We live in a society of an imposed forgetfulness, a society that depends on public amnesia.
Angela DavisRead
Because it would be too agonizing to cope with the possibility that anyone, including our selves, could become a prisoner, we tend to think of the prison as disconnected from our own lives. This is even true for some of us, women as well as men, who have already experienced imprisonment.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects how we often distance ourselves from the reality of imprisonment, failing to acknowledge its potential impact on our own lives.
Angela Davis's quote explores the psychological barrier individuals create around the concept of imprisonment, suggesting that it is too painful to accept that anyone, including ourselves, might face such a fate. This perspective can lead to a disconnect in understanding the societal issues surrounding incarceration, especially among those who have experienced it. It highlights the need for empathy and acknowledgment of the systemic nature of imprisonment, which can affect all individuals regardless of their personal experiences.
Themes
PrisonImprisonmentSocietyEmpathyDisconnect
In practice
Example use cases
Using this quote in a discussion about criminal justice reform to highlight societal attitudes towards imprisonment.
More from Angela Davis
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Racism is a much more clandestine, much more hidden kind of phenomenon, but at the same time it's perhaps far more terrible than it's ever been.
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Imprisonment has become the response of first resort to far too many of our social problems.
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It's true that it's within the realm of cultural politics that young people tend to work through political issues, which I think is good, although it's not going to solve the problems
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Radical simply means 'grasping things at the root.'
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