Remember and help America remember that the fellowship of human beings is more important than the fellowship of race and class and gender in a democratic society.
Marian Wright EdelmanRead
So much of America's tragic and costly failure to care for all its children stems from our tendency to distinguish between our own children and other people's children--as if justice were divisible.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of viewing all children equally, championing the notion that justice should be universal and not divided by personal connections.
Marian Wright Edelman's quote highlights a significant issue in society regarding the care and justice afforded to children. She points out that America's failures in adequately caring for all its children arise from a harmful mindset where people prioritize their own children over others, suggesting that this division undermines the principle of justice. The notion that justice should not be 'divisible' calls for a more inclusive and compassionate approach to child welfare, urging society to ensure that every child receives equal care and opportunity, irrespective of their background or relation to us.
Themes
JusticeChildrenEqualityCareSociety
In practice
Example use cases
During a community meeting about child welfare, this quote could be used to emphasize the need for equal attention and resources for all children.
More from Marian Wright Edelman
All quotes →Far less wealthy industrialized countries have committed to end child poverty, while the United States is sliding backwards. We can do better. We must demand that our leaders do better.
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Dr. King used to say, 'I was sitting in the back of the bus, but my mind was always up front.' Don't let anybody tell you that you can't do it. You aim high and you work very hard and now I think it's clear that you can be anything you want to.
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The outside world told black kids when I was growing up that we weren't worth anything. But our parents said it wasn't so, and our churches and our schoolteachers said it wasn't so. They believed in us, and we, therefore, believed in ourselves.
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I was taught that the world had a lot of problems; that I could struggle and change them; that intellectual and material gifts brought the privilege and responsibility of sharing with others less fortunate; and that service is the rent each of us pays for living - the very purpose of life and not something you do in your spare time or after you have reached your personal goals.
Marian Wright EdelmanRead
We must always refill and ensure there is a critical mass of leaders and activists committed to nonviolence and racial and economic justice who will keep seeding and building transforming movements.
Marian Wright EdelmanRead
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