One of the great ironies of our time is that some of the most progressive cities are among the most systemically racist in their housing policies.
Ritchie TorresRead
What does it say about our society that we invest more in a golf course than the homes of Black and brown Americans?
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote criticizes societal priorities that favor luxury recreational spaces over housing for marginalized communities.
Ritchie Torres's quote highlights the troubling disparity in societal values, where significant investments are made in affluent amenities such as golf courses while neglecting the basic needs of housing for Black and brown Americans. This observation prompts a deeper examination of societal priorities and the systemic inequities that influence resource allocation, reflecting a broader critique of how society often prioritizes the interests of the privileged over those of marginalized populations.
Themes
SocietyInvestmentHousingInequalityEquityBlackBrownCommunity
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in discussions about urban planning and investment priorities during a city council meeting.
More from Ritchie Torres
All quotes →Similar quotes
The United States imprisons a larger percentage of its black population than South Africa did at the height of apartheid. In Washington, D.C., our nation’s capitol, it is estimated that three out of four young black men (and nearly all those in the poorest neighborhoods) can expect to serve time in prison.
Michelle AlexanderRead
We are lagging far behind comparable countries in overcoming the disadvantages Indigenous people face.
Malcolm FraserRead
In the racialized space of capitalist gentrification, police are not only arbiters of the peace, they are the muscle of retail racism: You can only be in this space if you transcend your blackness by showing us some green dollars. Even then, there is no guarantee that green will transcend your black skin.
Anthea ButlerRead
I want all of the work that I do to have a social justice footprint attached. I want it to move the needle forward when it comes to the perception of all people, but especially people of color.
Winston DukeRead
When I was poor and I complained about inequality they said I was bitter. Now I'm rich and I complain about inequality they say I'm a hypocrite. I'm starting to think they just don't want to talk about inequality.
Russell BrandRead
The people who serve your fast food lunch or your after-work drinks deserve dignity - and if big companies don't start paying them enough for a decent standard of living, they have the power to close these businesses. But no one goes on strike lightly.
Caroline LucasRead