Well, we see an increasingly weaker labor movement as a result of the overall assault on the labor movement and as a result of the globalization of capital.
Angela DavisRead
We live in a society of an imposed forgetfulness, a society that depends on public amnesia.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights how society often tends to forget important issues and events, relying on a collective amnesia to function.
Angela Davis's quote emphasizes the troubling reality of a society that selectively forgets past injustices and struggles. It suggests that this 'imposed forgetfulness' allows the status quo to persist, as people become disengaged from critical historical contexts that inform contemporary issues. The implication is that public discourse and collective memory are essential for social justice and awareness, urging individuals to resist this trend of amnesia and keep vital histories alive.
Themes
SocietyForgetfulnessHistoryPublic AmnesiaConsciousness
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about social justice, one could use this quote to highlight the importance of remembering historical injustices.
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When children attend schools that place a greater value on discipline and security than on knowledge and intellectual development, they are attending prep schools for prison.
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