Many claim that it is insane to resist the system; but actually, it is insane not to.
Mumia Abu-JamalRead
At the risk of quoting Mephistopheles I repeat: Welcome to hell. A hell erected and maintained by human-governments, and blessed by black robed judges. A hell that allows you to see your loved ones, but not to touch them. A hell situated in America's boondocks, hundreds of miles away from most families. A white, rural hell, where most of the captives are black and urban. It is an American way of death.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote critiques the inhumane systems of justice and government that separate families and perpetuate suffering.
Mumia Abu-Jamal's quote reflects on the profound injustices of the American prison system, labeling it as a 'hell' created by governmental and judicial systems that inflict profound emotional pain on individuals and their families. By highlighting the physical and emotional barriers these systems impose, particularly on marginalized communities, the quote calls attention to the broader societal and racial injustices present in America, suggesting that this is a form of state-sanctioned torment that deeply affects the lives of those involved.
Themes
JusticeInjusticePrisonHuman RightsFamily
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in discussions about prison reform at community meetings.
More from Mumia Abu-Jamal
All quotes →Do you see law and order? There is nothing but disorder, and instead of law there is the illusion of security. It is an illusion because it is built on a long history of injustices: racism, criminality, and the genocide of millions. Many people say it is insane to resist the system, but actually, it is insane not to.
Mumia Abu-JamalRead
Prison is a second-by-second assault on the soul, a day-to-day degradation of the self, an oppressive steel and brick umbrella that transforms seconds into hours and hours into days.
Mumia Abu-JamalRead
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