We Americans have a chance to become someday a nation in which all racial stocks and classes can exist in their own selfhoods, but meet on a basis of respect and equality and live together, socially, economically, and politically.
Interpretation
The quote expresses a vision for a future America where diverse racial and social groups coexist with mutual respect and equality.
Shirley Chisholm highlights an aspirational future for the United States, emphasizing the potential for a multicultural society where individuals from different racial and social backgrounds can maintain their unique identities while also interacting on equal footing. This vision underscores the importance of respect and equity in social, economic, and political spheres, suggesting that true unity can be achieved through acceptance and collaboration among diverse groups.
In practice
This quote can be used in a speech about racial equality and coexistence.
I was the first American citizen to be elected to Congress in spite of the double drawbacks of being female and having skin darkened by melanin. When you put it that way, it sounds like a foolish reason for fame. In a just and free society it would be foolish. That I am a national figure because I was the first person in 192 years to be at once a congressman, black and a woman proves, I think, that our society is not yet either just or free.
I stand before you today to repudiate the ridiculous notion that the American people will not vote for qualified candidates simply because he is not white or because she is not a male.
The emotional, sexual, and psychological stereotyping of females begins when the doctor says, 'It's a girl.'
I know that millions of Americans from all walks of life agree with me that leadership does not mean putting the ear to the ground to follow public opinion, but to have the vision of what is necessary and the courage to make it possible.
Of course laws will not eliminate prejudice from the hearts of human beings. But that is no reason to allow prejudice to continue to be enshrined in our laws - to perpetuate injustice through inaction.
I want history to remember me... not as the first black woman to have made a bid for the presidency of the United States, but as a black woman who lived in the 20th century and who dared to be herself. I want to be remembered as a catalyst for change in America.
October is a fine and dangerous season in America. a wonderful time to begin anything at all. You go to college, and every course in the catalogue looks wonderful.
In order to make a change, I have to exist in a traditionally homophobic space such as hip-hop. If I were to just be this queer rapper who only spoke to queer kids... I don't think I could as effectively make a change for another young, black, queer kid growing up in Texas.
So why are we having to fight in 2012 against politicians who want to end access to birth control? It's like we woke up in a bad episode of 'Mad Men.'
We focus so much on how immigrants can change America that we forget that America has always changed immigrants even more.
I am not the first man who wanted to make changes in his life at 60 and I won't be the last. It is just that others can do it with anonymity.
It will be great when it's not such a big deal when a woman gets a good job.
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