When a country doesn't respect Black lives, maybe it doesn't deserve to be entertained by Black athletes.
Jemele HillRead
Race impacts 90 percent of our society - and I'm probably undershooting that figure. I find this fascinating and like to address it when pertinent.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the profound impact of race on societal dynamics and the importance of discussing it.
Jemele Hill's quote suggests that race plays a significant and perhaps underestimated role in shaping various aspects of society. She expresses fascination with this reality and advocates for addressing racial issues when appropriate, highlighting the need for awareness and dialogue surrounding race in social contexts.
In practice
During a panel discussion on social justice, one could use this quote to highlight how race influences systemic issues.
When a country doesn't respect Black lives, maybe it doesn't deserve to be entertained by Black athletes.
It's something most people of color and most women have been burdened with their whole lives, having to suppress your natural emotion to make everybody else feel comfortable. Repeatedly having to do that takes its toll.
Yes, I do realize that men in sports media also face criticism and backlash, but the vitriol that is directed at women, especially women of color, is far more severe.
America hasn't been able to grapple with the uncomfortable reality that police brutality is encoded in this country's DNA.
There's a long history and a pattern of Black athletes - and Black people, period - being told to shut up and accept whatever it is they're given.
The thirst for liberation and equality can never come at the expense of dehumanizing other marginalized groups - especially at a time when hate crimes against Jews have increased significantly.
You meet folks who are funny and really smart and persistent and loving that are confronting this thing we call poverty, which is just a shorthand for this way of life that holds you underwater. And you just wonder what our country would be if we allowed these people to flourish and reach their full potential.
We have failed to fully appreciate how deeply housing is implicated in the creation of poverty.
Discrimination has a lot of layers that make it tough for minorities to get a leg up.
The news media's silence, particularly television news, is reprehensible. If we knew as much about Darfur as we do about Michael Jackson, we might be able to stop these things from continuing.
Many unhoused people work full time but earn starvation, unlivable wages. Some struggle to access mental health services or substance use treatment, making earning a consistent and stable wage nearly impossible.
I wanted to have a body of work behind me before I wrote about racism.
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