During past years, like frightened children, we were afraid to eat the strong meat of human rights and instead sucked the milk of civil rights from the breasts of white liberals, black Uncle Toms, and Aunt Jemimas.
Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.Read
The black masses must demand and refuse to accept nothing less than that proportionate percentage of the political spoils such as jobs, elective offices and appointments... They must reject the shameful racial tokenism that characterizes the political life of America today.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the need for marginalized groups to demand equitable representation and reject tokenism in political opportunities.
Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. articulates the essential requirement for Black Americans to actively pursue equitable political representation and opportunities rather than settling for superficial gestures or tokenism. He highlights the importance of demanding a fair share of political power and resources, stressing that anything less is unacceptable in the ongoing fight for true equality in America.
Themes
PoliticsRepresentationTokenismEqualityActivism
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be cited in a speech advocating for increased representation of marginalized groups in local government.
More from Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.
All quotes →Tremendous changes are taking place in our country, eradicating the concept of second-class citizenship.
Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.Read
Where Negroes provide 20 percent of the vote, they should have 20 per cent of the jobs.
Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.Read
I am the product of the sustained indignation of a branded grandfather, the militant protest of my grandmother, the disciplined resentment of my father and mother, and the power of the mass action of the church.
Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.Read
Unless man is committed to the belief that all mankind are his brothers, then he labors in vain and hypocritically in the vineyards of equality.
Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.Read
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