [Racial profiling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racial-profiling/)

## Related quotes

> [“Understanding African American attitudes and actions on matters of crime and punishment requires that we pay careful attention to another topic that is often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forman-jr-2/understanding-african-american-attitudes-and-actions-on-matters-of/)

[James Forman Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forman-jr-2/)

> [“Class divisions as clear as those between Harrington and myself always bring out my best, or at least my most petty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lashner/class-divisions-as-clear-as-those-between-harrington-and-myself/)

[William Lashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lashner/)

> [“As the tough-on-crime movement gathered force, those who had been arrested or convicted rarely participated in debates over criminal justice policy, in D.C. or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forman-jr-2/as-the-tough-on-crime-movement-gathered-force-those-who-had-been/)

[James Forman Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forman-jr-2/)

> [I think in black communities today we need to encourage a lot more cross racial organizing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-davis/i-think-in-black-communities-today-we-need-to-encourage-a-lot-more/)

[Angela Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-davis/)

> [A people who have suffered so much for so long at hands of a racist society must draw the line somewhere… the black communities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-seale/a-people-who-have-suffered-so-much-for-so-long-at-hands-of-a-racist/)

[Bobby Seale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-seale/)

> [Mass incarceration is a policy that's kind of built up over the last four decades and it's destroyed families and communities, and something we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/mass-incarceration-is-a-policy-that-s-kind-of-built-up-over-the-last/)

[John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/)

> [I suppose our lives need to be more integrated. We have white communities and black communities and white country clubs and black country clubs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diahann-carroll/i-suppose-our-lives-need-to-be-more-integrated-we-have-white/)

[Diahann Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diahann-carroll/)

> [Every community has crime and violence; it's a part of being human. This idea that black communities are more violent than others is just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/every-community-has-crime-and-violence-it-s-a-part-of-being-human/)

[Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/)

> [Nationwide, 1 in 3 black men can expect to serve time behind bars, but the rates are far higher in segregated and impoverished black communities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-alexander/nationwide-1-in-3-black-men-can-expect-to-serve-time-behind-bars-but/)

[Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-alexander/)

> [One thing I can say as far as people from black communities dealing with trauma or PTSD is putting some trauma centers or some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polo-g/one-thing-i-can-say-as-far-as-people-from-black-communities-dealing/)

[Polo G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polo-g/)

> [Especially in black communities, we've been so groomed to stay where we are and not like people in the other neighborhoods. It's crazy. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-reed/especially-in-black-communities-we-ve-been-so-groomed-to-stay-where/)

[Ed Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-reed/)

> [Black Lives Matter has become what black communities all over the world have needed it to become. At times, it is a hashtag; at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/black-lives-matter-has-become-what-black-communities-all-over-the/)

[Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/)

> [Within church communities, within black communities, and within black church communities, gossip is thy friend. Gossip will be thy friend!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ncuti-gatwa/within-church-communities-within-black-communities-and-within-black/)

[Ncuti Gatwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ncuti-gatwa/)

> [Racism has its boot squarely wedged on the neck of black communities, and we don't want to be told that hard work and responsibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/racism-has-its-boot-squarely-wedged-on-the-neck-of-black-communities/)

[Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/)

> [I think we have to really focus on the issues much more than we may have in the past. I think we have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-davis/i-think-we-have-to-really-focus-on-the-issues-much-more-than-we-may/)

[Angela Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-davis/)

## More by James Forman Jr

> [“As the tough-on-crime movement gathered force, those who had been arrested or convicted rarely participated in debates over criminal justice policy, in D.C. or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forman-jr-2/as-the-tough-on-crime-movement-gathered-force-those-who-had-been/)

[James Forman Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forman-jr-2/)

> [“As the historian David Krugler explains, “African Americans were not so much rioting as fighting back, counterattacking, repelling violence; above all, resisting.”79”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forman-jr-2/as-the-historian-david-krugler-explains-african-americans-were-not-so/)

[James Forman Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forman-jr-2/)

> [“But when they are carrying out investigatory or pretext stops, they are much more likely to stop black and other minority drivers: blacks are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forman-jr-2/but-when-they-are-carrying-out-investigatory-or-pretext-stops-they/)

[James Forman Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forman-jr-2/)

> [“Keeping blacks subjugated required that they be unarmed. Alabama’s law was typical: “Any freedman, mulatto, or free person of color in this state” was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forman-jr-2/keeping-blacks-subjugated-required-that-they-be-unarmed-alabama-s-law/)

[James Forman Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forman-jr-2/)

> [“During his first year in office, Congress did just that, passing legislation that changed the formulas governing eligibility and payouts for certain means-tested entitlements.7…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forman-jr-2/during-his-first-year-in-office-congress-did-just-that-passing/)

[James Forman Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forman-jr-2/)

> [“Fowler, Hines, and the rest of the city’s black clergymen claimed that the majority of D.C.’s citizens shared their opposition to Clarke’s bill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forman-jr-2/fowler-hines-and-the-rest-of-the-city-s-black-clergymen-claimed-that/)

[James Forman Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forman-jr-2/)

> [“Understanding African American attitudes and actions on matters of crime and punishment requires that we pay careful attention to another topic that is often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forman-jr-2/understanding-african-american-attitudes-and-actions-on-matters-of/)

[James Forman Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forman-jr-2/)

> [“by the year 2000, the lifetime risk of incarceration for black high school dropouts was ten times higher than it was for African Americans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forman-jr-2/by-the-year-2000-the-lifetime-risk-of-incarceration-for-black-high/)

[James Forman Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forman-jr-2/)

> [“No: it was blacks who killed marijuana decriminalization in D.C.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forman-jr-2/no-it-was-blacks-who-killed-marijuana-decriminalization-in-d-c/)

[James Forman Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forman-jr-2/)

> [“Most of all, the fight against crack helped to enshrine the notion that police must be warriors, aggressive and armored, working ghetto corners as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forman-jr-2/most-of-all-the-fight-against-crack-helped-to-enshrine-the-notion/)

[James Forman Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forman-jr-2/)

> [“(At PDS, we often lamented that there were never waiting lists for prison—just for alternatives to prison.) But”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forman-jr-2/at-pds-we-often-lamented-that-there-were-never-waiting-lists-for/)

[James Forman Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forman-jr-2/)

> [“Donald Trump, whose signature contribution to political debate had been his relentless propagation of the lie that Barack Obama is not an American citizen,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forman-jr-2/donald-trump-whose-signature-contribution-to-political-debate-had/)

[James Forman Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forman-jr-2/)

> [“The condescension was rooted in class. Those who fought for the hiring of black police occupied one stratum of black society; those who actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forman-jr-2/the-condescension-was-rooted-in-class-those-who-fought-for-the-hiring/)

[James Forman Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forman-jr-2/)

> [“gun crime: it wasn’t equally distributed throughout black America. Rather, it was concentrated among the poorest blacks, who were forced into living conditions that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forman-jr-2/gun-crime-it-wasn-t-equally-distributed-throughout-black-america/)

[James Forman Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forman-jr-2/)

> [“One victim, Harrison F. Finley, was a World War II veteran and the father of two young children. He was shot to death in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forman-jr-2/one-victim-harrison-f-finley-was-a-world-war-ii-veteran-and-the/)

[James Forman Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forman-jr-2/)

[Explore all 17 James Forman Jr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forman-jr-2/)

## 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. If I am moved or forced away from what I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-agreed-a-long-time-ago-i-would-not-live-at-any-cost-if-i-am-moved/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/)

[Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/)

> [“This popularity extended to Trump himself, who, according to private demographic research conducted at the time, was even more popular with African American and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-green/this-popularity-extended-to-trump-himself-who-according-to-private/)

[Joshua Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-green/)

> [American civil rights leader, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? Lynching is a murder. For the past four hundred years our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/american-civil-rights-leader-where-do-we-go-from-here-chaos-or/)

[Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/)

> [I know I'm more forgiving than most African Americans when it comes to second chances for White people who not only commit a racial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-capehart/i-know-i-m-more-forgiving-than-most-african-americans-when-it-comes/)

[Jonathan Capehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-capehart/)

> [Some Republicans gave up on winning the African-American vote, looking the other way or trying to benefit politically from racial polarization. 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. So sometimes, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-emerson/it-may-be-changing-but-still-it-s-the-one-place-that-total-control-of/)

[Michael Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-emerson/)

> [Most of the more celebrated names among African-American authors, poets, and artists are known to the world because of their association with specific cultural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aberjhani/most-of-the-more-celebrated-names-among-african-american-authors/)

[Aberjhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aberjhani/)

> [I think it's easier for African American and white comics to be praised than it is Latinos because they think our culture or our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/i-think-it-s-easier-for-african-american-and-white-comics-to-be/)

[George Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lopez/)

> [“Alabama in 1927 alone, 27,701 men were arrested on misdemeanor charges and offered for sale by county sheriffs. In Blackmon’s estimation, “roughly half of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-haney-l-pez/alabama-in-1927-alone-27-701-men-were-arrested-on-misdemeanor-charges/)

[Ian Haney López](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-haney-l-pez/)

> [I'm just trying to touch the world and touch the people and just get good material. And show them that we can get it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-hardrict/i-m-just-trying-to-touch-the-world-and-touch-the-people-and-just-get/)

[Cory Hardrict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-hardrict/)

[Browse all 1,848 African american quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“But class divisions influence criminal justice debates in black communities in less obvious ways as well: they explain, for example, why black elected officials have been much more likely to speak out against racial profiling (which harms African Americans of all classes) than against unconscionable prison conditions (which have little direct impact on middle-class or elite blacks).23”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "James Forman Jr"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forman-jr-2/but-class-divisions-influence-criminal-justice-debates-in-black/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "African american"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forman-jr-2/but-class-divisions-influence-criminal-justice-debates-in-black/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af2/james-forman-jr-2-30625_african-american_but-class-divisions-influence-criminal-j_2371649.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af2/james-forman-jr-2-30625_african-american_but-class-divisions-influence-criminal-j_2371649.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af2/james-forman-jr-2-30625_african-american_but-class-divisions-influence-criminal-j_2371649.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“But class divisions influence criminal justice debates in black communities in less obvious ways as well…” — James Forman Jr",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "James Forman Jr",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forman-jr-2/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“But class divisions influence criminal justice...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forman-jr-2/but-class-divisions-influence-criminal-justice-debates-in-black/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forman-jr-2/but-class-divisions-influence-criminal-justice-debates-in-black/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```