Bulls Quote by W. E. B. Du Bois
“Negroes could be sold - actually sold as we sell cattle, with no reference to calves or bulls or recognition of family. It was a nasty business. The white South was properly ashamed of it and continually belittled and almost denied it. But it was a stark and bitter fact.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Address on Race Relations, 1915
The slave trade reduced people to commodities, stripping them of humanity and family ties, reflecting deep moral failure.
In simple terms: People were treated like livestock, losing identity and family.
Recognize and confront dehumanizing histories.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- education curricula
- museum exhibits
- community dialogues
- policy reform
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What responsibilities do we have to remember such atrocities?
- How can we honor the families lost?
Historical narratives can be contested or minimized.