--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Racism is a blight on the human…" description: "\"Racism is a blight on the human conscience. The idea that any people can be inferior to another, to the point where those who consider themselves super..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/nelson-mandela-248_anti-discrimination_racism-is-a-blight-on-the-human-conscien_1586614.jpg" --- # Racism is a blight on the human conscience. The idea that… ![“Racism is a blight on the human conscience. The idea that any people can be inferior to another, to the point where those who consider themselves superior define and treat the rest as subhuman, denies the humanity even of those who elevate themselves to the status of gods.” quote by Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/nelson-mandela-248_anti-discrimination_racism-is-a-blight-on-the-human-conscien_1586614.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/nelson-mandela-248_anti-discrimination_racism-is-a-blight-on-the-human-conscien_1586614.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/nelson-mandela-248_anti-discrimination_racism-is-a-blight-on-the-human-conscien_1586614.jpg) > “Racism is a blight on the human conscience. The idea that any people can be inferior to another, to the point where those who consider themselves superior define and treat the rest as subhuman, denies the humanity even of those who elevate themselves to the status of gods.” [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Racism dehumanizes both victims and perpetrators, eroding moral conscience and social cohesion. **In simple terms:** Racism harms everyone. Key Takeaway Challenge and, promote equality. Themes justice human rights morality Mood somber determined Type political ethical When to use this quote - education - policy making - community dialogue - activism Key Concepts dehumanization social hierarchy Questions to Reflect On - How does racism affect the oppressor's humanity? - What steps can individuals take to confront everyday racism? A Different Perspective Racism can be entrenched by cultural narratives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anti discrimination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anti-discrimination/) [Anti racist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anti-racist/) [Apartheid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apartheid/) [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) ## Related quotes > [Racism is a blight on the human conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/racism-is-a-blight-on-the-human-conscience/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [We as Aboriginal people still have to fight to prove that we are straight out plain human beings, the same as everyone else. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neville-bonner/we-as-aboriginal-people-still-have-to-fight-to-prove-that-we-are/) Neville Bonner > [I hate race discrimination most intensely and in all its manifestations. I have fought it all during my life; I fight it now, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/i-hate-race-discrimination-most-intensely-and-in-all-its/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [Love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/love-comes-more-naturally-to-the-human-heart-than-its-opposite/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/i-have-fought-against-white-domination-and-i-have-fought-against/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/no-one-is-born-hating-another-person-because-of-the-colour-of-his-3/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [My message to the world is to surrender your ego: try not to think that you are not as fortunate as some people or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manal-al-sharif/my-message-to-the-world-is-to-surrender-your-ego-try-not-to-think/) [Manal al-Sharif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manal-al-sharif/) > [Our problem is that we make the mistake of comparing ourselves to other people. You are not inferior or superior to any human being...You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/our-problem-is-that-we-make-the-mistake-of-comparing-ourselves-to/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [“Being a dick is when you're so self-centered, you think your ideas are pretty much the only worthy ones, and you secretly believe other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-mcmillan/being-a-dick-is-when-you-re-so-self-centered-you-think-your-ideas-are/) [Tracy McMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-mcmillan/) > [Black people are inferior to Caucasians. Blacks constitute a totally distinct group; they overshadow the country with the germ... of evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wilmot/black-people-are-inferior-to-caucasians-blacks-constitute-a-totally/) David Wilmot > [If I could take all my parts with me when I go somewhere / and not have to say to one of them, ‘No,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-parker/if-i-could-take-all-my-parts-with-me-when-i-go-somewhere-and-not-have/) Pat Parker > [Affirmative action is the most important modern anti-discrimination technique ever instituted in the United States. It is the one tool that has had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-holmes-norton/affirmative-action-is-the-most-important-modern-anti-discrimination/) [Eleanor Holmes Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-holmes-norton/) > [Countries with more gender equality have better economic growth. Companies with more women leaders perform better. Peace agreements that include women are more durable.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/countries-with-more-gender-equality-have-better-economic-growth/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [I believe that those who promote discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or any other grounds are gravely mistaken about the values that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/i-believe-that-those-who-promote-discrimination-on-the-basis-of-2/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [I resolutely believe that respect for diversity is a fundamental pillar in the eradication of racism, xenophobia and intolerance. There is no excuse for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/i-resolutely-believe-that-respect-for-diversity-is-a-fundamental/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) ## More by Nelson Mandela > [We must work together to ensure the equitable distribution of wealth, opportunity and power in our society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/we-must-work-together-to-ensure-the-equitable-distribution-of-wealth/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [Especially for those of us who lived in single cells, you had the time to sit down and think, and we discovered that sitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/especially-for-those-of-us-who-lived-in-single-cells-you-had-the-time/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [If you don't allow people to contribute, to offer their point of view, or to criticize what has been put before them, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/if-you-don-t-allow-people-to-contribute-to-offer-their-point-of-view/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [Courageous people do not fear forgiving, for the sake of peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/courageous-people-do-not-fear-forgiving-for-the-sake-of-peace/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [As a leader... I have always endeavored to listen to what each and every person in a discussion had to say before venturing my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/as-a-leader-i-have-always-endeavored-to-listen-to-what-each-and-every/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [Some of the mission groups that have been responsible for our education have not been part of the government. In fact, they acted contrary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/some-of-the-mission-groups-that-have-been-responsible-for-our/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [“I believed that I would become a counsellor to the Thembu king,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/i-believed-that-i-would-become-a-counsellor-to-the-thembu-king/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [What he means by this is that instead of saying you'll "try", you need to "do". And as we let our light shine, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/what-he-means-by-this-is-that-instead-of-saying-you-ll-try-you-need/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/i-learned-that-courage-was-not-the-absence-of-fear-but-the-triumph/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [We need to exert ourselves that much more, and break out of the vicious cycle of dependence imposed on us by the financially powerful:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/we-need-to-exert-ourselves-that-much-more-and-break-out-of-the/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [“Prison is a still point in a turning world, and it is very easy to remain in the same place in jail while the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/prison-is-a-still-point-in-a-turning-world-and-it-is-very-easy-to/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [A fundamental concern for others in our individual and community lives would go a long way in making the world the better place we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/a-fundamental-concern-for-others-in-our-individual-and-community/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [I am aware of what the position is in the United States of America. If somebody gives to charity, then he gets a tax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/i-am-aware-of-what-the-position-is-in-the-united-states-of-america-if/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [It is our duty to give support to the brother leader ... especially in regards to the sanctions which are not hitting just him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/it-is-our-duty-to-give-support-to-the-brother-leader-especially-in/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [It was during those long and lonely years that my hunger for the freedom of our own people became a hunger for the freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/it-was-during-those-long-and-lonely-years-that-my-hunger-for-the/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) [Explore all 809 Nelson Mandela quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) ## More Anti discrimination quotes > [I resolutely believe that respect for diversity is a fundamental pillar in the eradication of racism, xenophobia and intolerance. There is no excuse for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/i-resolutely-believe-that-respect-for-diversity-is-a-fundamental/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [I believe that those who promote discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or any other grounds are gravely mistaken about the values that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/i-believe-that-those-who-promote-discrimination-on-the-basis-of-2/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [Countries with more gender equality have better economic growth. Companies with more women leaders perform better. Peace agreements that include women are more durable.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/countries-with-more-gender-equality-have-better-economic-growth/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/i-have-fought-against-white-domination-and-i-have-fought-against/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [Affirmative action is the most important modern anti-discrimination technique ever instituted in the United States. It is the one tool that has had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-holmes-norton/affirmative-action-is-the-most-important-modern-anti-discrimination/) [Eleanor Holmes Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-holmes-norton/) > [No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/no-one-is-born-hating-another-person-because-of-the-colour-of-his-3/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [If I could take all my parts with me when I go somewhere / and not have to say to one of them, ‘No,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-parker/if-i-could-take-all-my-parts-with-me-when-i-go-somewhere-and-not-have/) Pat Parker > [“The law is well alive. If one cuts it, it will bleed. Consequently, my only lingering concern is to determine its apposite transgressor regardless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-boies/the-law-is-well-alive-if-one-cuts-it-it-will-bleed-consequently-my/) Jerry Boies > [While we have some of the toughest anti-discrimination laws in the world, we are blind to some of the most flagrant discrimination - against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-raab/while-we-have-some-of-the-toughest-anti-discrimination-laws-in-the/) [Dominic Raab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-raab/) > [If you're a print shop and you are a gay man, should you be forced to print 'God Hates Fags' for the Westboro Baptist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/if-you-re-a-print-shop-and-you-are-a-gay-man-should-you-be-forced-to/) [Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/) > [I hate race discrimination most intensely and in all its manifestations. I have fought it all during my life; I fight it now, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/i-hate-race-discrimination-most-intensely-and-in-all-its/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [“This is the league’s anti-discrimination policy. I looked it up. Everything is, uh, covered.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarina-bowen/this-is-the-league-s-anti-discrimination-policy-i-looked-it-up/) [Sarina Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarina-bowen/) > [I am arguing that it is a mistake for trans activists to focus our resources and attention on winning inclusion in legal equality frameworks,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-spade/i-am-arguing-that-it-is-a-mistake-for-trans-activists-to-focus-our/) [Dean Spade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-spade/) > [We're still fighting to make sure that basic anti-discrimination laws are enforced, not just at the federal level, by the way, but throughout government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-re-still-fighting-to-make-sure-that-basic-anti-discrimination-laws/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We as Aboriginal people still have to fight to prove that we are straight out plain human beings, the same as everyone else. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neville-bonner/we-as-aboriginal-people-still-have-to-fight-to-prove-that-we-are/) Neville Bonner [Browse all 19 Anti discrimination quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anti-discrimination/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Racism is a blight on the human conscience. 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