Freedom is neither guaranteed nor automatic; not even in the United States. Left unguarded, it can slip away like a thief in the night.
Joy ReidRead
To be white in America is to have the confidence to say, without a second thought: this space, this neighborhood, this city, this county, this country is mine.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the unshakeable confidence that comes with being part of the dominant racial group in America.
Joy Reid's quote emphasizes the innate privilege and sense of belonging that individuals from the dominant race experience in America. It suggests that this confidence allows them to claim ownership over various spaces and places in society without hesitation, contrasting with the experiences of marginalized groups who may not feel the same level of acceptance or security in those environments.
Themes
ConfidencePrivilegeRaceOwnershipBelongingAmerica
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about racial privilege in a sociology class.
More from Joy Reid
All quotes βThe work of anti-racism can only take place inside each individual soul, where we all try to grow into better people. There is no national tonic or instant cure.
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To be white in America is to assume, with total self-confidence and little afterthought, the personal ownership of public spaces.
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There is a twinge of abandonment that comes with being a member of the African Diaspora. But 'Black Panther' fearlessly introduces and then complicates this and other deeply held albeit rarely expressed emotions; that indeed is what makes this film so profoundly innovative.
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For millions of Americans who happen to be black or brown, that core bond of trust with the government that governs closest to you, is too often broken.
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