In 2004, there were more black men disenfranchised than in 1870 - the year the 15th Amendment was ratified, prohibiting laws that deny the right to vote exclusively on the basis of race.
Michelle AlexanderRead
The cyclical rebirth of caste in America is a recurring racial nightmare.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the persistent and troubling nature of caste and racial issues in America.
Michelle Alexander's quote suggests that the issues of caste and race in America are not merely historical artifacts, but rather an ongoing, cyclical problem that continually resurfaces. This 'racial nightmare' points to systemic inequalities and injustices that affect marginalized communities, reflecting the deep-seated nature of racism in American society.
Themes
CasteRaceInequalitySystemicRebirthNightmare
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion on racial justice at a community meeting.
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All quotes →My experience and research has led me to the regrettable conclusion that our system of mass incarceration functions more like a caste system than a system of crime prevention or control.
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The United States imprisons a larger percentage of its black population than South Africa did at the height of apartheid. In Washington, D.C., our nation’s capitol, it is estimated that three out of four young black men (and nearly all those in the poorest neighborhoods) can expect to serve time in prison.
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We have avoided in recent years talking openly and honestly about race out of fear that it will alienate and polarize. In my own view, it’s our refusal to deal openly and honestly with race that leads us to keep repeating these cycles of exclusion and division, and rebirthing a caste-like system that we claim we’ve left behind
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There has been an outpouring of anger and concern because of the actions of George Zimmerman, a private citizen who profiled a young boy and pursued him and tried to confront him, perhaps. But what George Zimmerman did is no different than what police officers do every day as a matter of standard operating procedure.
Michelle AlexanderRead
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