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
If parents snicker at racial and gender jokes, another generation will pass on the poison adults still have not had the courage to snuff out.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Ignoring prejudiced jokes allows harmful beliefs to persist across generations.
Marian Wright Edelman's quote emphasizes the responsibility of adults to confront and dismiss racial and gender jokes. When parents or guardians dismiss these jokes with laughter instead of challenge, they inadvertently propagate harmful stereotypes and prejudices to future generations, indicating a lack of courage to address societal issues directly.
Themes
PrejudiceCourageParentingJokesStereotypesResponsibility
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the impact of family influence on children, this quote can highlight the importance of addressing biases.
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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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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.
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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.
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