--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's still a really divisive residue…" description: "\"There's still a really divisive residue in our nation that's called racism and prejudice and oppression and sexism.\" — Jurnee Smollett-Bell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/654/jurnee-smollett-bell-9329_nation_there-s-still-a-really-divisive-residue_2336369.jpg" --- # There's still a really divisive residue in our nation… ![“There's still a really divisive residue in our nation that's called racism and prejudice and oppression and sexism.” quote by Jurnee Smollett-Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/654/jurnee-smollett-bell-9329_nation_there-s-still-a-really-divisive-residue_2336369.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/654/jurnee-smollett-bell-9329_nation_there-s-still-a-really-divisive-residue_2336369.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/654/jurnee-smollett-bell-9329_nation_there-s-still-a-really-divisive-residue_2336369.jpg) > “There's still a really divisive residue in our nation that's called racism and prejudice and oppression and sexism.” [Jurnee Smollett-Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurnee-smollett-bell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Society still harbors deep racism, prejudice, oppression, and sexism. **In simple terms:** These biases persist and divide. Key Takeaway Recognize and confront systemic inequities. Themes racism prejudice oppression sexism Mood urgent reflective Type activist motivational When to use this quote - workplace - education - media representation - policy reform Key Concepts social justice intersectionality Questions to Reflect On - What steps can individuals take to dismantle bias? - How do we sustain momentum for equality? A Different Perspective Change is slow and met with resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Called Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-racism-1048310/) [Nation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nation/) [Oppression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppression/) [Oppression Sexism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppression-sexism-5639328/) [Prejudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prejudice/) [Prejudice Oppression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prejudice-oppression-776184/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Racism and prejudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism-and-prejudice/) [Racism Prejudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism-prejudice-652562/) [Really Divisive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-divisive-5639327/) [Sexism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexism/) ## Related quotes > [Contact is the best medicine against hate, racism and prejudice. It's something that we should be very wary of, the more segregation we have,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/contact-is-the-best-medicine-against-hate-racism-and-prejudice-it-s/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [ Racism and prejudice exist there \[at the National Film Board\] like anywhere else. My history at the Board has not been easy. It's been… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-obomsawin/racism-and-prejudice-exist-there-at-the-national-film-board-like/) [Alanis Obomsawin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-obomsawin/) > [The ordaining of laws in favor of one part of the nation, to the prejudice and oppression of another, is certainly the most erroneous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-ordaining-of-laws-in-favor-of-one-part-of-the-nation-to-the/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [History affords us many instances of the ruin of states, by the prosecution of measures ill suited to the temper and genius of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/history-affords-us-many-instances-of-the-ruin-of-states-by-the/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [It is no solution to define words as violence or prejudice as oppression, and then by cracking down on words or thoughts pretend that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-rauch/it-is-no-solution-to-define-words-as-violence-or-prejudice-as/) [Jonathan Rauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-rauch/) > [Racism, prejudice and discrimination are an inexplicable collective stupidity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anderson-silva/racism-prejudice-and-discrimination-are-an-inexplicable-collective/) [Anderson Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anderson-silva/) > [“Look, I get it. You can’t tell a joke without worrying you’ll lose your job. Your twenty-something can’t find work. Your town is boarded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-tur/look-i-get-it-you-can-t-tell-a-joke-without-worrying-you-ll-lose-your/) [Katy Tur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-tur/) > [You never cede control of your own ability to be successful to something called racism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/you-never-cede-control-of-your-own-ability-to-be-successful-to/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [If people just accepted each other then there wouldn't be a thing called racism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/if-people-just-accepted-each-other-then-there-wouldn-t-be-a-thing/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [In the past quarter century, we exposed biases against other races and called it racism, and we exposed biases against women and called it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/in-the-past-quarter-century-we-exposed-biases-against-other-races-and/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [“The horror of class stratification, racism, and prejudice is that some people begin to believe that the security of their families and communities depends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/the-horror-of-class-stratification-racism-and-prejudice-is-that-some/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [I wish I could say that racism and prejudice were only distant memories. We must dissent from the indifference. We must dissent from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurgood-marshall/i-wish-i-could-say-that-racism-and-prejudice-were-only-distant/) [Thurgood Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurgood-marshall/) > [We must dissent from the fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurgood-marshall/we-must-dissent-from-the-fear/) [Thurgood Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurgood-marshall/) > [Unconditional love will have the final word in reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/unconditional-love-will-have-the-final-word-in-reality/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Young people want to learn, they are thirsty for knowledge, they want to understand and remember. The main thing is to teach them where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/young-people-want-to-learn-they-are-thirsty-for-knowledge-they-want/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) ## More by Jurnee Smollett-Bell > [Little Richard played my uncle on 'Full House.' He's fabulous. I remember him being incredibly kind to me. I just remember him being super,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurnee-smollett-bell/little-richard-played-my-uncle-on-full-house-he-s-fabulous-i-remember/) [Jurnee Smollett-Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurnee-smollett-bell/) > [When I was 12 years old, I got involved with an organization called Artists for a New South Africa. One of its missions is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurnee-smollett-bell/when-i-was-12-years-old-i-got-involved-with-an-organization-called/) [Jurnee Smollett-Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurnee-smollett-bell/) > [I started shooting 'The Defenders' two days after I wrapped' Friday Night Lights.' I was doing research for 'The Defenders' throughout - interviewing lawyers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurnee-smollett-bell/i-started-shooting-the-defenders-two-days-after-i-wrapped-friday/) [Jurnee Smollett-Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurnee-smollett-bell/) > [People look at you, and they think they know you. They think they can place you in a certain category by what they think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurnee-smollett-bell/people-look-at-you-and-they-think-they-know-you-they-think-they-can/) [Jurnee Smollett-Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurnee-smollett-bell/) > [Far too often, I read a script where the girls are the girlfriend or the set dressing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurnee-smollett-bell/far-too-often-i-read-a-script-where-the-girls-are-the-girlfriend-or/) [Jurnee Smollett-Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurnee-smollett-bell/) > [It's not very exciting to go to work to just have your character's identity being defined by her relationship with her male counterparts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurnee-smollett-bell/it-s-not-very-exciting-to-go-to-work-to-just-have-your-character-s/) [Jurnee Smollett-Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurnee-smollett-bell/) > [If I have a jump rope and a resistance band, I can work out anywhere. Even without a jump rope. If you do 200…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurnee-smollett-bell/if-i-have-a-jump-rope-and-a-resistance-band-i-can-work-out-anywhere/) [Jurnee Smollett-Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurnee-smollett-bell/) > [I have respect for therapists in general, because they hear so many stories. It's a lot to hold and take in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurnee-smollett-bell/i-have-respect-for-therapists-in-general-because-they-hear-so-many/) [Jurnee Smollett-Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurnee-smollett-bell/) > [Marriage is a work in progress, but it's beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurnee-smollett-bell/marriage-is-a-work-in-progress-but-it-s-beautiful/) [Jurnee Smollett-Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurnee-smollett-bell/) > [I have a complex heritage: my mom is African American, and my dad is Jewish. Both were activists, and they met during the movement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurnee-smollett-bell/i-have-a-complex-heritage-my-mom-is-african-american-and-my-dad-is/) [Jurnee Smollett-Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurnee-smollett-bell/) > [I would be ignorant to say colorism doesn't exist; it's gross and disgusting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurnee-smollett-bell/i-would-be-ignorant-to-say-colorism-doesn-t-exist-it-s-gross-and/) [Jurnee Smollett-Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurnee-smollett-bell/) > [I always said, 'Whenever I get pregnant, I'm going to embrace all of the body changes that happen.' My focus has not been on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurnee-smollett-bell/i-always-said-whenever-i-get-pregnant-i-m-going-to-embrace-all-of-the/) [Jurnee Smollett-Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurnee-smollett-bell/) > [With film, there's a consistency to it, but what I like about the TV shows that I've been fortunate to do, like 'Friday Night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurnee-smollett-bell/with-film-there-s-a-consistency-to-it-but-what-i-like-about-the-tv/) [Jurnee Smollett-Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurnee-smollett-bell/) > [I'm a research queen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurnee-smollett-bell/i-m-a-research-queen/) [Jurnee Smollett-Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurnee-smollett-bell/) > [I'm very grateful to have been able to work with so many talented filmmakers and actors during my career. I've learned so much from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurnee-smollett-bell/i-m-very-grateful-to-have-been-able-to-work-with-so-many-talented/) [Jurnee Smollett-Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurnee-smollett-bell/) [Explore all 73 Jurnee Smollett-Bell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurnee-smollett-bell/) ## More Nation quotes > [Imagination is the greatest nation in the world!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/imagination-is-the-greatest-nation-in-the-world/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Tell me how much a nation knows about its own language, and I will tell you how much that nation knows about its own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/tell-me-how-much-a-nation-knows-about-its-own-language-and-i-will/) [John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/) > [My dream is to see India as a nation of well-looked-after and respected sportspeople in all fields.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saina-nehwal/my-dream-is-to-see-india-as-a-nation-of-well-looked-after-and/) [Saina Nehwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saina-nehwal/) > [“Patriotism is a fierce love for the nation’s soul - its land, its people, its core, coupled with a burning contempt for a government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/njau-kihia/patriotism-is-a-fierce-love-for-the-nation-s-soul-its-land-its-people/) [Njau Kihia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/njau-kihia/) > [Our nation's promise to have veterans' backs must extend to their families, who for their own service and sacrifices, deserve the full support of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kim/our-nation-s-promise-to-have-veterans-backs-must-extend-to-their/) [Andy Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kim/) > [We must recognize that every nation determines its policies in terms of its own interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-must-recognize-that-every-nation-determines-its-policies-in-terms/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Together, we must prioritize the wellbeing of those who have selflessly served our nation. This is the least that a grateful nation can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-n-green/together-we-must-prioritize-the-wellbeing-of-those-who-have/) [Al N. Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-n-green/) > [We are a nation of innovators and problem-solvers who sparked revolutions in democratic government, civil rights, communications, flight, rural electrification and technology. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-a-mcchrystal/we-are-a-nation-of-innovators-and-problem-solvers-who-sparked/) [Stanley A. McChrystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-a-mcchrystal/) > [This position is untenable, and there can be no pause in the agitation for full political power and responsibility until these are granted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-kelley/this-position-is-untenable-and-there-can-be-no-pause-in-the-agitation/) [Florence Kelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-kelley/) > [Marylanders have led the nation in adopting a balanced approach to revenues and investments because we know that in order to maintain and build…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-malley/marylanders-have-led-the-nation-in-adopting-a-balanced-approach-to/) [Martin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-malley/) > [We need to remain a nation that doesn't just welcome but that celebrates legal immigrants who come here seeking to pursue the American Dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/we-need-to-remain-a-nation-that-doesn-t-just-welcome-but-that/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [China's hyper-growth is causing the world's most populous nation to spin out of the control of its leaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-agnihotri/china-s-hyper-growth-is-causing-the-world-s-most-populous-nation-to/) [Vivek Agnihotri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-agnihotri/) > [A war for a great principle ennobles a nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/a-war-for-a-great-principle-ennobles-a-nation/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [The coffers are full of money and equipment for the Ferguson Police and the Missouri National Guard to put down a potential uprising, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/the-coffers-are-full-of-money-and-equipment-for-the-ferguson-police/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [“If there is anything the leaders in the society or the nations must take note of is to know the importance of justice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/if-there-is-anything-the-leaders-in-the-society-or-the-nations-must/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) [Browse all 2,139 Nation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There's still a really divisive residue in our nation that's called racism and prejudice and oppression and sexism.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jurnee Smollett-Bell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurnee-smollett-bell/there-s-still-a-really-divisive-residue-in-our-nation-that-s-called/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Nation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurnee-smollett-bell/there-s-still-a-really-divisive-residue-in-our-nation-that-s-called/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/654/jurnee-smollett-bell-9329_nation_there-s-still-a-really-divisive-residue_2336369.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/654/jurnee-smollett-bell-9329_nation_there-s-still-a-really-divisive-residue_2336369.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/654/jurnee-smollett-bell-9329_nation_there-s-still-a-really-divisive-residue_2336369.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There's still a really divisive residue in our nation that's called racism and prejudice and oppression and…” — Jurnee Smollett-Bell", "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": "Jurnee Smollett-Bell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurnee-smollett-bell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There's still a really divisive residue...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurnee-smollett-bell/there-s-still-a-really-divisive-residue-in-our-nation-that-s-called/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurnee-smollett-bell/there-s-still-a-really-divisive-residue-in-our-nation-that-s-called/#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 } } ] } ```