When the scary subject of race is finally broached, kids want to talk and talk. It's very satisfying.
Ruby BridgesRead
Racism is a form of hate. We pass it on to our young people. When we do that, we are robbing children of their innocence.
Interpretation
Racism harms individuals and perpetuates hatred, affecting the innocence of children.
In this quote, Ruby Bridges emphasizes that racism is not only an expression of hate but also a harmful legacy passed down to future generations. By fostering a culture of racism, society robs children of their natural innocence, influencing their perceptions and interactions in a way that can perpetuate division and negativity. This highlights the need for awareness and change to protect the purity of childhood and promote acceptance over hate.
In practice
In a speech about social justice, one could use this quote to highlight the impact of racism on future generations.
When the scary subject of race is finally broached, kids want to talk and talk. It's very satisfying.
I felt like there was something I needed to do - speaking to kids and sharing my story with them and helping them understand racism has no place in the minds and hearts of children.
Schools should be diverse if we are to get past racial differences.
I've seen schools in Detroit where the windows are broken, where there's no heat, and children are sitting with their coats on in class in the middle of a snowstorm. I've also seen schools in California with Olympic-sized swimming pools and cafeterias like five-star restaurants.
Throughout my life, my prayers have actively sustained me - held me up, carried me through.
My message is really that racism has no place in the hearts and minds of our children.
I was like, Am I gay? Am I straight? And I realized...I'm just slutty. Where's my parade?
Take a look at me now, cause there's just an empty space. And you coming back to me is against all odds and that's what I've got to face.
Is there discrimination against women? Yes. There's no denying that the old boys' network is alive and well. But there's also discrimination against men.
If you are open with someone, he will be open with you. If you want love from someone, give your love to him. If you want kind and sympathetic behavior from someone, be kind and sympathetic to him.
O men with sisters dear, O men with mothers and wives, It is not linen you 're wearing out, But human creatures' lives!
I am the woman I grew to be partly in spite of my mother, and partly because of the extraordinary love of her best friends, and my own best friends' mothers, and from surrogates, many of whom were not women at all but gay men. I have loved them my entire life, even after their passing.
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