'Why worry about race? In a century, we'll all be tea-colored!' Tallahssee, Florida Unitarian Church 1958 (Church was burned a week later.)
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- A church in Florida joked that racial segregation would end naturally as colors mix. This optimistic prediction led to the church being burned a week later.
- In plain terms
- A church made a hopeful comment about race mixing and was burned.
- What can you take from it?
- Optimism about equality can provoke violent backlash.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Why was this comment dangerous then?
- How do we speak hope without risk?
Another view
It uses humor to downplay the serious and immediate risks of challenging racism.
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