Derrick Bell Quotes

• It appears that my worst fears have been realised: we have made progress in everything yet nothing has changed.

  Derrick Bell

  Change, Fear, African American

  68 Copy quote

• Black people are the magical faces at the bottom of society's well. Even the poorest whites, those who must live their lives only a few levels above, gain their self-esteem by gazing down on us. Surely, they must know that their deliverance depends on letting down their ropes. Only by working together is escape possible. Over time, many reach out, but most simply watch, mesmerized into maintaining their unspoken commitment to keeping us where we are, at whatever cost to them or to us (Bell).

  Derrick Bell

  Life, Change, Self Esteem

  Derrick Bell (2008). “Faces At The Bottom Of The Well: The Permanence Of Racism”, p.5, Basic Books

  71 Copy quote

• Education leads to enlightenment. Enlightenment opens the way to empathy. Empathy foreshadows reform.

  Derrick Bell

  Empathy, Enlightenment, Reform

  Derrick A. Bell (1992). “Faces at the Bottom of the Well: The Permanence of Racism”, p.150, Basic Books

  53 Copy quote

• I live to harass white folks.

  Derrick Bell

  College, White, Obnoxious

  Derrick A. Bell, Richard Delgado, Jean Stefancic (2005). “The Derrick Bell Reader”, p.471, NYU Press

  55 Copy quote

• We live in a system that espouses merit, equality, and a level playing field, but exalts those with wealth, power, and celebrity, however gained.

  Derrick Bell

  America, Greed, Levels

  Derrick Bell (2010). “Ethical Ambition”, p.5, A&C Black

  57 Copy quote

• Slavery is, as an example of what white America has done, a constant reminder of what white America might do.

  Derrick Bell

  White, America, Example

  Derrick Bell (2008). “Faces At The Bottom Of The Well: The Permanence Of Racism”, p.12, Basic Books

  31 Copy quote

• Courage is a decision you make to act in a way that works through your own fear for the greater good as opposed to pure self-interest. Courage means putting at risk your immediate self-interest for what you believe is right.

  Derrick Bell

  Fear, Believe, Mean

  Derrick Bell (2010). “Ethical Ambition”, p.18, A&C Black

  40 Copy quote

• Self-esteem is like a difficult-to-cultivate flower. It requires frequent nurturing that occurs when you keep your word and follow through on your promises.

  Derrick Bell

  Self Esteem, Flower, Promise

  Derrick Bell (2010). “Ethical Ambition”, p.49, A&C Black

  51 Copy quote

• However self-sufficient we may fancy ourselves, we exist only in relation - to our friend, family, and life partners; to those we teach and mentor; to our coworkers, neighbors, strangers; and even to forces we cannot fully conceive of, let alone define. In many ways, we are our relationships.

  Derrick Bell

  Self, Mentor, May

  "Ethical Ambition".

  34 Copy quote

• The challenge throughout has been to tell what I view as the truth about racism without causing disabling despair.

  Derrick Bell

  Views, Racism, Challenges

  Derrick Bell (2008). “Faces At The Bottom Of The Well: The Permanence Of Racism”, p.9, Basic Books

  24 Copy quote

• All ethical people strive to choose "right" over "easy" when confronted by situations that force them to choose one or the other.

  Derrick Bell

  People, Ethics, Easy

  Derrick Bell (2010). “Ethical Ambition”, p.37, A&C Black

  26 Copy quote

• Resistance is a powerful motivator precisely because it enables us to fulfill our longing to achieve our goals while letting us boldly recognize and name the obstacles to those achievements.

  Derrick Bell

  Inspirational, Powerful, Names

  Derrick Bell (2010). “Ethical Ambition”, p.65, A&C Black

  33 Copy quote

• Power in the hands of the reformer is no less potentially corrupting than in the hands of the oppressor.

  Derrick Bell

  Hands, Reformers, Oppressors

  Derrick Bell (2010). “Ethical Ambition”, p.60, A&C Black

  33 Copy quote

• Few whites are ready to actively promote civil rights for blacks.

  Derrick Bell

  Rights, Civil Rights, Ready

  Derrick Bell (2008). “Faces At The Bottom Of The Well: The Permanence Of Racism”, p.4, Basic Books

  12 Copy quote

• My wife says I spend my life trying to teach white folks. I'm not so sure I'm proud of it, but she's right.

  Derrick Bell

  White, Wife, Trying

  20 Copy quote

• Courage is a finite resource, it is exhausted by the terrors we face.

  Derrick Bell

  War, Faces, Exhausted

  8 Copy quote

• A rule without exceptions is an instrument capable of doing mischief to the innocent and bringing grief - as well as injustice - to those who should gain exemptions from the rule's functioning.

  Derrick Bell

  Inspirational, Grief, Gains

  Derrick A. Bell (1994). “Confronting Authority: Reflections of an Ardent Protester”, Beacon Press (MA)

  13 Copy quote

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