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You get racism crossing the street; it's in the very fabric of American society.
Nina Simone
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Racism is deeply ingrained in American culture and everyday life.

Nina Simone highlights the pervasive nature of racism in American society, suggesting that it is so deeply embedded that it is encountered in mundane activities, such as crossing the street. This statement evokes the idea that racism is not just an overt issue but a subtle, systemic problem that affects individuals' lives at every turn, underscoring the need for societal awareness and change.

Themes

RacismSocietyAwarenessChangeCulture

In practice

Example use cases

During a lecture on social justice, this quote can be used to illustrate the everyday realities of racism.

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Sometimes I sound like gravel, and sometimes I sound like coffee and cream.
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Everything that happened to me as a child involved music. It was part of everyday life, as automatic as breathing.
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