There is nothing romantic about teargas. Or smoke bombs or rubber bullets or sound cannons.
Deray MckessonRead
Laws on hate speech and hate crimes do important work in a world that has been rooted in racism and bigotry since the inception of this country, which was not founded on ideals of justice.
Interpretation
This quote highlights the crucial role of laws against hate speech and crimes in combating racism and bigotry.
Deray Mckesson's quote reflects on the historical context of racism and bigotry in America, asserting that hate speech and hate crimes legislation is essential in addressing and mitigating these deep-seated issues. It emphasizes that the foundations of the country were not based on justice, thus indicating the need for ongoing efforts to establish equality and protect marginalized communities through legal means.
In practice
In a speech about social justice, one might emphasize the importance of laws addressing hate speech.
There is nothing romantic about teargas. Or smoke bombs or rubber bullets or sound cannons.
If you close your eyes and think about where you feel the most safe, you're probably not going to tell me it's in a room full of police. You feel safe where you're around people that love you, when you have food and shelter, when you're being pushed to be your best self and learn.
So many of us don't know what we want; we just know we don't want what we have. We spend 99% of the time talking about how bad it is, but only 1% of the time talking about how we can do something about it.
I just couldn't believe that the police would fire tear gas into what had been a peaceful protest. I was running around, face burning, and nothing I saw looked like America to me.
The difference between equity and equality is that equality is everyone get the same thing and equity is everyone get the things they deserve.
Gays and lesbians began to gain civil rights when Americans realized that their brothers, cousins, daughters were gay.
We all think we’re going to be great and we feel a little bit robbed when our expectations aren’t met. But sometimes our expectations sell us short. Sometimes the expected simply pales in comparison to the unexpected. You got to wonder why we cling to our expectations, because the expected is just what keeps us steady. Standing. Still. The expected's just the beginning, the unexpected is what changes our lives.
It is now our generation's task to carry on what those pioneers began. For our journey is not complete until our wives, our mothers and daughters can earn a living equal to their efforts. Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law - for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well.
We must become the change we want to see.
As iron cast into fire loses its rust and becomes glowing white, so he who turns completely to God is stripped of his sluggishness and changed into a new man.
Great changes start with individuals; the basis of world peace is inner peace in the hearts of individuals.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.