--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Race is not the stumbling block to…" description: "\"Race is not the stumbling block to progress it once was, in large part because the Civil Rights Act of 1964 made it illegal to discriminate on the basi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93b/norah-vincent-3829_civil-rights_race-is-not-the-stumbling-block-to-progr_150293.jpg" --- # Race is not the stumbling block to progress it once was… ![“Race is not the stumbling block to progress it once was, in large part because the Civil Rights Act of 1964 made it illegal to discriminate on the basis of race.” quote by Norah Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93b/norah-vincent-3829_civil-rights_race-is-not-the-stumbling-block-to-progr_150293.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93b/norah-vincent-3829_civil-rights_race-is-not-the-stumbling-block-to-progr_150293.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93b/norah-vincent-3829_civil-rights_race-is-not-the-stumbling-block-to-progr_150293.jpg) > “Race is not the stumbling block to progress it once was, in large part because the Civil Rights Act of 1964 made it illegal to discriminate on the basis of race.” [Norah Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-vincent/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Legal progress reduced overt racial barriers, but deeper societal challenges remain. **In simple terms:** Civil Rights law helped, but race issues persist. Key Takeaway Recognize both legal gains and ongoing biases. Themes race law progress society Mood thoughtful critical Type essay opinion When to use this quote - workplace - education - policy reform Key Concepts civil rights systemic bias Questions to Reflect On - What hidden biases still affect us? - How can we move beyond legal compliance? A Different Perspective Legal change alone cannot erase prejudice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civil Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-right/) [Civil rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-rights/) [Civil rights act](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-rights-act/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Stumbling block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stumbling-block/) ## Related quotes > [In some states, a very small number of states, it is illegal to discriminate against someone on the basis of their gender identity, transgender…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allyson-robinson/in-some-states-a-very-small-number-of-states-it-is-illegal-to/) [Allyson Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allyson-robinson/) > [It is illegal to discriminate on the basis of pregnancy or gender. It is not illegal to talk about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/it-is-illegal-to-discriminate-on-the-basis-of-pregnancy-or-gender-it/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [When I was at 'Newsweek' magazine - which, you know, this really sounds like I walked four miles in the snow to school -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/when-i-was-at-newsweek-magazine-which-you-know-this-really-sounds/) [Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/) > [“Yeah, there are no more “colored” water fountains, and it’s supposed to be illegal to discriminate, but if I can be forced to sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nic-stone/yeah-there-are-no-more-colored-water-fountains-and-it-s-supposed-to/) Nic Stone > [A black man of my generation born in the late 1960s is more than twice as likely to go to prison in his lifetime…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forman-jr/a-black-man-of-my-generation-born-in-the-late-1960s-is-more-than/) [James Forman, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forman-jr/) > [This is nothing new. We saw this with the Social Security Act, the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Right Act - constitutional challenges…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-cutter/this-is-nothing-new-we-saw-this-with-the-social-security-act-the/) [Stephanie Cutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-cutter/) > [I would have to say all of the civil rights acts, because there were three, and even, say, the Immigration Act, which I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-bird-johnson-robb/i-would-have-to-say-all-of-the-civil-rights-acts-because-there-were/) Lynda Bird Johnson Robb > [“These and other measures, however, seemed relatively inconsequential in 1965 compared to a Big Four that passed by the end of the session: federal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-patterson/these-and-other-measures-however-seemed-relatively-inconsequential-in/) [James T. Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-t-patterson/) > [“In 1866, Congress enforced the abolition of slavery by passing a Civil Rights Act, prohibiting actions that it deemed perpetuated the characteristics of slavery.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rothstein/in-1866-congress-enforced-the-abolition-of-slavery-by-passing-a-civil/) [Richard Rothstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rothstein/) > [We know that there were so many Japanese American soldiers in World War II who were fighting in Europe despite the fact that their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamlyn-tomita/we-know-that-there-were-so-many-japanese-american-soldiers-in-world/) [Tamlyn Tomita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamlyn-tomita/) > [The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was vigorously and vociferously opposed by the Southern states. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed it into law nonetheless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/the-civil-rights-act-of-1964-was-vigorously-and-vociferously-opposed/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [This Civil Rights Act is a challenge to all of us to go to work in our communities and our states, in our homes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/this-civil-rights-act-is-a-challenge-to-all-of-us-to-go-to-work-in/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [“The House adjourned without voting on the bill, but the following year a similar bill—mandating equality in hotels and restaurants open to the public,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands-2/the-house-adjourned-without-voting-on-the-bill-but-the-following-year/) [H.W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands-2/) > [Persistence. Change doesn't happen overnight. You have to stay with it. Rosa Parks helped start the Civil Rights movement in earnest in 1955. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir-sehgal/persistence-change-doesn-t-happen-overnight-you-have-to-stay-with-it/) [Kabir Sehgal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir-sehgal/) > [It was a privilege to serve as the assistant attorney general for civil rights, a role that allowed me to enforce the Civil Rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-perez/it-was-a-privilege-to-serve-as-the-assistant-attorney-general-for/) [Thomas Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-perez/) ## More by Norah Vincent > [Smokers, like so many of us, are mavericks when they're healthy but parasites when they're not. They trash their bodies and then expect the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-vincent/smokers-like-so-many-of-us-are-mavericks-when-they-re-healthy-but/) [Norah Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-vincent/) > [Isn't it curious how quickly a conservative becomes a libertarian when he's caught sinning? There's a lesson in that somewhere, if only the Christian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-vincent/isn-t-it-curious-how-quickly-a-conservative-becomes-a-libertarian/) [Norah Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-vincent/) > [The feminist establishment has made choice a woman's issue. The Christian right has made life a religious issue. Both have made loyalty crucial. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-vincent/the-feminist-establishment-has-made-choice-a-woman-s-issue-the/) [Norah Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-vincent/) > [The twin causes Bin Laden invokes are Islam and Arab self-determination, and armies rise to serve him. No need to convert or dogmatize. Believers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-vincent/the-twin-causes-bin-laden-invokes-are-islam-and-arab-self/) [Norah Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-vincent/) > [Private academic institutions admit the children of alumni because substantial parts of their operating budgets come from the financial contributions of alumni.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-vincent/private-academic-institutions-admit-the-children-of-alumni-because/) [Norah Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-vincent/) > [My gender has roots in my brain, possibly biochemical ones, living very close to the roots of my self-image... Far, far closer than my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-vincent/my-gender-has-roots-in-my-brain-possibly-biochemical-ones-living-very/) [Norah Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-vincent/) > [We are a nation of savages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-vincent/we-are-a-nation-of-savages/) [Norah Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-vincent/) > [Practically as soon as the towers hit the ground on Sept. 11, pundits of the left like Noam Chomsky and Susan Sontag took advantage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-vincent/practically-as-soon-as-the-towers-hit-the-ground-on-sept-11-pundits/) [Norah Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-vincent/) > [Americans love a morality tale, especially one that's been taken from real life. We like facile categories of good and bad, and we like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-vincent/americans-love-a-morality-tale-especially-one-that-s-been-taken-from/) [Norah Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-vincent/) > [People who dislike Oprah's Book Club dislike it for the same reason that they dislike Barnes & Noble. The fact that the two do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-vincent/people-who-dislike-oprah-s-book-club-dislike-it-for-the-same-reason/) [Norah Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-vincent/) > [The candidates who get themselves elected are illusionists and prevaricators of the first order. We expect this of them. 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Their livelihoods depend on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-vincent/publishers-and-writers-are-desperate-to-cash-in-on-the-latest-craze/) [Norah Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-vincent/) > [Because Al Qaeda says it hates the United States, we mistakenly have come to believe that it represents widespread Arab and Muslim dislike for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-vincent/because-al-qaeda-says-it-hates-the-united-states-we-mistakenly-have/) [Norah Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-vincent/) [Explore all 121 Norah Vincent quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-vincent/) ## More Civil rights quotes > [Every one knows that the exercise of military power is forever dangerous to civil rights; and we have had recent instances of violences that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/every-one-knows-that-the-exercise-of-military-power-is-forever/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [I am for freedom of religion, and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendency of one sect over another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-for-freedom-of-religion-and-against-all-maneuvers-to-bring-about/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I speak not for myself, but so those without a voice can be heard. 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Why do we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-tambascio/why-do-we-apologize-for-advocating-for-ourselves-why-do-we-apologize/) Elizabeth Tambascio > [We are a nation of innovators and problem-solvers who sparked revolutions in democratic government, civil rights, communications, flight, rural electrification and technology. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-a-mcchrystal/we-are-a-nation-of-innovators-and-problem-solvers-who-sparked/) [Stanley A. McChrystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-a-mcchrystal/) > [“Mental illness is not something you misunderstand in this era. Get educated because bias is no different than racism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/mental-illness-is-not-something-you-misunderstand-in-this-era-get/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Civil rights leaders are involved in helping poor people. That's what I've been doing all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/civil-rights-leaders-are-involved-in-helping-poor-people-that-s-what/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [I grew up in the early '60s, and there was a lot of civil rights, a lot of unrest in our country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herm-edwards/i-grew-up-in-the-early-60s-and-there-was-a-lot-of-civil-rights-a-lot/) [Herm Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herm-edwards/) > [The great paradox of the civil rights revolution is that instead of enforcing and expanding equality before the law, the revolution created differential rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/the-great-paradox-of-the-civil-rights-revolution-is-that-instead-of/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [The world - and America - has been defined by people who haven't necessarily abided by the laws and the rules. 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