--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The American Negro never can be blamed…" description: "\"The American Negro never can be blamed for his racial animosities - he is only reacting to four hundred years of the conscious racism of the American w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/614/malcolm-x-213_animosity_the-american-negro-never-can-be-blamed-f_3223949.jpg" --- # The American Negro never can be blamed for his racial… ![“The American Negro never can be blamed for his racial animosities - he is only reacting to four hundred years of the conscious racism of the American whites.” quote by Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/614/malcolm-x-213_animosity_the-american-negro-never-can-be-blamed-f_3223949.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/614/malcolm-x-213_animosity_the-american-negro-never-can-be-blamed-f_3223949.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/614/malcolm-x-213_animosity_the-american-negro-never-can-be-blamed-f_3223949.jpg) > “The American Negro never can be blamed for his racial animosities - he is only reacting to four hundred years of the conscious racism of the American whites.” [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. He argues that Black anger is a response to centuries of systemic racism by whites, not an inherent trait. **In simple terms:** Black anger stems from historic racism. Key Takeaway Recognize systemic roots of racial tension. Themes racism history justice Mood reflective serious Type historical political When to use this quote - civil rights activism - education - policy reform - community dialogue Key Concepts systemic oppression reactive behavior Questions to Reflect On - How can societies address historic grievances? A Different Perspective Does focusing on blame hinder reconciliation? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animosity/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) ## Related quotes > [The American Negro never can be blamed for his racial animosities - he is only reacting to 400 years of the conscious racism of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/the-american-negro-never-can-be-blamed-for-his-racial-animosities-he/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I believe we should work to end all racism in American society and staunchly defend the inherent rights of every person. I have clearly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-believe-we-should-work-to-end-all-racism-in-american-society-and-2/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I believe we should work to end all racism in American society and staunchly defend the inherent rights of every person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-believe-we-should-work-to-end-all-racism-in-american-society-and/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I might add how in the world can you say, or can anyone say, that it will dignify the American Negro to beg in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/i-might-add-how-in-the-world-can-you-say-or-can-anyone-say-that-it/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [The American Negro has no conception of the hundreds of millions of other non-whites' concern for him: he has no conception of their feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/the-american-negro-has-no-conception-of-the-hundreds-of-millions-of/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [You know, if ever there was a people who should know how to practice brotherhood, it is the American Negro and it is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/you-know-if-ever-there-was-a-people-who-should-know-how-to-practice/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I think that the problem of the American negro goes beyond the principle of any organization whether it's a religious, political, or otherwise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/i-think-that-the-problem-of-the-american-negro-goes-beyond-the/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I don't think that the objective of the American negro is white middle-class values because what are white middle-class values?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/i-don-t-think-that-the-objective-of-the-american-negro-is-white/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [The American Negro has been entirely brainwashed from ever seeing or thinking of himself, as he should, as a part of the non-white peoples…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/the-american-negro-has-been-entirely-brainwashed-from-ever-seeing-or/) [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/) > [Never have I witnessed such sincere hospitality and the overwhelming spirit of true brotherhood as is practiced by people of all colours and races…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/never-have-i-witnessed-such-sincere-hospitality-and-the-overwhelming/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [After I made my tour in the Middle, into the Middle-East and Africa and visited Mecca and other places, I think that the separation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/after-i-made-my-tour-in-the-middle-into-the-middle-east-and-africa/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Since I learned the truth in Mecca, my dearest friends have come to include all kinds -- some Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, agnostics, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/since-i-learned-the-truth-in-mecca-my-dearest-friends-have-come-to/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [When I was in Mecca I noticed that their, they had no color problem. That they had people there whose eyes were blue and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/when-i-was-in-mecca-i-noticed-that-their-they-had-no-color-problem/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [The whites of the younger generation, in the colleges and universities, will see the handwriting on the wall and many of them will turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/the-whites-of-the-younger-generation-in-the-colleges-and-universities/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) ## 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 Animosity quotes > [Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity, or registering wrongs. With this creed, revenge never worries my heart, degradation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/life-appears-to-me-too-short-to-be-spent-in-nursing-animosity-or/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [We live in a country where there is a lot of animosity. If your politics is radical it antagonises. People might think I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-jones/we-live-in-a-country-where-there-is-a-lot-of-animosity-if-your/) [Owen Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-jones/) > [Life Appears To Be Too Short To Be Spent In Nursing Animosity Or Registering Wrong...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/life-appears-to-be-too-short-to-be-spent-in-nursing-animosity-or/) Pacifiersucker > [You look out into the audience and you see so much joy on people's faces. You make eye contact with people who are almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-mcvie/you-look-out-into-the-audience-and-you-see-so-much-joy-on-people-s/) [Christine McVie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-mcvie/) > [Where there has been racial hatred, it must be ended. Where there has been tribal animosity, it will be finished. Let us not dwell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jomo-kenyatta/where-there-has-been-racial-hatred-it-must-be-ended-where-there-has/) [Jomo Kenyatta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jomo-kenyatta/) > [ \[Football is\] a game that requires the constant conjuring of animosity. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/football-is-a-game-that-requires-the-constant-conjuring-of-animosity/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [“No matter how powerful hate seems, it cannot usurp the throne of love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/no-matter-how-powerful-hate-seems-it-cannot-usurp-the-throne-of-love/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“You could start a fire with the heat between you two." "You're mistaking bitter animosity for heartfelt affection.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-hodkin/you-could-start-a-fire-with-the-heat-between-you-two-you-re-mistaking/) [Michelle Hodkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-hodkin/) > [But if you should take the bond of goodwill out of the universe no house or city could stand, nor would even the tillage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/but-if-you-should-take-the-bond-of-goodwill-out-of-the-universe-no/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [It is extremely interesting to me that black males, and other black folk, are viewed as self-pitying, by either other blacks who have failed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/it-is-extremely-interesting-to-me-that-black-males-and-other-black/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [The second effort was spreading the word among the people, first, in a bid to raise their morale, and second to instil in them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-nasrallah/the-second-effort-was-spreading-the-word-among-the-people-first-in-a/) [Hassan Nasrallah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-nasrallah/) > [I've been in and out of Wall Street since 1949, and I've never seen the type of animosity between government and Wall Street. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/i-ve-been-in-and-out-of-wall-street-since-1949-and-i-ve-never-seen/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [“The Europeans hate us because we’ve retired to live inside our advertisements, like hermits going into caves to contemplate. We sleep in symbolic bedrooms,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-isherwood/the-europeans-hate-us-because-we-ve-retired-to-live-inside-our/) [Christopher Isherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-isherwood/) > [“You're mistaking bitter animosity for heartfelt affection.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-hodkin/you-re-mistaking-bitter-animosity-for-heartfelt-affection/) [Michelle Hodkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-hodkin/) > [What I learned about acting, from my experiences directing, is why so many producers and directors don't like actors. You go through all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-hawke/what-i-learned-about-acting-from-my-experiences-directing-is-why-so/) [Ethan Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-hawke/) [Browse all 187 Animosity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animosity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The American Negro never can be blamed for his racial animosities - he is only reacting to four hundred years of the conscious racism of the American whites.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Malcolm X" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/the-american-negro-never-can-be-blamed-for-his-racial-animosities-he-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Animosity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/the-american-negro-never-can-be-blamed-for-his-racial-animosities-he-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/614/malcolm-x-213_animosity_the-american-negro-never-can-be-blamed-f_3223949.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/614/malcolm-x-213_animosity_the-american-negro-never-can-be-blamed-f_3223949.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/614/malcolm-x-213_animosity_the-american-negro-never-can-be-blamed-f_3223949.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The American Negro never can be blamed for his racial animosities - he is only reacting to four hundred…” — Malcolm X", "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": "Malcolm X", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The American Negro never can be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/the-american-negro-never-can-be-blamed-for-his-racial-animosities-he-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/the-american-negro-never-can-be-blamed-for-his-racial-animosities-he-2/#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 } } ] } ```