Racism Quote by Tammy Bruce
““The Misery Merchants tell us, for example, that most blacks are poor. In fact, only one in four black families is poor, and only one in five lives in an inner city. They tell us that there has been an "epidemic" of racist arson against black churches. In fact, there are seven times as many white churches burned every year as there were black churches burned during the seven years from 1990 to 1996. By spreading myths such as these, the Misery Merchants do not encourage success among their constituents; they only deepen the sense of misery. They are working 24/7 to make sure that their version of life, one of divisions and hatred, becomes your reality. John H. McWhorter, the black author of Losing the Race: Self-Sabotage in Black America, observes that the perpetuation of these myths is doing more today than racism is to obstruct black achievement in this country. As McWhorter puts it, the America of the Misery Merchants "remains a racist purgatory in which all black effort is a Sisyphean affair that renders even just keeping one's head above water a victory".””
About This Quote
Source Book: Losing the Race: Self‑Sabotage in Black America, John H. McWhorter, 2015
Misery Merchants spread exaggerated myths about black poverty, hindering progress and fostering division.
In simple terms: False narratives about poverty stall advancement.
Challenge and reject harmful stereotypes.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- community activism
- education
- policy analysis
- media literacy
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do myths affect community self‑esteem?
- What steps can counteract divisive narratives?
Overcoming entrenched narratives requires collective effort.