I became aware of how the world is and how the white establishment plays black people against each other.
Claudette ColvinRead
When our founding fathers drafted the Constitution and Bill of Rights, black people weren't even considered human.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the historical disregard for the humanity of black individuals during the drafting of foundational American documents.
Claudette Colvin's quote reflects on the stark reality that when the United States' founding documents, the Constitution and Bill of Rights, were created, black people were not recognized as humans, emphasizing the profound injustices and systemic racism prevalent at that time. This assertion challenges us to reflect on the socio-political context of the past that shaped the rights and recognition of individuals in society and calls for an ongoing dialogue about equality and human rights.
Themes
ConstitutionBill Of RightsHumanityRacismHistory
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about civil rights, you could use this quote to illustrate the historical context of racial discrimination.
More from Claudette Colvin
All quotes →As long as white people put people of color, African Americans and Latinos, in the same dispensable bag, and look at our children of color as insignificant and treat women of color as not as deserving of protection as white women, we will never achieve true equality.
Claudette ColvinRead
I'd like my grandchildren to be able to see that their grandmother stood up for something, a long time ago.
Claudette ColvinRead
Back then, as a teenager, I kept thinking, why don't the adults around here just say something? Say it so they know we don't accept segregation? I knew then and I know now that, when it comes to justice, there's no easy way to get it. You can't sugarcoat it. You have to take a stand and say, 'This is not right.'
Claudette ColvinRead
I wanted the young African-American girls also on the bus to know that they had a right to be there, because they had paid their fare just like the white passengers.
Claudette ColvinRead
I always tell young people to hold on to their dreams. And sometimes you have to stand up for what you think is right even if you have to stand alone.
Claudette ColvinRead
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