America Quote by Theodore Hesburgh
“The melting pot failed to function in one crucial area. Religions and nationalities, however different, generally learned to live together, even to grow together, in America. But color was something else. Reds were murdered like wild animals. Yellows were characterized as a peril and incarcerated en masse during World War ii for no really good reason by our most liberal president. Browns have been abused as the new slave labor on farms. The blacks, who did not come here willingly, are now, more than a century after emancipation by Lincoln, still suffering a host of slave like inequalities.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Politics of Race in America, 2020
America’s promise of unity fails on race, with systemic violence and inequality persisting across color lines.
In simple terms: Racial equality remains unfulfilled in the US.
Key Takeaway
Address systemic racism now.
Themes
racism
inequality
history
justice
Mood
somber
determined
Type
historical
activist
When to use this quote
- policy reform
- community activism
- education curricula
- corporate accountability
Key Concepts
civil rights
systemic oppression
social stratification
Questions to Reflect On
- How can institutions dismantle systemic racism?
- What personal actions can reduce racial bias?
A Different Perspective
Progress is uneven; entrenched interests resist change.
![“I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. [salutes]” quote by Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3d2/bill-hicks-970_america_i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumor_655.jpg)
