I am a woman, I am a minority person, and I speak in a very plain way. And I think that reaches people.
There are people getting screwed in our country every single second, minute, hour of the day. And if by our work, we can decrease that number, we'll make a difference; we'll be doing our jobs.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of addressing injustices faced by individuals in society and highlights the responsibility to make a positive impact.
Mazie Hirono conveys a profound message about social responsibility, urging that countless individuals suffer injustices continuously. She advocates for the necessity of working to reduce this suffering, suggesting that meaningful change stems from dedicated efforts to alleviate the struggles faced by vulnerable populations. It highlights the moral duty of individuals and organizations to engage actively in efforts that contribute to a more equitable society.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a community meeting addressing local issues, this quote can inspire action and solidarity.
More from Mazie Hirono
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Growth is essential and must be sustained. But rapid growth alone cannot address the problems arising out of continuing disparities. Tackling these is not just a matter of social justice but, more importantly, an existential necessity and a moral imperative.
When we let cops talk about themselves as a separate community, then we are letting cops wall themselves off from the rest of us. We don't generally do that with any other jobs. We don't talk about the barista community or the Wal-Mart greeter community.
We're willing to spend countless dollars putting people who need help in cages, and then when they get out we say you can't have a job, and you can't have housing, and because you don't have either, we're going to take your kids, too.
Who is affected more when it's cold? Poor people. Who is affected more when it's hot? Poor people. Who is affected more when it's wet? Poor people. Who is most affected when the economy is bad? Poor people. Poor people are the most fragile.
Like Jim Crow (and slavery), mass incarceration operates as a tightly networked system of laws, policies, customs, and institutions that operate collectively to ensure the subordinate status of a group defined largely by race.
I want all of the work that I do to have a social justice footprint attached. I want it to move the needle forward when it comes to the perception of all people, but especially people of color.