Ostentatious men who are governed by self-interest will combine, whether white or black, and the generous and selfless will similarly unite. True men, black and white, will treat one another with loyalty and tenderness, out of a sense of merit and the pride of everyone who honors the land in which we were born, black and white alike. Negroes, who now use the word 'racist' in good faith, will stop using it when they realize it is the only apparently valid argument that weak men, who honestly believe that Negroes are inferior, use to deny them the full exercise of their rights as men. White and black racists would be equally guilty of racism.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- People unite based on character rather than race, and true equality removes the need for defensive labels like racist.
- In plain terms
- Good people unite across race and stop using racist terms when equality exists.
- What can you take from it?
- Focus on shared merit and character to overcome racial divisions.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What unites people beyond race?
- When do labels become barriers?
Another view
The quote assumes good faith will naturally stop the use of the term racist.
More from Jose Marti
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Permalink to quote #59 Liberty is the right of every man to be honest, to think and to speak without hypocrisy.
Permalink to quote #61 What right do white racist, who believe their race is superior, have for complaining about black racists, who see something special in their own race? What rig…
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