Social Justice Quotes - Page 30

• The colored people of this country know and understand the white people better than the white people know and understand them.

  James Weldon Johnson

  Country, White, People

  James Weldon Johnson (2012). “The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man”, p.10, Courier Corporation

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• The time is past when Christians in America can take a long spoon and hand the gospel to the black man out the back door.

  Mordecai Wyatt Johnson

  Christian, Past, Men

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• It's funny how heterosexuals have lives and the rest of us have "lifestyles."

  Sonia Johnson

  Justice, Diversity, Lifestyle

  Sonia Johnson (1987). “Going Out of Our Minds: The Metaphysics of Liberation”, Crossing Pr

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• Good poetry and successful revolution change our lives. And you cannot compose a good poem or wage a revolution without changing consciousness unless you attack the language that you share with your enemies and invent a language that you share with your allies.

  June Jordan

  Successful, Justice, Diversity

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• All men were made brothers. The earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights upon it. You might as well expect the rivers to run backward as that any man who was born free should be content when penned up and denied liberty to go where he pleases.

  Chief Joseph

  Mother, Running, Brother

  Lincoln Hall Speech in Washington D.C., January 14, 1879.

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• Suppose a white man should come to me and say, "Joseph, I like your horses. I want to buy them." I say to him, "No, my horses suit me; I will not sell them." Then he goes to my neighbor and says to him, "Joseph has some good horses. I want to buy them, but he refuses to sell." My neighbor answers, "Pay me the money and I will sell you Joseph's horses." The white man returns to me and says, "Joseph, I have bought your horses and you must let me have them." If we sold our lands to the government, this is the way they bought them.

  Chief Joseph

  I Like You, Horse, Native American

  Arguing against the right of the US Government to force his people to leave their lands, 1876.

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• We do not want churches because they will teach us to quarrel about God. We do not want to learn that. We may quarrel with men sometimes about things on this earth, but we never quarrel about the Great Spirit. We do not want to learn that.

  Chief Joseph

  Men, Justice, Diversity

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• Prejudice squints when it looks and lies when it talks.

  Laure Junot, Duchess of Abrantes

  Lying, Diversity, Justice

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• Have therefore zeal to better thyself and then mayst thou have zeal to thy neighbor.

  Thomas a Kempis

  Justice, Diversity, Neighbor

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• We feel and weigh soon enough what we suffer from others: but how much others suffer from us, of this we take no heed.

  Thomas a Kempis

  Soon Enough, Justice, Diversity

  Thomas a Kempis (1913). “The Imitation of Christ”

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• In America there must be only citizens, not divided by grade, first and second, but citizens, east, west, north, and south.

  John F. Kennedy

  America, Justice, Diversity

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• We shall be judged more by what we do at home than what we preach abroad.

  John F. Kennedy

  Inspirational, Home, Justice

  Kennedy, John F. (1964). “Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: John F. Kennedy, 1963”, p.15, Best Books on

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• Our privileges can be no greater than our obligations. The protection of our rights can endure no longer than the performance of our responsibilities.

  John F. Kennedy

  Responsibility, Rights, Justice

  Kennedy, John F. (1964). “Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: John F. Kennedy, 1963”, p.407, Best Books on

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• The war against hunger is truly mankind's war of liberation.

  John F. Kennedy

  War, Justice, Poverty

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• Our nation is moving toward two societies, one black, one white-separate and unequal.

  Otto Kerner, Jr.

  Moving, Two, White

  Report of the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders introduction (1968)

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• I have lived in the redness of the stones that mark a path through my blood; I am the descendant of a forgotten race, but I carry in my hands the remnants of their fire.

  Mohammed Khair-Eddine

  Blood, Hands, Fire

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• A nation can be no stronger abroad than she is at home. Only an America which practices what it preaches about equal rights and social justice will be respected by those whose choice affects our future.

  John F. Kennedy

  Home, Rights, Practice

  Undelivered Speech to the Dallas Citizens Council, delivered 22 November 1963, Trade Mart, Dallas, Texas

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• From blood banking to the modern subway, from jazz to social justice, the contributions of African Americans have shaped and molded and influenced our national culture and our national character.

  Bill Frist

  Character, Blood, Justice

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• Since separation precludes financial support or special privilege from government, the churches are free to engage in prophetic criticism of the government and to work for social justice.

  John M Swomley

  Government, Justice, Support

  John M. Swomley (1987). “Religious liberty and the secular state: the constitutional context”

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• Social justice and compassion are compatible with an intelligent respect for private enterprise and law and order.

  Camille Paglia

  Intelligent, Compassion, Order

  Camille Paglia (2011). “Sex, Art, and American Culture: Essays”, p.7, Vintage

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• For as long as I can remember, I've always been interested in issues of social justice, political freedom, and civil rights.

  Jennifer Chiaverini

  Issues, Rights, Long

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• Teaching has always been, for me, linked to issues of social justice. I've never considered it a neutral or passive profession.

  Bill Ayers

  Teaching, Issues, Justice

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• When you look at what I've done here, you see a consistent theme of reforms which is not driven by any dogma from across the water, but a radical agenda to make sure Northern Ireland's people enjoy equal opportunities, driven by the values of social justice.

  Peter Hain

  Opportunity, People, Justice

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• When you're fighting for economic and social justice, you're always fighting for the minority.

  Bob Kerrey

  Fighting, Justice, Minorities

  "Bob Kerrey Will Call Your Bullshit" by Ted Genoways, www.motherjones.com. September/October 2012.

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• I think there is a heritage which I’m proud of, which is a fight for democracy, a fight for social justice, a fight for freedom. My grandfather went to jail or exile six times in his life, fighting for his principles for democracy, or for his country. And my father twice.

  George Papandreou

  Country, Father, Fighting

  "Q&A with George Papandreou". Interview with Nicole Itano, papandreou.gr. April 12, 2010.

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