--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Racism in our countries is a fact in that…" description: "\"Racism in our countries is a fact in that the indian is not allowed to be a politician or aspire to being head of state. It has reached the point that ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b90/rigoberta-menchu-13774_aspire_racism-in-our-countries-is-a-fact-in-tha_3048325.jpg" --- # Racism in our countries is a fact in that the indian is… ![“Racism in our countries is a fact in that the indian is not allowed to be a politician or aspire to being head of state. It has reached the point that 99% of the indigenous women have not gone to school. The indigenous are condemned to live in a situation designed to exterminate them. They receive…” quote by Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b90/rigoberta-menchu-13774_aspire_racism-in-our-countries-is-a-fact-in-tha_3048325.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b90/rigoberta-menchu-13774_aspire_racism-in-our-countries-is-a-fact-in-tha_3048325.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b90/rigoberta-menchu-13774_aspire_racism-in-our-countries-is-a-fact-in-tha_3048325.jpg) > “Racism in our countries is a fact in that the indian is not allowed to be a politician or aspire to being head of state. It has reached the point that 99% of the indigenous women have not gone to school. The indigenous are condemned to live in a situation designed to exterminate them. They receive a pittance of a salary, they neither speak nor write the language, politics dictates their situation. Is this slavery? I don't know what it's called. It is not the same as before because we are in modern times.” [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Indigenous peoples face systemic oppression, limited education, and cultural erasure, resembling modern slavery. **In simple terms:** Indigenous face systemic oppression. Key Takeaway Advocate for equity and cultural preservation. Themes human rights indigenous issues education social justice Mood determined hopeful Type advocacy reflective When to use this quote - policy reform - NGO work - community education Key Concepts systemic racism cultural genocide economic marginalization Questions to Reflect On - What policies can empower indigenous communities? - How can education be made accessible? A Different Perspective Solutions require deep structural change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Head of state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/head-of-state/) [Indian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indian/) [Indigenous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indigenous/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Modern times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern-times/) [Politician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politician/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [My stiffest earthly assignment is ended and my major life's work is done. My country is now free and I have been honoured to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nnamdi-azikiwe/my-stiffest-earthly-assignment-is-ended-and-my-major-life-s-work-is/) [Nnamdi Azikiwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nnamdi-azikiwe/) > [What is a country without rabbits and partridges? They are among the most simple and indigenous animal products; ancient and venerable families known to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/what-is-a-country-without-rabbits-and-partridges-they-are-among-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [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/) > [It is not possible to conceive a democratic Guatemala, free and independent, without the indigenous identity shaping its character into all aspects of national…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/it-is-not-possible-to-conceive-a-democratic-guatemala-free-and/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [The media and politics have never allowed our people to speak through them. The absolute marginalization of the indigenous peoples is a fact, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/the-media-and-politics-have-never-allowed-our-people-to-speak-through/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [Today the governments of Latin America should be ashamed of not havingexterminated the indigenous, at the end of the twentieth century, because weexist at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/today-the-governments-of-latin-america-should-be-ashamed-of-not/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [I am deeply gladdened that 1993 has been delcared the International Year of Indigenous Peoples by the United Nations. It is the first year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/i-am-deeply-gladdened-that-1993-has-been-delcared-the-international/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [We are not myths of the past, ruins in the jungle, or zoos. We are people and we want to be respected, not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/we-are-not-myths-of-the-past-ruins-in-the-jungle-or-zoos-we-are/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [In the case of my country, Guatemala, 65% of the inhabitants are indigenous. The constitution speaks of protection for the indigenous. Who authorized a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/in-the-case-of-my-country-guatemala-65-of-the-inhabitants-are/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [The indigenous peoples never had, and still do not have, the place that they should have occupied in the progress and benefits of science…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/the-indigenous-peoples-never-had-and-still-do-not-have-the-place-that/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [It is said that our indigenous ancestors, Mayas and Aztecs, made human sacrifices to their gods. It occurs to me to ask: How many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/it-is-said-that-our-indigenous-ancestors-mayas-and-aztecs-made-human/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [The problem in Guatemala is that there is no solution to the issue of human rights. The problem is militarization, it is the injust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/the-problem-in-guatemala-is-that-there-is-no-solution-to-the-issue-of/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [If every head of state and every government official spent an hour a day reading poetry we'd live in a much more humane and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-strand/if-every-head-of-state-and-every-government-official-spent-an-hour-a/) [Mark Strand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-strand/) > [My ascension as interim president is based on Article 233 of the Venezuelan Constitution, according to which, if at the outset of a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-guaido/my-ascension-as-interim-president-is-based-on-article-233-of-the/) [Juan Guaido](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-guaido/) > [“As the tail on our back disappeared as we no longer had any use for it, nuclear weapons will also disappear once we realize,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/as-the-tail-on-our-back-disappeared-as-we-no-longer-had-any-use-for/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) ## More by Rigoberta Menchu > [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/) > [This is why Indians are thought to be stupid. They can't think, they don't know anything, they say. But we have hidden our identity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/this-is-why-indians-are-thought-to-be-stupid-they-can-t-think-they/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [In Guatemala, the gap between rich and poor must be eliminated, or we will continue to be the example of conflict in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/in-guatemala-the-gap-between-rich-and-poor-must-be-eliminated-or-we/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [The priests say the new dawn will be like the rain that fertilizes the soil before we begin to plant our corn. It will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/the-priests-say-the-new-dawn-will-be-like-the-rain-that-fertilizes/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [unless a religion springs from within the people themselves, it is a weapon of the system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/unless-a-religion-springs-from-within-the-people-themselves-it-is-a/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [The culture of death is imposed by economic and political interests, the arrogance of power, corruption. I blame the first world for having taken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/the-culture-of-death-is-imposed-by-economic-and-political-interests/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [“Este mundo no va a cambiar a menos que estemos dispuestos a cambiar nosotros mismos”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/este-mundo-no-va-a-cambiar-a-menos-que-estemos-dispuestos-a-cambiar/) [Rigoberta Menchú](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [For me, to celebrate the twelfth of October is the absolute expression of triumphism, occupation and presumptuousness, and I think that history will remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/for-me-to-celebrate-the-twelfth-of-october-is-the-absolute-expression/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [I wasn't the only orphan in Guatemala. There are many others, and it's not my grief alone, it's the grief of a whole people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/i-wasn-t-the-only-orphan-in-guatemala-there-are-many-others-and-it-s/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [... our reality teaches us that, as Christians, we must create a Church of the poor, that we don't need a Church imposed from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/our-reality-teaches-us-that-as-christians-we-must-create-a-church-of/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [There is not one world for man and one for animals, they are part of the same one and lead parallel lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/there-is-not-one-world-for-man-and-one-for-animals-they-are-part-of/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [Let there be freedom for the Indians, wherever they may be in the American Continent or elsewhere in the world, because while they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/let-there-be-freedom-for-the-indians-wherever-they-may-be-in-the/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [...instead of giving a rifle to somebody, build a school; instead of giving a rifle, build a community with adequate services. Instead of giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/instead-of-giving-a-rifle-to-somebody-build-a-school-instead-of/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [... only those of us who carry our cause in our hearts are willing to run the risks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/only-those-of-us-who-carry-our-cause-in-our-hearts-are-willing-to-run/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [I think that nonviolence is one way of saying that there are other ways to solve problems, not only through weapons and war. Nonviolence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/i-think-that-nonviolence-is-one-way-of-saying-that-there-are-other/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) [Explore all 49 Rigoberta Menchu quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) ## More Aspire quotes > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [I love it when television is shot in a cinematic way and I think to aspire to that is no bad thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-rhys/i-love-it-when-television-is-shot-in-a-cinematic-way-and-i-think-to/) [Matthew Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-rhys/) > [At the end of the day, everyone knows what it is to be loved and to aspire to love someone, to want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-oyelowo/at-the-end-of-the-day-everyone-knows-what-it-is-to-be-loved-and-to/) [David Oyelowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-oyelowo/) > [I didn't aspire to be a good sport; 'champion' was good enough for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-perry/i-didn-t-aspire-to-be-a-good-sport-champion-was-good-enough-for-me/) [Fred Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-perry/) > [We should all aspire in life to do a multitude of things well - to be a great father, to be a good husband,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-modine/we-should-all-aspire-in-life-to-do-a-multitude-of-things-well-to-be-a/) [Matthew Modine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-modine/) > [We try, we fail, we posture, we aspire, we pontificate - and then we age, shrink, die, and vanish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/we-try-we-fail-we-posture-we-aspire-we-pontificate-and-then-we-age/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [I aspire my country eventually has a league where all players play 50 games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-chhetri/i-aspire-my-country-eventually-has-a-league-where-all-players-play-50/) [Sunil Chhetri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-chhetri/) > [I'm exceptional in everything that I do and I aspire to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omarosa-manigault-newman/i-m-exceptional-in-everything-that-i-do-and-i-aspire-to-do/) [Omarosa Manigault Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omarosa-manigault-newman/) > [One of the reasons you study at great institutions or aspire to work in great corporations is that you hope to acquire the values…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harsha-bhogle/one-of-the-reasons-you-study-at-great-institutions-or-aspire-to-work/) [Harsha Bhogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harsha-bhogle/) > [So if you aspire to be a good conversationali st, be an attentive listener. To be interesting, be interested. Ask questions that other persons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/so-if-you-aspire-to-be-a-good-conversationali-st-be-an-attentive/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [... the majority of colored men do not yet think it worth while that women aspire to higher education… The three R's, a littlemusic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-julia-cooper/the-majority-of-colored-men-do-not-yet-think-it-worth-while-that/) [Anna Julia Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-julia-cooper/) > [For me, there has always been a disconnect with the sort of elitist structure of the high-art world - and my distaste for that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shepard-fairey/for-me-there-has-always-been-a-disconnect-with-the-sort-of-elitist/) [Shepard Fairey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shepard-fairey/) > [There is not a right too long denied to which we do not aspire in order to achieve; there is not a wrong too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-gompers/there-is-not-a-right-too-long-denied-to-which-we-do-not-aspire-in/) [Samuel Gompers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-gompers/) Browse all 650 Aspire quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Racism in our countries is a fact in that the indian is not allowed to be a politician or aspire to being head of state. 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