When the Kerner Commission told white America what black…
“When the Kerner Commission told white America what black America has always known, that prejudice and hatred built the nation’s slums, maintains them and profits by them, white America could not believe it. But it is true. Unless we start to fight and defeat the enemies in our own country, poverty and racism, and make our talk of equality and opportunity ring true, we are exposed in the eyes of the world as hypocrites when we talk about making people free - (Chapter 9).”
About This Quote
Source Book: The House on the Hill, Shirley Chisholm, 1970
The quote highlights the denial of systemic racism by those who benefit from it and calls for confronting domestic enemies of poverty and racism.
In simple terms: White America denies racism; we must confront it.
Key Takeaway
Confront domestic racism and poverty.
Themes
racism
poverty
hypocrisy
social justice
accountability
Mood
determined
urgent
reflective
Type
political
activist
critical
When to use this quote
- policy reform
- community organizing
- education
- media narratives
- political advocacy
Key Concepts
systemic oppression
white privilege
economic exploitation
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we turn acknowledgment into action?
- What policies can dismantle systemic racism?
A Different Perspective
Change requires confronting entrenched interests and resistance.