I've always felt that homophobic attitudes and policies were unjust and unworthy of a free society and must be opposed by all Americans who believe in democracy. The civil rights movement thrives on unity and inclusion, not division and exclusion. My husband's struggle parallels that of the gay rights movement.
We have a lot more work to do in our common struggle against bigotry and discrimination. I say "common struggle" because I believe very strongly that all forms of bigotry and discrimination are equally wrong and should be opposed by right-thinking Americans everywhere. Freedom from discrimination based on sexual orientation is surely a fundamental human right in any great democracy, as much as freedom from racial, religious, gender, or ethnic discrimination.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the necessity of unity in combating all forms of discrimination and bigotry, asserting it as a fundamental human right.
Coretta Scott King's quote highlights the ongoing battle against various forms of bigotry and discrimination, stressing that these injustices are interconnected and should be opposed collectively. She argues that freedom from discrimination related to sexual orientation is as essential as freedom from racial, religious, gender, or ethnic discrimination, framing this struggle as a shared responsibility of all individuals committed to justice and equality in a democratic society.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a speech advocating for LGBTQ+ rights during Pride Month.
More from Coretta Scott King
All quotes →...We have an historic opportunity for a great global healing and renewal. If we will accept the challenge of nonviolent activism with faith, courage, and determination, we can bring this great vision of a world united in peace and harmony from a distant ideal into glowing reality.
I think if people really read Martin Luther King, Jr., then they would begin to understand what he really represented.
It doesn't matter how strong your opinions are. If you don't use your power for positive change, you are, indeed, part of the problem.
Sometimes, I am also identified as a civil rights leader or a human rights activist. I would also like to be thought of as a complex, three-dimensional, flesh-and-blood human being with a rich storehouse of experiences, much like everyone else, yet unique in my own way, much like everyone else.
People don't ever have to starve to death; there are solutions. We have failed if we can't eradicate hunger in Africa and Ethiopia.
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