African americans Quote by Jesmyn Ward
““But race in the United States is not a tidy matter. Only three of the submitted pieces explicitly referenced the future. Most of them were concerned with the past and the present. And that told me two things. First, it confirmed how inextricably interwoven the past is in the present, how heavily that past bears on the future; we cannot talk about black lives mattering or police brutality without reckoning with the very foundation of this country. We must acknowledge the plantation, must unfold white sheets, must recall the black diaspora to understand what is happening now. Second, it reveals a certain exhaustion, I think. We’re tired. We’re tired of having to figure out how to talk to our kids and teach them that America sees them as less, and that she just might kill them. This is the conversation we want to avoid. We’re tired of feeling futile in the face of this ever-present danger, this omnipotent history, predicated as this country is, founded as this country was, on our subjugation.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The New Yorker, 2022
The past is inseparable from present struggles; acknowledging history is essential to address current racial injustices.
In simple terms: History shapes today’s racial issues.
Key Takeaway
Confront history to change the future.
Themes
history
race
justice
identity
Mood
reflective
somber
Type
analytical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- education
- family discussions
- policy reform
- community activism
Key Concepts
systemic oppression
collective memory
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance remembering with hopeful action?
- What steps make history education effective?
A Different Perspective
Complexity may overwhelm individuals.
