Black lives Quote by Mohja Kahf
““You who came of age in the past decade have had eight years of a Black U.S. president, and that gloss looked good, and there were even a few inches gained on some issues such as health care, and maybe that can cause a person to relax a bit. But think of how exponentially drone attacks increased under Obama, how many Black people were shot by police under Obama, because the violence is systemic. How many of the people now hearteningly pledging to sign up for a Muslim registry signed up for a Black Lives Matter or protested the discriminatory immigration program NSEERS? The National Security Entry-Exit Registration System subjected my students from the Middle East to hours of interrogation and intimidation every time they reentered after going home to visit their families, arbitrarily barred tons of innocent people from entry, and was ineffective against terrorism anyway. It's systemic injustice we are after changing, and we should not ever be lulled.””
About This Quote
The speaker critiques superficial progress under a Black president, highlighting systemic injustices like drone warfare and police violence, urging vigilance against complacency.
In simple terms: Superficial gains mask deeper systemic problems.
Stay alert to hidden injustices.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- voting
- activism
- policy advocacy
- education campaigns
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What hidden injustices persist despite visible progress?
- How can we sustain vigilance?
Progress can be misleading without deeper change.