Color Quote by William Pickens
“Color had been made the mark of enslavement and was taken to be also the mark of inferiority; for prejudice does not reason, or it would not be prejudice... If prejudice could reason, it would dispel itself.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: NAACP Convention, 1940s
Prejudice persists because it is irrational; reason would undermine it.
In simple terms: Prejudice is irrational and self‑defeating.
Challenge irrational beliefs.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- education
- policy making
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we foster rational empathy?
- What role does emotion play in bias?
Prejudice can be deeply ingrained and resistant to logic.