--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Better jobs and housing are only…" description: "\"Better jobs and housing are only temporary solutions. They are aspects of tokenism and don't go to the heart of the problem.\" — Malcolm X" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bd/malcolm-x-213_aspect_better-jobs-and-housing-are-only-tempora_2367606.jpg" --- # Better jobs and housing are only temporary solutions. They… ![“Better jobs and housing are only temporary solutions. They are aspects of tokenism and don't go to the heart of the problem.” quote by Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bd/malcolm-x-213_aspect_better-jobs-and-housing-are-only-tempora_2367606.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bd/malcolm-x-213_aspect_better-jobs-and-housing-are-only-tempora_2367606.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bd/malcolm-x-213_aspect_better-jobs-and-housing-are-only-tempora_2367606.jpg) > “Better jobs and housing are only temporary solutions. They are aspects of tokenism and don't go to the heart of the problem.” [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Temporary fixes like jobs and housing address symptoms, not the systemic roots of inequality. **In simple terms:** Short‑term solutions don’t solve deep problems. Key Takeaway Address underlying causes, not just symptoms. Themes social justice systemic inequality policy Mood critical urgent Type political activist When to use this quote - housing policy - employment programs - community activism Key Concepts structural change economic theory Questions to Reflect On - What structural changes are needed? - How can we sustain long‑term solutions? A Different Perspective Quick fixes may be politically easier. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-jobs/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Housing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/housing/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) ## Related quotes > [The white man will keep on granting tokenism; a few big Negroes will get big jobs, but the black masses will catch hell as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/the-white-man-will-keep-on-granting-tokenism-a-few-big-negroes-will/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Now the white man's time is over. Tokenism will not help him, and it will doom us. Complete separation will save us - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/now-the-white-man-s-time-is-over-tokenism-will-not-help-him-and-it/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Temporary solutions often become permanent problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-bruce/temporary-solutions-often-become-permanent-problems/) [Craig Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-bruce/) > [Many hard working people in low paid jobs get housing benefit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/many-hard-working-people-in-low-paid-jobs-get-housing-benefit/) [Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/) > [It has been nine years since the Supreme Court decision outlawing segregated schools, yet less than ten per cent of the Negro students in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/it-has-been-nine-years-since-the-supreme-court-decision-outlawing/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Climate has always changed year on year and is unstoppable as a phenomenon. I am sceptical of the 'evidence' being presented as fact and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-donohoe/climate-has-always-changed-year-on-year-and-is-unstoppable-as-a/) Brian Donohoe > [Tokenism does not change stereotypes of social systems but works to preserve them, since it dulls the revolutionary impulse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-daly/tokenism-does-not-change-stereotypes-of-social-systems-but-works-to/) [Mary Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-daly/) > [ The same is true of ranking him thus against any work of literature. \[Bob Dylan\] has been made, through no fault of his own,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bennun/the-same-is-true-of-ranking-him-thus-against-any-work-of-literature/) [David Bennun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bennun/) > [ \[On President Bush's plan to get to Mars in 10 years\] Stupid. Robots would do a better job and be much cheaper because you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/on-president-bush-s-plan-to-get-to-mars-in-10-years-stupid-robots/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [Sir Alex, Mourinho, Wenger - none of them could have done a better job at Wigan than Steve Bruce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-martin/sir-alex-mourinho-wenger-none-of-them-could-have-done-a-better-job-at/) [Alvin Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-martin/) > [I don't mean to imply that we are in imminent danger of being wiped off the face of the earth - at least, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-claussen/i-don-t-mean-to-imply-that-we-are-in-imminent-danger-of-being-wiped/) [Eileen Claussen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-claussen/) > [Every cancer looks different. Every cancer has similarities to other cancers. And we're trying to milk those differences and similarities to do a better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-e-varmus/every-cancer-looks-different-every-cancer-has-similarities-to-other/) [Harold E. Varmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-e-varmus/) > [Education makes children less dependent upon others and opens doors to better jobs and career possibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-ortiz/education-makes-children-less-dependent-upon-others-and-opens-doors/) [Solomon Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-ortiz/) > [American products are better than the Chinese. We do a better job. We make better products. But because the currency is so low versus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/american-products-are-better-than-the-chinese-we-do-a-better-job-we/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [We're living in a technological world. You cannot tell me we can't do a better job getting that information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-re-living-in-a-technological-world-you-cannot-tell-me-we-can-t-do/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) ## More by Malcolm X > [If Christianity had asserted itself in Germany, six million Jews would have lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/if-christianity-had-asserted-itself-in-germany-six-million-jews-would/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Adam Clayton Powell's entire political career has to be looked at in the entire context of the American history and the history of, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/adam-clayton-powell-s-entire-political-career-has-to-be-looked-at-in/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [American civil rights leader, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? Lynching is a murder. For the past four hundred years our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/american-civil-rights-leader-where-do-we-go-from-here-chaos-or/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Be nonviolent only with those who are nonviolent to you. And when you can bring me a nonviolent racist, bring me a nonviolent segregationist,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/be-nonviolent-only-with-those-who-are-nonviolent-to-you-and-when-you/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [You can't legislate good will - that comes through education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/you-can-t-legislate-good-will-that-comes-through-education/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Truth is on the side of the oppressed today, it's against the oppressor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/truth-is-on-the-side-of-the-oppressed-today-it-s-against-the-oppressor/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Those type of whites who are always going to jail with Negroes are the ones who tell Negroes to be loving and be kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/those-type-of-whites-who-are-always-going-to-jail-with-negroes-are/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [We Muslims believe that the white race, which is guilty of having oppressed and exploited and enslaved our people here in America, should and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/we-muslims-believe-that-the-white-race-which-is-guilty-of-having/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I mean a real police state just to get a token recognition of a law. It take, it took, I think, 15,000 troops and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/i-mean-a-real-police-state-just-to-get-a-token-recognition-of-a-law/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Like Samson, I am ready to pull down the white man's temple, knowing full well that I will be destroyed by the falling rubble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/like-samson-i-am-ready-to-pull-down-the-white-man-s-temple-knowing/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Any negro who occupies a position that was given to him by the white man, if you analyze his function, his function never enables…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/any-negro-who-occupies-a-position-that-was-given-to-him-by-the-white/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Stumbling is not falling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/stumbling-is-not-falling/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [God is going to punish the white man for his misdeeds toward black people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/god-is-going-to-punish-the-white-man-for-his-misdeeds-toward-black/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Much of what I say might sound like it's stirring up trouble, but it's the truth!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/much-of-what-i-say-might-sound-like-it-s-stirring-up-trouble-but-it-s/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I believe in the brotherhood of all men, but I don't believe in wasting brotherhood on anyone who doesn't want to practice it with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/i-believe-in-the-brotherhood-of-all-men-but-i-don-t-believe-in/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) [Explore all 891 Malcolm X quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) ## More Aspect quotes > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? Because all else is temporary, while beauty and wisdom are the only real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/why-is-wisdom-so-fair-why-is-beauty-so-wise-because-all-else-is/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [It is according to the shapes that I lay the plans for victory, but the multitude does not comprehend this. Although everyone can see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-according-to-the-shapes-that-i-lay-the-plans-for-victory-but/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [I believe that simple, consistent shifts in our thinking and actions can lead to the miraculous in all aspects of our daily lives, including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/i-believe-that-simple-consistent-shifts-in-our-thinking-and-actions/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [There is so much temptation to hold on to my career even more now. To try to micromanage and dictate every little aspect. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/there-is-so-much-temptation-to-hold-on-to-my-career-even-more-now-to/) [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) > [I do miss the social aspect of sitting in a pub with a pint but you know what when I get down to it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/i-do-miss-the-social-aspect-of-sitting-in-a-pub-with-a-pint-but-you/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [Some say that you should not want money at all because the desire for money is materialistic and not Spiritual. But we want you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/some-say-that-you-should-not-want-money-at-all-because-the-desire-for/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [Death is but an aspect of life, and the destruction of one material form is but a prelude to building up of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/death-is-but-an-aspect-of-life-and-the-destruction-of-one-material/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I would call myself a Gnostic. Which means, I'm interested in pursuing and understanding the spiritual nature of things. A Gnostic is somebody seeking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crumb/i-would-call-myself-a-gnostic-which-means-i-m-interested-in-pursuing/) [Robert Crumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crumb/) > [One can be a great artist without being a great technician. There have been many famous ballet stars who did not have the ideal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-bujones/one-can-be-a-great-artist-without-being-a-great-technician-there-have/) Fernando Bujones > [I love fall because I love the whole cuddling aspect of it, and a sweater dress has that vibe of I'm going to hunker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-chastain/i-love-fall-because-i-love-the-whole-cuddling-aspect-of-it-and-a/) [Jessica Chastain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-chastain/) > [The socially redeeming aspect of golf lies in the vast number of lawyers and bankers and managers who play it, and when you think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/the-socially-redeeming-aspect-of-golf-lies-in-the-vast-number-of/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [I didnt like the Survivor shows because of the mean-spirited aspect, and women certainly were part of whatever conflict they would create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-lawrence/i-didnt-like-the-survivor-shows-because-of-the-mean-spirited-aspect/) [Sharon Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-lawrence/) > [MAC allowed me to have complete freedom on the collaborations—from the shades, the look-and-feel, to the campaign visuals. I have to admit that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-treacy/mac-allowed-me-to-have-complete-freedom-on-the-collaborations-from/) [Philip Treacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-treacy/) > [I mean family is more important than anything in life. Family is important than my crew, D-Block, my rap career anything... It's the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/styles-p/i-mean-family-is-more-important-than-anything-in-life-family-is/) [Styles P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/styles-p/) > [Wealth is measured by the level of experience in all aspects of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/wealth-is-measured-by-the-level-of-experience-in-all-aspects-of-life/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) Browse all 3,171 Aspect quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Better jobs and housing are only temporary solutions. 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