A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything.
Malcolm XRead
They attack the victim, and then the criminal who attacked the victim accuses the victim of attacking him. This is American justice. This is American democracy and those of you who are familiar with it know that in America democracy is hypocrisy. Now, if I’m wrong, put me in jail; but if you can’t prove that democracy is not hypocrisy, then don’t put your hands on me.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Malcolm X critiques the hypocrisy he sees in American democracy, highlighting how victims are often blamed instead of the perpetrators.
In this quote, Malcolm X expresses a deep skepticism regarding American democracy, which he perceives as hypocritical. By illustrating a scenario where a victim is attacked and then blamed, he encapsulates the broader social injustices that challenge the foundational ideals of democracy and justice, questioning the authenticity of the system when it fails to protect the vulnerable.
Themes
HypocrisyDemocracyJusticeVictimCriminal
In practice
Example use cases
During a social justice rally to emphasize the hypocrisy in the legal system.
More from Malcolm X
All quotes →I have more respect for a man who lets me know where he stands, even if he's wrong, than the one who comes up like an angel and is nothing but a devil.
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When you want a nation, that's called nationalism... Black nationalism. A revolutionary is a Black nationalist. He wants a nation.
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So over you is the greatest enemy a man can have — and that is fear. I know some of you are afraid to listen to the truth — you have been raised on fear and lies. But I am going to preach to you the truth until you are free of that fear...
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Usually when people are sad, they don't do anything. They just cry over their condition. But when they get angry, they bring about a change.
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Time is on the side of the oppressed today, it's against the oppressor. Truth is on the side of the oppressed today, it's against the oppressor. You don't need anything else.
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