Tremendous changes are taking place in our country, eradicating the concept of second-class citizenship.
Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.Read
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights a fear of fully embracing human rights, opting for a more comfortable but lesser alternative provided by others.
Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. reflects on the hesitance of marginalized groups to fully pursue human rights, instead settling for civil rights offered by those in power, particularly white liberals and stereotypical figures in the black community. He suggests that this reliance is akin to children who are too frightened to tackle the more challenging aspects of their rights, settling instead for a diluted version that does not fully empower or liberate them.
Themes
Human RightsCivil RightsEmpowermentAdvocacyChange
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a speech about the importance of advocacy for complete human rights.
More from Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.
All quotes →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
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.
Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.Read
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