Racism is a way to gain economic advantage at the expense of others. Slavery and plantations may be gone, but racism still allows us to regard those who may keep us from financial gain as less than equals.
Interpretation
Racism enables individuals to profit financially by devaluing others based on race.
Alveda King's quote highlights the persistent economic motivations behind racism, suggesting that while overt practices like slavery may have ended, the underlying attitudes that dehumanize certain groups continue to exist. This devaluation allows some individuals to justify their actions that prioritize personal financial gain over equality and justice for all.
In practice
This quote can be used in discussions about the importance of diversity in economic opportunities during a seminar.
Abortion and racism are both symptoms of a fundamental human error. The error is thinking that when someone stands in the way of our wants, we can justify getting that person out of our lives. Abortion and racism stem from the same poisonous root, selfishness.
Racism springs from the lie that certain human beings are less than fully human. It's a self-centered falsehood that corrupts our minds into believing we are right to treat others as we would not want to be treated.
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Hot weather brings out snakes and slaveholders, and I like one class of the venomous creatures as little as I do the other.
If you don't have a lens that's been trained to look at how various forms of discrimination come together, you're unlikely to develop a set of policies that will be as inclusive as they need to be.
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.
There has to be a readjustment of resources that is being diverted to police and policing as opposed to community health services, and there certainly has to be control over the police by the communities that they are supposed to protect and serve.
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