Black hole Quote by Jonathan Kozol
““Many suburban legislators representing affluent school districts use terms such as "sinkhole" when opposing funding for Chicago's children. "We can't keep throwing money," said Governor Thompson in 1988, "into a black hole." The Chicago Tribune notes that, when this phrase is used, people hasten to explain that it is not intended as a slur against the race of many of Chicago's children. "But race," says the Tribune, "never is far from the surface...””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Death and Life of the Great American School System, Jonathan Kozol, 2015
Wealthy districts use euphemisms to mask neglect of poorer schools, exposing racial and economic bias in education funding.
In simple terms: Rich areas hide underfunding of poor schools with misleading terms.
Key Takeaway
Demand transparent, equitable school funding.
Themes
education
inequality
race
politics
Mood
urgent
determined
Type
advocacy
educational
When to use this quote
- school board meetings
- policy advocacy
- community organizing
- parental involvement
Key Concepts
euphemism
funding disparity
racial bias
Questions to Reflect On
- How do language choices affect public perception?
- What steps ensure fair resource distribution?
A Different Perspective
Euphemisms can obscure systemic injustice.
