Quote

[one...two...tree 2,762]

When we ask Negroes to abide by the law, let us also declare that the white man does not abide by law in the ghettos. Day in and day out he violates welfare laws to deprive the poor of their meager allotments; he flagrantly violates building codes and regulations; his police make a mockery of law; he violates laws on equal employment and education and the provisions of civil services. The slums are the handiwork of a vicious system of the white society; Negroes live in them, but they do not make them, any more than a prisoner makes a prison.

Edited January 18, 2010 by Galt's gallstones

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Little early to be race baiting isn't it?

[Ban Hammer 13,403]

[Nagishkaw 510]

[Susita 175]

It's Martin Luther King Jr. Day

"I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. "

[one...two...tree 2,762]

It's Martin Luther King Jr. Day

"I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. "

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

It's Martin Luther King Jr. Day

"I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. "

Then everyday is MLK day. Right?

[natty bumppo 297]

Then everyday is MLK day. Right?

quit.making.sense

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

quit.making.sense

[SMR 368]

Reverend King was a great man, but I don't really think this is one of his better quotes. The quote, in fact, is in itself racist. Yes, blacks were unfairly treated in the ghettos. But not by all whites. The quote lumps whites together as oppressors in a way that is no more just than lumping blacks together in many of the ways that they were and are.

I'm not saying that Reverend King was racist, but I don't think that this quote really illustrates what he stood for. Civil rights is not about blaming someone or grouping people based on their skin color. As Reverend King said, the goal is a land where people are "not judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

In the US today, many organizations, including the government, attempt to combat racism by institutionalizing racism. In a truly colorblind society, I wouldn't be asked on a regular basis to fill out my "race" on forms. It wouldn't matter when I fill out the census, when I apply for college and scholarships, when I apply for a job, or when I apply for other types of aid from other organizations. But the fact is, it does. Why do we think that institutionalizing racism will lead to a society where people are "not judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character?"

[Susita 175]

Then everyday is MLK day. Right?

Yes! I just wanted to put a quote in like Galt's Gallstones did. I like quotes. Here's one from Dr. Seuss:

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." The Lorax

[Ban Hammer 13,403]

thanks susita! here's my contribution to this thread:

[Susita 175]

I'm not stupid. I've just been reading a lot of Dr. Seuss books lately. I have two 4-year olds you know.

But anyway, I hope everyone has a nice MLK day.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I'm not stupid. I've just been reading a lot of Dr. Seuss books lately. I have two 4-year olds you know.

But anyway, I hope everyone has a nice MLK day.

Same to you. It's unfortunate that not everyone here thinks Martin Luther King Jr. deserves a day in his honor.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Same to you. It's unfortunate that not everyone here thinks Martin Luther King Jr. deserves a day in his honor.

WOW! where did that come from? Thats some imagination you got there.