I have seen periods of progress followed by reaction. I have seen the hopes and aspirations of Negroes rise during World War II, only to be smashed during the Eisenhower years. I am seeing the victories of the Kennedy and Johnson Administrations destroyed by Richard Nixon.
Interpretation
Progress is often met with resistance, creating cyclical patterns of hope and disappointment.
This quote by Bayard Rustin reflects on the historical context of racial progress in the United States, highlighting how moments of advancement for African Americans, such as during World War II, are often followed by setbacks due to political changes and societal reactions. Rustin observes a pattern where victories achieved by leaders like Kennedy and Johnson during the civil rights movement are undermined by subsequent administrations, underscoring the fragility of progress in the face of changing political climates.
In practice
In a speech about social justice, one could say, 'As Bayard Rustin observed, progress often faces resistance, reminding us to stay vigilant.'
Twenty-five, 30 years ago, the barometer of human rights in the United States were black people. That is no longer true. The barometer for judging the character of people in regard to human rights is now those who consider themselves gay, homosexual, lesbian.
God does not require us to achieve any of the good tasks that humanity must pursue. What God requires of us is that we not stop trying.
If we desire a society without discrimination, then we must not discriminate against anyone in the process of building this society. If we desire a society that is democratic, then democracy must become a means as well as an end.
If we desire a society of peace, then we cannot achieve such a society through violence. If we desire a society without discrimination, then we must not discriminate against anyone in the process of building this society. If we desire a society that is democratic, then democracy must become a means as well as an end.
My activism did not spring from being black...The racial injustice that was present in this country during my youth was a challenge to my belief in the oneness of the human family.
I am an opponent of war and of war preparations and an opponent of universal military training and conscription; but entirely apart from that issue, I hold that segregation in any part of the body politic is an act of slavery and an act of war.
It felt like I'd been living underground, and for a moment, I'd been given this glimpse of the sky. Once you've seen that, how can you go back where you came from?
Change might not be fast and it isn't always easy. But with time and effort, almost any habit can be reshaped.
The biggest impediment to growth is in our minds and not in the world outside, and only constant in the world is change.
Time changes all things; there is no reason why language should escape this universal law
Each one of us can make a difference. Together we make change.
You expected to be sad in the fall. Part of you died each year when the leaves fell from the trees and their branches were bare against the wind and the cold, wintery light. But you knew there would always be the spring, as you knew the river would flow again after it was frozen. When the cold rains kept on and killed the spring, it was as though a young person died for no reason.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.