We live in a society of an imposed forgetfulness, a society that depends on public amnesia.
Angela DavisRead
The food we eat masks so much cruelty. The fact that we can sit down and eat a piece of chicken without thinking about the horrendous conditions under which chickens are industrially bred in this country is a sign of the dangers of capitalism, how capitalism has colonized our minds. The fact that we look no further than the commodity itself, the fact that we refuse to understand the relationships that underly the commodities that we use on a daily basis. And so food is like that.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the disconnect between consumerism and the ethical implications of food production.
Angela Davis critiques the capitalist system's ability to dehumanize and desensitize individuals regarding the origins of their food, particularly in the context of animal agriculture. She emphasizes that our consumption practices often blind us to the brutal realities faced by animals and the socio-economic relationships that commodify living beings, reflecting a dangerous detachment from the ethical considerations behind our daily choices.
Themes
CapitalismFoodCrueltyConsumerismEthicsAnimal Rights
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about ethical consumption.
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