People are just afraid of things too much … Sure, evil exists, extremism exists. Somebody could commit a hate crime and hurt me. But they could do the same just because I'm black. They could do the same just because I'm American.
Interpretation
The quote highlights the fear many people harbor regarding evil and extremism, especially towards marginalized communities.
Frank Ocean expresses the reality of fear that permeates society, particularly among marginalized individuals who face potential violence or discrimination simply for their identity. While acknowledging the existence of evil and hate crimes, he brings to light the pervasive nature of these fears, which can stem from being part of a specific racial or national group. The underlying message is about confronting these fears and recognizing that they are part of a broader societal issue.
In practice
During a speech on social justice, one might reference this quote to highlight society's struggles with fear and prejudice.
Whenever I think about movies, I always look at that art process as having the best of a lot of worlds. Because if you watch a great film, you have a musical element to it, not just on the scoring, but in the way that the shots are edited - that has music and rhythm and time.
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Work hard in silence, let success be your noise.
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The fears that assault us are mostly simple anxieties about social skills, about intimacy, about likeableness, or about performance. We need not give emotional food or charge to these fears or become attached to them. We don’t even have to shame ourselves for having these fears. Simply ask your fears, “What are you trying to teach me?” Some say that FEAR is merely an acronym for “False Evidence Appearing Real.” From Everything Belongs, p. 143
Of course, we will face fear, experience ridicule, and meet opposition. Let us have the courage to defy the consensus, the courage to stand for principle. Courage, not compromise, brings the smile of God's approval.
Every hero must have the courage to be alone, to take the journey for himself.
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