Birth, life, and death― each took place on the hidden side of a leaf.
Toni MorrisonRead
Crime is fast destroying the moral fabric of South African cities, and is becoming a major threat to South African democracy as well as the prominent manifestation of a "class war" that is largely a continuation of the "race war" of yesterday.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Crime undermines the ethical foundations of society and poses a significant risk to democracy.
Achille Mbembe's quote highlights the detrimental effects of crime on the moral integrity of South African cities, suggesting that crime is not just a social issue but rather poses a significant threat to democracy. He draws a parallel between contemporary crime and historical socio-political conflicts, indicating that the current struggles can be viewed as a continuation of past 'class' and 'race' wars, thus inviting a deeper examination of social justice and equality in South Africa.
Themes
CrimeMoralityDemocracySouth AfricaSocial Justice
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about urban development, one might cite this quote to emphasize the importance of addressing crime to ensure democracy.
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