--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's something wrong in a nation where…" description: "\"There's something wrong in a nation where six million black men are not allowed to vote because they were convicted of felonies. They've paid their due..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68f/martin-luther-king-iii-5061_men_there-s-something-wrong-in-a-nation-wher_422584.jpg" --- # There's something wrong in a nation where six million… ![“There's something wrong in a nation where six million black men are not allowed to vote because they were convicted of felonies. They've paid their dues to society, but yet their right to vote is not reinstated.” quote by Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68f/martin-luther-king-iii-5061_men_there-s-something-wrong-in-a-nation-wher_422584.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68f/martin-luther-king-iii-5061_men_there-s-something-wrong-in-a-nation-wher_422584.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68f/martin-luther-king-iii-5061_men_there-s-something-wrong-in-a-nation-wher_422584.jpg) > “There's something wrong in a nation where six million black men are not allowed to vote because they were convicted of felonies. They've paid their dues to society, but yet their right to vote is not reinstated.” [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights systemic disenfranchisement of Black men convicted of felonies, emphasizing that paying societal dues should restore voting rights. **In simple terms:** Felons are denied voting despite paying their dues. Key Takeaway Restore voting rights to those who have served. Themes justice civil rights voting systemic racism reparations Mood concerned determined Type political advocacy When to use this quote - criminal justice reform - voter registration drives - community advocacy Key Concepts civil rights law reentry electoral policy Questions to Reflect On - How can societies balance punishment with civic reintegration? - What policies best ensure fair voting access? A Different Perspective Reinstating rights may face political resistance and legal hurdles. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/) ## Related quotes > [Victor Hugo said you can stop an invasion of armies, but you can never stop an invasion of ideas. There's nothing more powerful than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/victor-hugo-said-you-can-stop-an-invasion-of-armies-but-you-can-never/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Unless they can pass the same test that immigrants must pass to become citizens, people shouldnt be allowed to vote. The idea that there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/unless-they-can-pass-the-same-test-that-immigrants-must-pass-to/) [Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/) > [Only native male citizens with a wife and children, a property, and a military rank should be allowed to vote and be elected for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varg-vikernes/only-native-male-citizens-with-a-wife-and-children-a-property-and-a/) [Varg Vikernes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varg-vikernes/) > [The seminal right of the modern civil rights movement was the right to vote. My father fought so diligently for it. Certainly Congressman John…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/the-seminal-right-of-the-modern-civil-rights-movement-was-the-right/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [I think if people value democracy, they had damn well better get out and exercise their right to vote while their vote still means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-weir/i-think-if-people-value-democracy-they-had-damn-well-better-get-out/) [Bob Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-weir/) > [Let us not return to the old battlefield where so many shed blood and tears for the right to vote. Instead let us move…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-veasey/let-us-not-return-to-the-old-battlefield-where-so-many-shed-blood-and/) [Marc Veasey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-veasey/) > [Susan B. Anthony must be turning in her grave if she knew that millions of women who have the right to vote are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-m-kunin/susan-b-anthony-must-be-turning-in-her-grave-if-she-knew-that/) [Madeleine M. Kunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-m-kunin/) > [“Democracy is about one person, one vote. It’s about all of us coming together to determine the future of our country. It is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/democracy-is-about-one-person-one-vote-it-s-about-all-of-us-coming/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [Too many people struggled, suffered, and died to make it possible for every American to exercise their right to vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/too-many-people-struggled-suffered-and-died-to-make-it-possible-for/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [To me, it's not necessarily about whom you vote for, it's more about the fact that you go out and exercise that right. 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So, maybe my people should be allowed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-nyerere/decisions-made-in-washington-are-more-important-to-us-than-those-made/) [Julius Nyerere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-nyerere/) > [The two things that scare me most about wrestling fans is that they're allowed to vote and allowed to reproduce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-heenan/the-two-things-that-scare-me-most-about-wrestling-fans-is-that-they/) [Bobby Heenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-heenan/) > [Democracy is being allowed to vote for the candidate you dislike least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrne/democracy-is-being-allowed-to-vote-for-the-candidate-you-dislike-least/) [Robert Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrne/) ## More by Martin Luther King III > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [And I think that, at some point, I am, as John Lewis and many others, are a bridge-builder. 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