Henry Louis Gates Quotes About Racism

Quotes about: Racism

• I believe in the law. I think we have a great system of justice. But I do think that system of justice has been corrupted by racism and classism. I think it's difficult for 'poor people' - poor white people, brown people - to be treated fairly before the law in the same way that upper-class people are.

  Henry Louis Gates

  Believe, Thinking, Law

• In America there is institutional racism that we all inherit and participate in, like breathing the air in this room - and we have to become sensitive to it.

  Henry Louis Gates

  Air, Breathing, America

• I think that the roots of racism have always been economic, and I think people are desperate and scared. And when you're desperate and scared you scapegoat people. It exacerbates latent tendencies toward - well, toward racism or homophobia or anti-Semitism.

  Henry Louis Gates

  Thinking, Roots, Racism

  "Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr". "The Tavis Smiley Show", www.pbs.org. March 19, 2008.

• Each individual has a responsibility to get out of bed, learn their ABCs, learn your math tables, not use race and racism as an excuse.

  Henry Louis Gates

  Responsibility, Math, Race

  "Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr". "The Tavis Smiley Show", www.pbs.org. October 21, 2013.

• We have to stop making excuses. One of the things that I'm careful to show is the horrendous effects of institutional and structural racism, but in the end, you can't wait for white man or a Black man to come riding in on a white horse to save you. We have to save ourselves, and that's the lesson of "The African Americans."

  Henry Louis Gates

  Horse, Men, White Man

  "Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr". "The Tavis Smiley Show", www.pbs.org. October 21, 2013.

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