Why do we cling to bigotry? Because bigotry, plainly, is convenient. It is a near-effortless way to both elevate one's stature and make a pity grab in this culture of victims that we have become.
John RidleyRead
Slavery was not a bad day on the job. It was not your boss yelling at you. It was not hard work for little pay. This was a full system of human subjugation.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes that slavery is an extreme and systemic oppression far beyond typical workplace grievances.
John Ridley's quote starkly contrasts the experience of slavery with common frustrations at work, highlighting that slavery represents a totalization of human suffering and subjugation, rather than just a challenging job or boss. It serves as a reminder that the brutality of slavery must be recognized as a profound moral and historical blight, rather than trivialized by comparison to everyday employment issues.
Themes
SlaveryOppressionSubjugationFreedomInjustice
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about human rights, one might use this quote to emphasize the severity of oppression.
More from John Ridley
All quotes →Being of color in America by no means amounts to a constant barrage of negativity. However, unlike being white, being of color means one's race is a constant issue.
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People of color grow up steeped in 'white' culture. The reverse is not true. And, no, listening to hip-hop on the way to work does not count as immersion.
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For children, diversity needs to be real and not merely relegated to learning the names of the usual suspects during Black History Month or enjoying south-of-the-border cuisine on Cinco de Mayo. It means talking to and spending time with kids not like them so that they may discover those kids are in fact just like them.
John RidleyRead
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