You are on the eve of a complete victory. You can't go wrong. The world is behind you.
Josephine BakerRead
The hate directed against the colored people here in St. Louis has always given me a sad feeling... How can you expect the world to believe in you and respect your preaching of democracy when you yourself treat your colored brothers as you do?
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the hypocrisy of advocating for democracy while practicing discrimination.
Josephine Baker's quote addresses the deep-seated racism present in society, particularly in St. Louis. She highlights the contradiction in preaching democracy and equality while simultaneously mistreating people of color, suggesting that true belief in these ideals requires genuine respect and fairness towards all individuals, regardless of their race. This powerful statement calls for introspection and accountability in the pursuit of justice and equality.
Themes
RacismEqualityDemocracyHypocrisyRespect
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in discussions about social justice during a school lecture.
More from Josephine Baker
All quotes →I ran away from St. Louis, and then I ran away from the United States, because of that terror of discrimination.
Josephine BakerRead
Friends, to me for years St. Louis represented a city of fear... humiliation... misery and terror... A city where in the eyes of the white man a Negro should know his place and had better stay in it.
Josephine BakerRead
I did take the blows [of life], but I took them with my chin up, in dignity, because I so profoundly love and respect humanity.
Josephine BakerRead
You must get an education. You must go to school, and you must learn to protect yourself. And you must learn to protect yourself with the pen, and not the gun.
Josephine BakerRead
I have walked into the palaces of kings and queens and into the houses of presidents. And much more.
Josephine BakerRead
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