--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In this country, some aristocratic…" description: "\"In this country, some aristocratic families automatically categorize persons with dark skin, thick lips, and kinky hair as \"Barias\" [Amharic for slave]..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ed/mengistu-haile-mariam-31262_aristocratic_in-this-country-some-aristocratic-famili_2249190.jpg" --- # In this country, some aristocratic families automatically… ![“In this country, some aristocratic families automatically categorize persons with dark skin, thick lips, and kinky hair as "Barias" [Amharic for slave]... let it be clear to everybody that I shall soon make these ignoramuses stoop and grind corn!” quote by Mengistu Haile Mariam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ed/mengistu-haile-mariam-31262_aristocratic_in-this-country-some-aristocratic-famili_2249190.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ed/mengistu-haile-mariam-31262_aristocratic_in-this-country-some-aristocratic-famili_2249190.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ed/mengistu-haile-mariam-31262_aristocratic_in-this-country-some-aristocratic-famili_2249190.jpg) > “In this country, some aristocratic families automatically categorize persons with dark skin, thick lips, and kinky hair as "Barias" \[Amharic for slave\]... let it be clear to everybody that I shall soon make these ignoramuses stoop and grind corn!” [Mengistu Haile Mariam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mengistu-haile-mariam/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Systemic racism classifies people by physical traits, leading to oppression and forced labor. **In simple terms:** Racism labels and exploits based on appearance. Key Takeaway Challenge and dismantle discriminatory classifications. Themes racism oppression identity justice Mood somber urgent Type political motivational When to use this quote - education reform - policy change - community activism Key Concepts social hierarchy colonial legacy human rights Questions to Reflect On - What steps can reduce racial prejudice? - How can societies heal from historical oppression? A Different Perspective Changing deep-rooted beliefs is difficult and may meet resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aristocratic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristocratic/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark/) [Dark skin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark-skin/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hair/) [Kinky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kinky/) [Kinky hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kinky-hair/) [Lips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lips/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) ## Related quotes > [There was a time in my life when I wasn't popular and accepted by kids in school. I was made fun of with braces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mya/there-was-a-time-in-my-life-when-i-wasn-t-popular-and-accepted-by/) [Mya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mya/) > [“NOTE: The character of Aoleon is deaf. This conversation takes place in the book via sign language... “Feeling a certain kind of way Aoleon?”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-h-robinson/note-the-character-of-aoleon-is-deaf-this-conversation-takes-place-in/) S.H. Robinson > [black isn't beautiful and it isn't ugly - black is! It's not kinky hair and it's not straight hair - it just is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-naylor/black-isn-t-beautiful-and-it-isn-t-ugly-black-is-it-s-not-kinky-hair/) [Gloria Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-naylor/) > [I adore my black skin and my kinky hair. The Negro hair is more educated than the white man's hair. Because with Negro hair,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolina-maria-de-jesus/i-adore-my-black-skin-and-my-kinky-hair-the-negro-hair-is-more/) [Carolina Maria de Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolina-maria-de-jesus/) > [Black women have kinky hair, and we think we have limitations on what we can do. It's interesting that people think, 'Oh this is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kravitz/black-women-have-kinky-hair-and-we-think-we-have-limitations-on-what/) [Zoe Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kravitz/) > [“The Poodle The poodle -- nature’s most perfect food -- was invented by Otto Van Plotsberg in 1872. According to Van Plotsberg he had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elyse-friedman/the-poodle-the-poodle-nature-s-most-perfect-food-was-invented-by-otto/) Elyse Friedman > [“ When they arrived at his apartment, Allen's roommate Tim, was lying on the faux black leather sofa in the living room watching an NBA…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-mathis-stowe/when-they-arrived-at-his-apartment-allen-s-roommate-tim-was-lying-on/) Monica Mathis-Stowe > [I called it Kinko’s because of my nickname — because I had this really kinky hair. If you think about it, the first thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-orfalea/i-called-it-kinko-s-because-of-my-nickname-because-i-had-this-really/) [Paul Orfalea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-orfalea/) > [Because of writers like Chinua Achebe and Camara Laye … I realized that people like me, girls with skin the color of chocolate, whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/because-of-writers-like-chinua-achebe-and-camara-laye-i-realized-that/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [“The truth was that, with the Duchess de Luxembourg, with Mme de Morienval, Mme de Saint-Euverte and any number of others, the features that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/the-truth-was-that-with-the-duchess-de-luxembourg-with-mme-de/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [One main condition of aristocratic life was present in the South and not in the North--personal responsibility to other human beings for education and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/one-main-condition-of-aristocratic-life-was-present-in-the-south-and/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [It will be said that the joy of mental adventure must be rare, that there are few who can appreciate it, and that ordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/it-will-be-said-that-the-joy-of-mental-adventure-must-be-rare-that/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Where there is no danger of overt action there is rarely any interference with freedom. That is why there has so often been amazing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/where-there-is-no-danger-of-overt-action-there-is-rarely-any/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [Aristocratic depression has this cosmic dimension to it, where it's asking these big questions about, "Why?" "What is the purpose of all this?" Neuroses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-douglas/aristocratic-depression-has-this-cosmic-dimension-to-it-where-it-s/) [Lawrence Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-douglas/) > [“I have an aristocratic smile and like to punch people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/i-have-an-aristocratic-smile-and-like-to-punch-people/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) ## More by Mengistu Haile Mariam > [I'm a military man, I did what I did only because my country had to be saved from tribalism and feudalism. If I failed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mengistu-haile-mariam/i-m-a-military-man-i-did-what-i-did-only-because-my-country-had-to-be/) [Mengistu Haile Mariam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mengistu-haile-mariam/) > [From now on you must pray for your people and yourself three times a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mengistu-haile-mariam/from-now-on-you-must-pray-for-your-people-and-yourself-three-times-a/) [Mengistu Haile Mariam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mengistu-haile-mariam/) > [Mengistu is a barbaric and cruel creature who becomes happy with the death of human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mengistu-haile-mariam/mengistu-is-a-barbaric-and-cruel-creature-who-becomes-happy-with-the/) [Mengistu Haile Mariam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mengistu-haile-mariam/) > [We thought that the proletariat would eventually run the world. But it is the Americans who have assumed that position... The American people have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mengistu-haile-mariam/we-thought-that-the-proletariat-would-eventually-run-the-world-but-it/) [Mengistu Haile Mariam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mengistu-haile-mariam/) > [Mengistu seemed to symbolize the revolution. He was the baria, the slave who overthrew the master, the member of the conquered tribe who got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mengistu-haile-mariam/mengistu-seemed-to-symbolize-the-revolution-he-was-the-baria-the/) [Mengistu Haile Mariam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mengistu-haile-mariam/) > [When was in prison I admired him for his moral strength... Of his period in power I can see few results. Apartheid no longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mengistu-haile-mariam/when-was-in-prison-i-admired-him-for-his-moral-strength-of-his-period/) [Mengistu Haile Mariam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mengistu-haile-mariam/) > [After Mengistu consolidated his power in 1978, his personality gradually began to change. His ability to listen and his patience faded away. We could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mengistu-haile-mariam/after-mengistu-consolidated-his-power-in-1978-his-personality/) [Mengistu Haile Mariam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mengistu-haile-mariam/) > [I am a revolutionary; my life is dedicated to freeing the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mengistu-haile-mariam/i-am-a-revolutionary-my-life-is-dedicated-to-freeing-the-people/) [Mengistu Haile Mariam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mengistu-haile-mariam/) > [When we planned our country's economic development, we had the strategic objective of our Revolution in mind. It was not planned for economic development…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mengistu-haile-mariam/when-we-planned-our-country-s-economic-development-we-had-the/) [Mengistu Haile Mariam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mengistu-haile-mariam/) > [ When \[Nelson Mandela\] was in prison I admired him for his moral strength... Of his period in power I can see few results. Apartheid… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mengistu-haile-mariam/when-nelson-mandela-was-in-prison-i-admired-him-for-his-moral/) [Mengistu Haile Mariam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mengistu-haile-mariam/) > [One of the fundamental preconditions of successful socialist construction is to ensure the people's readiness to defend themselves from the ravages of probable regional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mengistu-haile-mariam/one-of-the-fundamental-preconditions-of-successful-socialist/) [Mengistu Haile Mariam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mengistu-haile-mariam/) > [Henceforth we will tackle our enemies that come face to face with us and we will not be stabbed in from behind by internal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mengistu-haile-mariam/henceforth-we-will-tackle-our-enemies-that-come-face-to-face-with-us/) [Mengistu Haile Mariam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mengistu-haile-mariam/) > [ Ethiopia did not have the same problem \[of corruption\]. African leaders looked at us with envy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mengistu-haile-mariam/ethiopia-did-not-have-the-same-problem-of-corruption-african-leaders/) [Mengistu Haile Mariam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mengistu-haile-mariam/) > [Everything Mengistu has done since 1977 has been to place himself in a position of uncontestable power. Neither Haile Selassie nor any of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mengistu-haile-mariam/everything-mengistu-has-done-since-1977-has-been-to-place-himself-in/) [Mengistu Haile Mariam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mengistu-haile-mariam/) > [Mengistu does not understand the meaning of self-determination, either historically or in the abstract. He cannot conceive of a nation as anything but an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mengistu-haile-mariam/mengistu-does-not-understand-the-meaning-of-self-determination-either/) [Mengistu Haile Mariam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mengistu-haile-mariam/) [Explore all 16 Mengistu Haile Mariam quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mengistu-haile-mariam/) ## More Aristocratic quotes > [“I have an aristocratic smile and like to punch people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/i-have-an-aristocratic-smile-and-like-to-punch-people/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [Aristocratic depression has this cosmic dimension to it, where it's asking these big questions about, "Why?" "What is the purpose of all this?" Neuroses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-douglas/aristocratic-depression-has-this-cosmic-dimension-to-it-where-it-s/) [Lawrence Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-douglas/) > [Where there is no danger of overt action there is rarely any interference with freedom. That is why there has so often been amazing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/where-there-is-no-danger-of-overt-action-there-is-rarely-any/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [It will be said that the joy of mental adventure must be rare, that there are few who can appreciate it, and that ordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/it-will-be-said-that-the-joy-of-mental-adventure-must-be-rare-that/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [One main condition of aristocratic life was present in the South and not in the North--personal responsibility to other human beings for education and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/one-main-condition-of-aristocratic-life-was-present-in-the-south-and/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [“The truth was that, with the Duchess de Luxembourg, with Mme de Morienval, Mme de Saint-Euverte and any number of others, the features that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/the-truth-was-that-with-the-duchess-de-luxembourg-with-mme-de/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [History is the most aristocratic of all literary pursuits, because it obliges the historian to be rich as well as educated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/history-is-the-most-aristocratic-of-all-literary-pursuits-because-it/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [I do keep getting these bad girl roles. The funny thing is that, honestly, I don't think I'm believable as these aristocratic mean girls.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mcgrath/i-do-keep-getting-these-bad-girl-roles-the-funny-thing-is-that/) [Katie McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mcgrath/) > [The old idea that the joke was not good enough for the company has been superseded by the new aristocratic idea that the company…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-old-idea-that-the-joke-was-not-good-enough-for-the-company-has/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [“He admired her for throwing off her aristocratic shackles -- his terms, that -- and making her own way in the world. He didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-willig/he-admired-her-for-throwing-off-her-aristocratic-shackles-his-terms/) [Lauren Willig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-willig/) > [You are the only woman who has a sense of gaiety, a wise tolerance - no more, you seem to urge me to betray…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/you-are-the-only-woman-who-has-a-sense-of-gaiety-a-wise-tolerance-no/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [When we consider the close connection between science and industrial development on the one hand, and between literary and aesthetic cultivation and an aristocratic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/when-we-consider-the-close-connection-between-science-and-industrial/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [Though, with the ascendancy of Louis, the political power of the nobles finally came to an end, France remained, in the whole complexion of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lytton-strachey/though-with-the-ascendancy-of-louis-the-political-power-of-the-nobles/) [Lytton Strachey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lytton-strachey/) > [In aristocratic societies, rich people used to commission exquisite paintings for their walls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-holland/in-aristocratic-societies-rich-people-used-to-commission-exquisite/) [Brad Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-holland/) > [Politics of all sorts, I confess, are far beyond my limited powers of comprehension. Those of this country as far as I have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fanny-kemble/politics-of-all-sorts-i-confess-are-far-beyond-my-limited-powers-of/) [Fanny Kemble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fanny-kemble/) [Browse all 99 Aristocratic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristocratic/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In this country, some aristocratic families automatically categorize persons with dark skin, thick lips, and kinky hair as \"Barias\" [Amharic for slave]... let it be clear to everybody that I shall soon make these ignoramuses stoop and grind corn!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mengistu Haile Mariam" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mengistu-haile-mariam/in-this-country-some-aristocratic-families-automatically-categorize/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aristocratic" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mengistu-haile-mariam/in-this-country-some-aristocratic-families-automatically-categorize/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ed/mengistu-haile-mariam-31262_aristocratic_in-this-country-some-aristocratic-famili_2249190.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ed/mengistu-haile-mariam-31262_aristocratic_in-this-country-some-aristocratic-famili_2249190.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ed/mengistu-haile-mariam-31262_aristocratic_in-this-country-some-aristocratic-famili_2249190.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In this country, some aristocratic families automatically categorize persons with dark skin, thick lips, and…” — Mengistu Haile Mariam", "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": "Mengistu Haile Mariam", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mengistu-haile-mariam/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In this country, some aristocratic families...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mengistu-haile-mariam/in-this-country-some-aristocratic-families-automatically-categorize/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mengistu-haile-mariam/in-this-country-some-aristocratic-families-automatically-categorize/#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 } } ] } ```