--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What white middle America loathes these…" description: "\"“What white middle America loathes these days are poor and poorish people, especially the kind who look and sound like they just might live in a house ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/542/joe-bageant-25954_bigotry_what-white-middle-america-loathes-these_2957759.jpg" --- # What white middle America loathes these days are poor and… ![“What white middle America loathes these days are poor and poorish people, especially the kind who look and sound like they just might live in a house trailer. They will swear on a stack of Lands' End catalogs that they are not bigots, but, human nature being what it is, we are all kicking someone…” quote by Joe Bageant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/542/joe-bageant-25954_bigotry_what-white-middle-america-loathes-these_2957759.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/542/joe-bageant-25954_bigotry_what-white-middle-america-loathes-these_2957759.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/542/joe-bageant-25954_bigotry_what-white-middle-america-loathes-these_2957759.jpg) > ““What white middle America loathes these days are poor and poorish people, especially the kind who look and sound like they just might live in a house trailer. They will swear on a stack of Lands' End catalogs that they are not bigots, but, human nature being what it is, we are all kicking someone else's dog around, whether we admit it or not.”” [Joe Bageant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bageant/) ## 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 criticizes how mainstream America despises the poor, especially those who appear as trailer dwellers, while denying bigotry and projecting blame onto others. **In simple terms:** Middle America despises the poor and avoids admitting prejudice. Key Takeaway Recognize and confront hidden biases. Themes class prejudice social inequality identity denial Mood critical reflective Type social commentary political critique When to use this quote - political commentary - social media - community outreach - policy advocacy Key Concepts sociology American studies class conflict Questions to Reflect On - How do we address our own prejudices? - What policies can reduce class stigma? A Different Perspective The statement may overgeneralize and ignore systemic factors beyond individual attitudes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America Loathes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america-loathes-4488936/) [Bigotry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigotry/) [Bigots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigots/) [Bigots Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigots-human-4488935/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Discrimination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discrimination/) [Human nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-nature/) [Loathes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loathes-1340371/) [Poorish People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poorish-people-4488937/) ## Related quotes > [“Don’t become bigoted about bigots.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ross/don-t-become-bigoted-about-bigots/) [Scott Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ross/) > [A proud bigot, who is vain enough to think that he can deceive even God by affected zeal, and throwing the veil of holiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-boileau-despreaux/a-proud-bigot-who-is-vain-enough-to-think-that-he-can-deceive-even/) [Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-boileau-despreaux/) > [Bigotry may be roughly defined as the anger of men who have no opinions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/bigotry-may-be-roughly-defined-as-the-anger-of-men-who-have-no/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [The term religious cleansing is an accurate and effective way of expressing the current hostility and bigotry toward all civic expressions of religion... these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-sekulow/the-term-religious-cleansing-is-an-accurate-and-effective-way-of/) [Jay Sekulow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-sekulow/) > [The sad truth about bigotry is that most bigots either don't realize that they are bigots, or they convince themselves that their bigotry is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gerard-trotman/the-sad-truth-about-bigotry-is-that-most-bigots-either-don-t-realize/) [Wayne Gerard Trotman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gerard-trotman/) > [“I don't mind bigots. You're allowed to be bigoted, if that makes you happy. Just do it at home. And not around the children.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/i-don-t-mind-bigots-you-re-allowed-to-be-bigoted-if-that-makes-you/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [There are two kinds of people I cannot abide: bigots and any well-organized ethnic group.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/there-are-two-kinds-of-people-i-cannot-abide-bigots-and-any-well/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [I couldn't join a party that, frankly, tolerates members who are bigots for one thing, homophobes, racists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-reagan/i-couldn-t-join-a-party-that-frankly-tolerates-members-who-are-bigots/) [Ron Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-reagan/) > [“In some cases, I am able to respect what so many call bigots. Such people have a more solid foundation for drawing their lines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/in-some-cases-i-am-able-to-respect-what-so-many-call-bigots-such/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [We don't lump people by groups or special interests. And let me add, in the party of Lincoln there is no room for intolerance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/we-don-t-lump-people-by-groups-or-special-interests-and-let-me-add-in/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [“No travel can broaden a bigoted mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/no-travel-can-broaden-a-bigoted-mind/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“First, they came for the bigots, and I said nothing, because I didn’t believe I was a bigot, then…it was really nice, it turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-ince/first-they-came-for-the-bigots-and-i-said-nothing-because-i-didn-t/) [Robin Ince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-ince/) > [“Bigots often like to say they're the ones being hurt as they oppress and hurt others. Never fall for the 'pity the privileged' routine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashanne-stokes/bigots-often-like-to-say-they-re-the-ones-being-hurt-as-they-oppress/) [DaShanne Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashanne-stokes/) > [“Apes throw tantrum when they are insecure, pursuit of delusion soothes the vegetated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/apes-throw-tantrum-when-they-are-insecure-pursuit-of-delusion-soothes/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [Those who will not reason, are bigots, those who cannot, are fools, and those who dare not, are slaves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/those-who-will-not-reason-are-bigots-those-who-cannot-are-fools-and/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) ## More by Joe Bageant > [“Remember when welfare mothers were robbing us all blind and driving Cadillacs? ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bageant/remember-when-welfare-mothers-were-robbing-us-all-blind-and-driving/) [Joe Bageant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bageant/) > [If middle-class Americans do not feel threatened by the slow encroachment of the police state or the Patriot Act, it is because they live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bageant/if-middle-class-americans-do-not-feel-threatened-by-the-slow/) [Joe Bageant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bageant/) > [The four cornerstones of the American political psyche are 1) emotion substituted for thought, 2) fear, 3) ignorance and 4) propaganda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bageant/the-four-cornerstones-of-the-american-political-psyche-are-1-emotion/) [Joe Bageant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bageant/) > [ They \[Christian rednecks\] were so stupid that they couldn't pour piss out of a boot even if the instructions were printed on the bottom. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bageant/they-christian-rednecks-were-so-stupid-that-they-couldn-t-pour-piss/) [Joe Bageant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bageant/) > [“Somewhere in between are the rest of us natives, in whom such change revives long-buried anger at those faraway people who seem to govern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bageant/somewhere-in-between-are-the-rest-of-us-natives-in-whom-such-change/) [Joe Bageant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bageant/) > [“Republican or Democrat, this nation's affluent urban and suburban classes understand their bread is buttered on the corporate side. The primary difference between the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bageant/republican-or-democrat-this-nation-s-affluent-urban-and-suburban/) [Joe Bageant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bageant/) > [“Parties do not lead revolutions. They follow them. And then only when forced to.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bageant/parties-do-not-lead-revolutions-they-follow-them-and-then-only-when/) [Joe Bageant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bageant/) > [“Inconceivable though it may seem to urban Americans, it is easily possible for many working Americans not to know a person of the liberal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bageant/inconceivable-though-it-may-seem-to-urban-americans-it-is-easily/) [Joe Bageant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bageant/) > [The reality is that our economy now consists of driving 250 million vehicles around the suburbs and malls and eating fried chicken. We don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bageant/the-reality-is-that-our-economy-now-consists-of-driving-250-million/) [Joe Bageant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bageant/) > [You never know you are in a prison unless you try the door](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bageant/you-never-know-you-are-in-a-prison-unless-you-try-the-door/) [Joe Bageant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bageant/) > [“This book is written from a changing town in Virginia, but this class of mine, these people--the ones who smell like an ashtray in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bageant/this-book-is-written-from-a-changing-town-in-virginia-but-this-class/) [Joe Bageant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bageant/) > [Cultural stupidity accounts for virtually every aspect of Sarah Palin, both as a person and a political icon. Which, come to think of it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bageant/cultural-stupidity-accounts-for-virtually-every-aspect-of-sarah-palin/) [Joe Bageant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bageant/) > [“Along with the concept of American Dream runs the notion that every man and woman is entitled to an opinion and to one vote,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bageant/along-with-the-concept-of-american-dream-runs-the-notion-that-every/) [Joe Bageant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bageant/) > [“Somebody left the American Dream in the toaster too long. It's now burnt to a crisp.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bageant/somebody-left-the-american-dream-in-the-toaster-too-long-it-s-now/) [Joe Bageant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bageant/) > [“Nearly all of these successful folks have made it in the business world by sticking with the free market ideal of survival of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bageant/nearly-all-of-these-successful-folks-have-made-it-in-the-business/) [Joe Bageant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bageant/) [Explore all 22 Joe Bageant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bageant/) ## More Bigotry quotes > [“The mission is, not to replace old world mindlessness with new world mindlessness, but to put an end to all forms of brainless authoritarianism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/the-mission-is-not-to-replace-old-world-mindlessness-with-new-world/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [To take up half on trust, and half to try, Name it not faith but bungling bigotry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/to-take-up-half-on-trust-and-half-to-try-name-it-not-faith-but/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [ What are you for? It may be, to a degree, consoling that white brothers and sisters did not vote for \[Donald\] Trump, and do… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/what-are-you-for-it-may-be-to-a-degree-consoling-that-white-brothers/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [Bigoted people are just scholars who lack any sort of legitimate credentials to answer why they're bigoted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doctavius/bigoted-people-are-just-scholars-who-lack-any-sort-of-legitimate/) [Doctavius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doctavius/) > [Sadly, we can't eliminate bigotry. But that doesn't mean we have to tolerate it, much less give it a platform on which to thrive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-viner/sadly-we-can-t-eliminate-bigotry-but-that-doesn-t-mean-we-have-to/) [Katharine Viner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-viner/) > [Ideological bigotry has become the norm on even our most prestigious campuses, where students can go for years without reading or hearing anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/ideological-bigotry-has-become-the-norm-on-even-our-most-prestigious/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [“People talk about history and things like slavery, genocide, and religious persecution as horrors that happened in the past because we were ignorant. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-matthew-nespoli/people-talk-about-history-and-things-like-slavery-genocide-and/) [J. Matthew Nespoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-matthew-nespoli/) > [“Remember who you are. This creature wants to take it from you. Do not let him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/remember-who-you-are-this-creature-wants-to-take-it-from-you-do-not/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“Oh Beautiful For A Land That's Free Where All Can Congregate Together Live With No Degree Of Bigotry And Hate”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bee/oh-beautiful-for-a-land-that-s-free-where-all-can-congregate-together/) [Kathy Bee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-bee/) > [“That’s the problem with indoctrination—the whole point of the First Order’s kind of education is to stop someone from thinking and instead kick their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delilah-s-dawson/that-s-the-problem-with-indoctrination-the-whole-point-of-the-first/) [Delilah S. Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delilah-s-dawson/) > [Too small is our world to allow discrimination, bigotry and intolerance to thrive in any corner of it, let alone in the United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-engel/too-small-is-our-world-to-allow-discrimination-bigotry-and/) [Eliot Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-engel/) > [... happily the Government of the United States... gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/happily-the-government-of-the-united-states-gives-to-bigotry-no/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [“This book would be a great addition to a classroom library, especially considering its emphases on timeless and critical topics like discrimination and prejudice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-lovejoy/this-book-would-be-a-great-addition-to-a-classroom-library-especially/) [Sharon Lovejoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-lovejoy/) > [Pat Buchanan... was fired by MSNBC for doing nothing more than voicing his rock-solid conservative thoughts on the otherwise failing network... The real message…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/pat-buchanan-was-fired-by-msnbc-for-doing-nothing-more-than-voicing/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [Fear and Bigotry are bred fom isolation and ignorance. -Shekinah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fear-and-bigotry-are-bred-fom-isolation-and-ignorance-shekinah/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 661 Bigotry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigotry/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What white middle America loathes these days are poor and poorish people, especially the kind who look and sound like they just might live in a house trailer. 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