The low points I had all helped make up my character, so I probably wouldn't want to do away with them because I like being flawed and I like having them help me grow and change and become better and stronger.
It's not a cold that you can get over. There is no anti-racist certification class. It's a set of socioeconomic traps and cultural values that are fired up every time we interact with the world. It is a thing you have to keep scooping out of the boat of your life to keep from drowning in it. I know it's hard work, but it's the price you pay for owning everything.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Racism is a complex issue rooted in societal structures that requires continuous effort to combat.
In this quote, Scott Woods emphasizes that racism is not something that can be easily cured or overcome, like a cold. Instead, it is embedded in the social fabric and cultural values of society, manifesting in everyday interactions. Addressing and dismantling these ingrained beliefs and systems is a continuous process, requiring commitment and effort. The metaphor of scooping water out of a boat speaks to the need for ongoing vigilance and action to prevent being overwhelmed by these societal issues.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a panel discussion on social justice, this quote could be used to highlight the ongoing struggles against systemic racism.
Similar quotes
When asked if I am pessimistic or optimistic about the future, my answer is always the same: If you look at the science about what is happening on earth and aren’t pessimistic, you don’t understand data. But if you meet the people who are working to restore this earth and the lives of the poor, and you aren’t optimistic, you haven’t got a pulse.
In sum, the struggle for our future is . . . the struggle between those who cling to patterns of domination and those working for a more equitable partnership world.
I realized that if I don't like something, I can change it. If I don't feel comfortable with something, then I have a voice to say it's not cool.
I'm so tired of waiting, aren't you, for the world to become good and beautiful and kind?
Carrying the past in to the present, we program the future to continue the past. Letting go the past in the present, we free the future to be something else.