This is a country that was founded on racism. It was built on racism. It still continues to thrive through wealth disparity, and housing disparity is all built on the backs of racism.
W. Kamau BellRead
In communities of color, such as Ferguson, it often feels like the police are protecting the white community from us instead of protecting our communities from the criminal element.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the tension between law enforcement and communities of color, suggesting a lack of protection and trust.
W. Kamau Bell's quote addresses the complex relationship between police and communities of color, particularly in areas like Ferguson. It underscores a prevalent sentiment that law enforcement prioritizes the safety of white communities over genuinely protecting marginalized populations, thereby fostering mistrust and a sense of abandonment among those communities. This observation points to systemic issues within policing and raises important questions about equity and justice.
Themes
PoliceCommunityJusticeRaceTrust
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about racial justice during a community meeting.
More from W. Kamau Bell
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People born in Puerto Rico are U.S. citizens - except for the teeny, tiny, mind-boggling fact that if you live in Puerto Rico, you are not allowed to cast a vote in the election for president. That tiny fact starts to get bigger when you realize that electing our own leaders is the whole reason that we have a country in the first place.
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I've turned the annoying questions that white people ask into a career, so I understand that's where I live.
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We can't throw the worst part of racism into the dustbin of history.
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When we let cops talk about themselves as a separate community, then we are letting cops wall themselves off from the rest of us. We don't generally do that with any other jobs. We don't talk about the barista community or the Wal-Mart greeter community.
W. Kamau BellRead
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