Racism is considered the marginalization and/or oppression of people of color based on a socially constructed racial hierarchy that privileges another race. The term is applied in many areas of a society that perpetuates discrimination on the basis of race or strengthen racial inequalities in education, health care, income, and civil rights.
Ever since the 20th century, the concept of biological race is considered a cultural invention that has no scientific basis. The progress over the past half-century has been impressive, but the nation still has a long way to go to reach true racial equality.
The following racism quotes contain inspiring perspectives to help you reflect and do whatever you can to make the world a better place for you and generations yet to come. Showing that you care about other people’s well-being, that you are an ally in promoting inclusion and equity, are some great actions you can take to help overcome the consequences of racism.
It all starts with
awareness. Just because racism doesn’t happen among the people you know, it
doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Passive racism is probably the most insidious
factor that contributes to the ongoing problem.
Here are 30 quotes on racism
quotes to help fight prejudice and injustice:
There is no such thing as race. None. There is just a human race -- scientifically, anthropologically.
TONI MORRISON (more Toni Morrison quotes)
Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.
JAMES BALDWIN
People who insist on dividing the world into 'Us' and 'Them' never contemplate that they may be someone else's 'Them.'
RAY A. DAVIS
Hating people because of their color is wrong. And it doesn't matter which color does the hating. It's just plain wrong.
MUHAMMAD ALI
If you have come to help me you are wasting your time. But if you recognize that your liberation and mine are bound up together, we can walk together.
LILA WATSON
In a racist society, it is not enough to be non-racist. We must be anti-racist.
ANGELA DAVIS (more Angela Davis quotes)
None of us is responsible for the complexion of his skin. This fact of nature offers no clue to the character or quality of the person underneath.
MARIAN ANDERSON
Accomplishments have no color.
LEONTYNE PRICE
If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.
DESMOND TUTU
As long as there is racial privilege, racism will never end.
WAYNE GERARD TROTMAN
Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.
HARRIET TUBMAN (more Harriet Tubman quotes)
It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.
AUDRE LORDE
I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality… I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word
MARTIN LUTHER KING
The very serious function of racism is distraction. It keeps you from doing your work. It keeps you explaining, over and over again, your reason for being.
TONI MORRISON
It belongs to the very substance of nonviolence never to destroy or damage another person's feeling of self worth, even an opponent's.
BERNARD HARING
Tolerance, inter-cultural dialogue and respect for diversity are more essential than ever in a world where peoples are becoming more and more closely interconnected.
KOFI ANNAN
One day our descendants will think it incredible that we paid so much attention to things like the amount of melanin in our skin or the shape of our eyes or our gender instead of the unique identities of each of us as complex human beings.
FRANKLIN THOMAS

Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future, and renders the present inaccessible.
MAYA ANGELOU
Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN (more Abraham Lincoln quotes)
Racism is man’s gravest threat to man -- the maximum of hatred for a minimum of reason.
ABRAHAM HESCHEL
Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness.
MARK TWAIN
When will our conscience grow so tender that we will act to prevent human misery rather than avenge it?
ELEANOR ROOSEVELT
We all live with the objective of being happy; our lives are all different and yet the same.
ANNE FRANK
I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality.... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. (more Martin Luther King Jr. quotes)

Whoever debases others is debasing himself.
JAMES BALDWIN
No matter how big a nation is, it is no stronger than its weakest people, and as long as you keep a person down, some part of you has to be down there to hold him down, so it means you cannot soar as you might otherwise.
MARIAN ANDERSON
Race and racism is a reality that so many of us grow up learning to just deal with. But if we ever hope to move past it, it can't just be on people of color to deal with it. It's up to all of us -- Black, white, everyone -- no matter how well-meaning we think we might be, to do the honest, uncomfortable work of rooting it out.
MICHELLE OBAMA
No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.
NELSON MANDELA (more Nelson Mandela quotes)
The beauty of anti-racism is that you don't have to pretend to be free of racism to be an anti-racist. Anti-racism is the commitment to fight racism wherever you find it, including in yourself. And it's the only way forward.
IJEOMA OLUO
The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed.
STEPHEN BIKO































Should I Be Of Service to Myself Or Others?
Which path - Service to self or others?
Most of us chose our professions by responding to an instinctual angst to fix a problem. Our childhood experiences showed us a need we tried to fill by righting wrongs or injustice. Often becoming our raison d'être for this life. It directs us to a life of service to self or service to others. You could call it nonprofit vs. for-profit, but it’s not that simple.
Working for someone else’s dream is a service to others and not necessarily the selfless concepts we associate with that term. Service to self at it’s best is the call of the artist within us all to create and be. Please don’t limit the concept of an artist to paintings, sculpture, etc. Art is our calling for the lessons we want to learn in this life. The Mayans left us the formula for mankind: Time(Energy)=Art.
We live in a time of big questions and choices on a personal and planetary level. The world is getting united as we become more connected. We see the pains and joys from around the world and the cybersphere have emotionally fused the two.
The question next is how to exit the matrix. Or switch the priority from service to others then self, to service to self then others. These polarities are best served by equal service to both. Neither are bad or good because each needs the other to succeed.
Isn’t that narcissistic? No, two Burning Mans and an Afrikaburn taught me that. Try it, spend a week receiving from others. You’ll feel the desire to do give as well. Radical receiving begets radical giving. Our species at it’s finest.
Think of the prep you do when you have a cold. You get the medicine, tissues, cream for your skin, liquids and hunker down to rest. Give yourself that radical self-care on everything as the patient. Be the best friend who you would do anything for your wellbeing. Don’t forget to apply tough love as needed.
Ask yourself this: “What would someone who loves me say?” Tell your ego to answer that question and you will put it in the place it’s supposed to be: guiding not driving. You are in the best position to give advice because you know you. The lazy you, the parts of you that need a kick in the pants, the insecure child, and what brings you joy and tears. Treat yourself like a lover, best friend, parent or whomever you love the most. And then take the advice.
Take heed that negative thoughts or fear will be like self-abuse. While at Afrikaburn, an alchemist and I measured the Schumann Resonance at 27 SR. That’s one of the highest readings on the planet according to those who pay attention. And expected at high vibration events. At 21 SR it's said that we will see instant manifestations. During the burn, I saw fear manifest on two different occasions. Camp members mentioned their fears of safety, and both were victims of theft.
Negative emotions coupled with thoughts are just as powerful as your positive ones. But there is no need to hide from fears or ignore them. Just acknowledge and release them with self-acceptance. Or as we say back home ‘check yourself before you wreck yourself.’
Radical self-care is the polarity (and partner) to radical world service. Acknowledge and accept that both need to exist. I like what a friend said ‘life is the dance between the two polarities. When we accept either service option for our lives, we automatically need the other.
My service to others involves teaching in foreign lands, writing stories fresh from the muses and trusting the flow of it all with one-way tickets. The radical service to self requires a diet of no sugars, gluten or meat. Spiritual nurturance starts with solar gazing and wearing a uniform.
Synchronicity flows best when I have no plans for the day and options are laid out for me to choose instead of guessing the right choice. A lesson I wish I knew at 35 instead of 55, but I’m better understanding today.
When you need advice ask yourself 'What would someone who loves me say?' And then listen to the loving response.
About The Author
Phyllis Serene (https://www.phyllisrawley.com) is the founder of God/Dess University (GU) (https://www.goddessuniversity.org). GU offers courses in earth sciences, energy medicine, life cycle support and sexual wellness. Her career includes Christian missionary, executive recruiter, non-profit director and Dominatrix. She is Southern California Leather Woman 2010-2011 an international sexual wellness educator and author. Her latest book is "All My Heroes Were Ho's, Life Lessons From The Dungeon". She is an advocate for sexual wellness and creator of the Five Alignments course. Teaching the five intelligent systems: spiritual, intellectual, emotional, instinctual and sexual. Interviewed by Essence.com the largest African-American women's magazine. And seen on E Networks "The Real 50 Shades of Grey".