--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In America, you can segregate the people…" description: "\"In America, you can segregate the people, but the problems will travel. From slavery to equal rights, from state suppression of dissent to crime, drugs..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/984/june-jordan-5050_america_in-america-you-can-segregate-the-people_61323.png" --- # In America, you can segregate the people, but the problems… ![“In America, you can segregate the people, but the problems will travel. From slavery to equal rights, from state suppression of dissent to crime, drugs and unemployment, I can't think of a supposedly Black issue that hasn't wasted the original Black target group and then spread like measles to…” quote by June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/984/june-jordan-5050_america_in-america-you-can-segregate-the-people_61323.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/984/june-jordan-5050_america_in-america-you-can-segregate-the-people_61323.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/984/june-jordan-5050_america_in-america-you-can-segregate-the-people_61323.png) > “In America, you can segregate the people, but the problems will travel. From slavery to equal rights, from state suppression of dissent to crime, drugs and unemployment, I can't think of a supposedly Black issue that hasn't wasted the original Black target group and then spread like measles to outlying white experience.” [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Segregation cannot contain systemic issues; problems originating in marginalized communities inevitably affect the broader society. **In simple terms:** Problems cross racial lines. Key Takeaway Inequality spreads beyond its source. Themes systemic inequality social contagion racial dynamics historical continuity public health metaphor Mood concerned reflective urgent Type observational critical sociopolitical When to use this quote - policy debates - community health initiatives - educational curricula - media analysis - activist strategy Key Concepts structural racism interconnectedness social policy collective responsibility Practical Applications - designing inclusive policies - raising public awareness Questions to Reflect On - How can we address root causes without blaming a group? - What mechanisms cause issues to spread across communities? A Different Perspective Some argue that focusing on specific group issues can lead to targeted solutions rather than broad diffusion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [America Segregate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america-segregate-834287/) [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Black Issue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-issue-834289/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Dissent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dissent/) [Drug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drug/) [Equal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal/) [Equal rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal-rights/) [Groups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/groups/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Measles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/measles/) [Originals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/originals/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Problems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-problems/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Segregate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/segregate-416781/) [Segregate People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/segregate-people-834288/) [Segregation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/segregation/) [Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery/) [Spread](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spread/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Suppression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suppression/) [Target](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/target/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Unemployment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unemployment/) [White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white/) ## Related quotes > [I was doing the Black Issue in 2006 and then went to Africa for Uomo Vogue. 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