Freedom is neither guaranteed nor automatic; not even in the United States. Left unguarded, it can slip away like a thief in the night.
Joy ReidRead
For millions of Americans who happen to be black or brown, that core bond of trust with the government that governs closest to you, is too often broken.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the fractured trust between marginalized communities and their government.
Joy Reid emphasizes the importance of a trusting relationship between communities, particularly those that are black or brown, and their local government. She points out that for many in these communities, this bond of trust is frequently undermined, leading to a sense of alienation and disconnection from the authorities meant to serve them.
Themes
TrustGovernmentCommunityRelationshipsJustice
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion on racial justice in a public forum.
More from Joy Reid
All quotes →To be white in America is to have the confidence to say, without a second thought: this space, this neighborhood, this city, this county, this country is mine.
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The work of anti-racism can only take place inside each individual soul, where we all try to grow into better people. There is no national tonic or instant cure.
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To be white in America is to assume, with total self-confidence and little afterthought, the personal ownership of public spaces.
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There is a twinge of abandonment that comes with being a member of the African Diaspora. But 'Black Panther' fearlessly introduces and then complicates this and other deeply held albeit rarely expressed emotions; that indeed is what makes this film so profoundly innovative.
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