--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We need to dismantle the systems that…" description: "\"We need to dismantle the systems that were built on racism, that were built on the backs of black people.\" — Zozibini Tunzi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/803/zozibini-tunzi-15264_black_we-need-to-dismantle-the-systems-that-we_769636.jpg" --- # We need to dismantle the systems that were built on… ![“We need to dismantle the systems that were built on racism, that were built on the backs of black people.” quote by Zozibini Tunzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/803/zozibini-tunzi-15264_black_we-need-to-dismantle-the-systems-that-we_769636.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/803/zozibini-tunzi-15264_black_we-need-to-dismantle-the-systems-that-we_769636.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/803/zozibini-tunzi-15264_black_we-need-to-dismantle-the-systems-that-we_769636.jpg) > “We need to dismantle the systems that were built on racism, that were built on the backs of black people.” [Zozibini Tunzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zozibini-tunzi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We must dismantle racist structures built on oppression of Black people. **In simple terms:** Break down racist systems. Key Takeaway Fight systemic racism. Themes justice equality anti‑racism Mood hopeful urgent Type activist inspirational When to use this quote - policy advocacy - education reform - community organizing - media representation Key Concepts structural oppression social reform Questions to Reflect On - What concrete steps can you take to challenge systemic racism? - How can allies support dismantling oppression? A Different Perspective Change requires sustained effort and coalition building. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Black people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-people/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) ## Related quotes > [This is a country that was founded on racism. It was built on racism. It still continues to thrive through wealth disparity, and housing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-kamau-bell/this-is-a-country-that-was-founded-on-racism-it-was-built-on-racism/) [W. Kamau Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-kamau-bell/) > [Seems to me that the institutions that function in this country are clearly racist, and that they're built upon racism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stokely-carmichael/seems-to-me-that-the-institutions-that-function-in-this-country-are/) [Stokely Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stokely-carmichael/) > [I know there are girls of colour out there who have felt the same as me. We have a massive problem with racism, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-anne-pinnock/i-know-there-are-girls-of-colour-out-there-who-have-felt-the-same-as-2/) [Leigh-Anne Pinnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-anne-pinnock/) > [Racism built me into a person that was set up to be self-destructive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-blair/racism-built-me-into-a-person-that-was-set-up-to-be-self-destructive/) [Jayson Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-blair/) > [“Colonial racism is built from three major ideological components: One, the gulf between the culture of the colonialist and the colonized: two, the exploitation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-memmi/colonial-racism-is-built-from-three-major-ideological-components-one/) [Albert Memmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-memmi/) > [“Dismantle your friend to see how he behaves. If he smiles with a beautiful grin, then take him back, he's worthy to be called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/dismantle-your-friend-to-see-how-he-behaves-if-he-smiles-with-a/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“Dismantle your wounds so you stop living your life by them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-rowe/dismantle-your-wounds-so-you-stop-living-your-life-by-them/) [Nikki Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-rowe/) > [I want the American people to understand, we have a clear and focused goal: to disrupt, dismantle and defeat Al Qaeda in Pakistan and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-a-mcchrystal/i-want-the-american-people-to-understand-we-have-a-clear-and-focused/) [Stanley A. McChrystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-a-mcchrystal/) > [Close Dept. of Education, but don't dismantle public schools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/close-dept-of-education-but-don-t-dismantle-public-schools/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [“She thinks of all that will have to be done to dismantle a life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-shreve/she-thinks-of-all-that-will-have-to-be-done-to-dismantle-a-life/) [Anita Shreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-shreve/) > [There's no better way to dismantle a personality than to isolate it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/princess-diana/there-s-no-better-way-to-dismantle-a-personality-than-to-isolate-it/) [Princess Diana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/princess-diana/) > [If I have to, I will use one challenge after another to dismantle governmental operations that I consider violations of the Constitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-abbott/if-i-have-to-i-will-use-one-challenge-after-another-to-dismantle/) [Greg Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-abbott/) > [Only art is capable of dismantling the repressive effects of a senile social system that continues to totter along the deathline: to dismantle in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-beuys/only-art-is-capable-of-dismantling-the-repressive-effects-of-a-senile/) [Joseph Beuys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-beuys/) > [What is it going to take to dismantle the systems that keep me from being able to live well and that keep me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-garza/what-is-it-going-to-take-to-dismantle-the-systems-that-keep-me-from/) [Alicia Garza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-garza/) > [The stars are not wanted now, put out every one Pack up the moon & dismantle the sun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-stars-are-not-wanted-now-put-out-every-one-pack-up-the-moon/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Zozibini Tunzi > [I think women should be in women's corner even more, wherever... across the world, women need to be in each other's corners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zozibini-tunzi/i-think-women-should-be-in-women-s-corner-even-more-wherever-across/) [Zozibini Tunzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zozibini-tunzi/) > [Since sixth grade, I've been learning that the climate is deteriorating and the planet is dying, and it is up to us to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zozibini-tunzi/since-sixth-grade-i-ve-been-learning-that-the-climate-is/) [Zozibini Tunzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zozibini-tunzi/) > [Society has been conditioned for a very long time to see beauty as something that's been westernised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zozibini-tunzi/society-has-been-conditioned-for-a-very-long-time-to-see-beauty-as/) [Zozibini Tunzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zozibini-tunzi/) > [I knew that to live a fulfilling life I had to live a purposeful life; a life of service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zozibini-tunzi/i-knew-that-to-live-a-fulfilling-life-i-had-to-live-a-purposeful-life/) [Zozibini Tunzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zozibini-tunzi/) > [The platform Miss Universe has given me has exceeded my wildest expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zozibini-tunzi/the-platform-miss-universe-has-given-me-has-exceeded-my-wildest/) [Zozibini Tunzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zozibini-tunzi/) > [I believe that beauty means being comfortable with who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zozibini-tunzi/i-believe-that-beauty-means-being-comfortable-with-who-you-are/) [Zozibini Tunzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zozibini-tunzi/) > [My grandmother probably never thought she would see a day where, you know, a young black woman would be seen as a leader, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zozibini-tunzi/my-grandmother-probably-never-thought-she-would-see-a-day-where-you/) [Zozibini Tunzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zozibini-tunzi/) > [Isn't it incredible how, you know, people have to fight to look like themselves. It's so crazy to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zozibini-tunzi/isn-t-it-incredible-how-you-know-people-have-to-fight-to-look-like/) [Zozibini Tunzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zozibini-tunzi/) > [It was a question I got asked often from my friends when they heard I had entered Miss S.A. - 'will you get a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zozibini-tunzi/it-was-a-question-i-got-asked-often-from-my-friends-when-they-heard-i/) [Zozibini Tunzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zozibini-tunzi/) > [We should be teaching young girls to take up space. Nothing is as important as taking up space in society and cementing yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zozibini-tunzi/we-should-be-teaching-young-girls-to-take-up-space-nothing-is-as/) [Zozibini Tunzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zozibini-tunzi/) > [My life since the Miss Universe win has changed completely, in fact I do not think my life will ever be the same again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zozibini-tunzi/my-life-since-the-miss-universe-win-has-changed-completely-in-fact-i/) [Zozibini Tunzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zozibini-tunzi/) > [If learners do not have a roof under which they can learn we are already setting them up for failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zozibini-tunzi/if-learners-do-not-have-a-roof-under-which-they-can-learn-we-are/) [Zozibini Tunzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zozibini-tunzi/) > [We're really taught to be followers from a very young age - men lead and women follow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zozibini-tunzi/we-re-really-taught-to-be-followers-from-a-very-young-age-men-lead/) [Zozibini Tunzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zozibini-tunzi/) > [I always knew I had to find a way to be a catalyst for positive change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zozibini-tunzi/i-always-knew-i-had-to-find-a-way-to-be-a-catalyst-for-positive-change/) [Zozibini Tunzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zozibini-tunzi/) > [When you leave home, then you leave with the possibility of not returning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zozibini-tunzi/when-you-leave-home-then-you-leave-with-the-possibility-of-not/) [Zozibini Tunzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zozibini-tunzi/) [Explore all 43 Zozibini Tunzi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zozibini-tunzi/) ## More Black quotes > [I wanted to write about voodoo tradition that I feel has been very important to survival of black people here: people of the African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-wanted-to-write-about-voodoo-tradition-that-i-feel-has-been-very/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [The term "black metal" has become a lot looser, or can include a larger range of sounds and extra-musical aesthetics, not just Satan and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/the-term-black-metal-has-become-a-lot-looser-or-can-include-a-larger/) [Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/) > [How can you be more subject; black woman in a white man's world?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/how-can-you-be-more-subject-black-woman-in-a-white-man-s-world/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [We have to build our own power. We have to win every single political office we can, where we have a majority of black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-lou-hamer/we-have-to-build-our-own-power-we-have-to-win-every-single-political/) [Fannie Lou Hamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-lou-hamer/) > [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Black music has always known, and not been afraid to acknowledge just how high the stakes of Black thought are. To summarize the final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-wilderson-iii/black-music-has-always-known-and-not-been-afraid-to-acknowledge-just/) Frank B. Wilderson III > [I know how hard it is to be a woman, especially a black woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-know-how-hard-it-is-to-be-a-woman-especially-a-black-woman/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [If soot stains your tunic, dye it black. This is vengeance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-scott-bakker/if-soot-stains-your-tunic-dye-it-black-this-is-vengeance/) [R. Scott Bakker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-scott-bakker/) > [Hollywood is so fixated on keeping it that way because it's generating the buzz, but that representation isn't right. I definitely feel like it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyega/hollywood-is-so-fixated-on-keeping-it-that-way-because-it-s/) [John Boyega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyega/) > [Nowadays most people wear black most of the time anyway: go to a literary party and one would imagine everyone there was in perpetual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-weldon/nowadays-most-people-wear-black-most-of-the-time-anyway-go-to-a/) [Fay Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-weldon/) > [There ain't no such thing as black Muslims. 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