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Everyday Heroes

30 Powerful Racism Quotes to Combat Prejudice and Injustice

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 withawareness. Just because racism doesn’t happen among the people you know, itdoesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Passive racism is probably the most insidiousfactor that contributes to the ongoing problem.Here are 30 quotes on racismquotes 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 BALDWINPeople who insist on dividing the world into 'Us' and 'Them' never contemplate that they may be someone else's 'Them.' RAY A. DAVISHating people because of their color is wrong. And it doesn't matter which color does the hating. It's just plain wrong. MUHAMMAD ALIIf 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 PRICEIf you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.DESMOND TUTUAs long as there is racial privilege, racism will never end.WAYNE GERARD TROTMANEvery 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 LORDEI 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 wordMARTIN LUTHER KINGThe 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 ANGELOUThose 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 BALDWINNo 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

I Am The Greatest: Lessons From Muhammad Ali's Success
Success Stories

I Am The Greatest: Lessons From Muhammad Ali's Success

Usain Bolt’s speed, Michael Jordan’s jump or Muhammad Ali’s dominance. What makes these athletes rise above the fold and push the limits of human capacity to climb above others? Most people would equate this success to the countless hours of training or an innate talent that these athletes were born with.In studying the success of these legendary athletes, one characteristic came back for each one and according to them was the most important factor in their success. They all believed that they were the greatest even before reaching success. These athletes were able to make themselves and others think that they were already champions.No athlete embodies this better than Ali. Generally considered the greatest boxer of all time. He won the gold medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics and later went on to win the world heavyweight championship three times. He kept repeating to himself and anybody that would listen: "I Am The Greatest."Life Lessons From Muhammad AliAli was not the tallest boxer, nor was he as bulky as most other boxers of his time, his punches were not the strongest, but he was still the best fighter of his time. His agility was impressive, but what was most impressive was his confidence in himself.In The Greatest: My Own Story, Ali says, “It’s the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.” He believed without a doubt that he was the best fighter of all time, and he even pushed this belief upon his opponents. He kept repeating to himself and anybody that would listen that he was the greatest of all time.This mentality allowed to take the punches and keep moving forward. In his earlier fights, his opponents were heavily favored, but he still managed to pull off the impossible.To be a great champion you must believe you are the best. If you’re not, pretend you are. - Muhammad AliThe power of his mind can be demonstrated in how he was able to beat the undefeated George Foreman in one of the biggest upsets in the history of boxing. He had previously lost against Ken Norton and Joe Frazier, and many thought that his career was coming to an end, but Ali knew that this was not the case. He believed he was destined to be the greatest boxer of all time. Ali trained even harder, and most importantly he created a mentality that would allow him to face any challenge. During the fight, he took all the punches that Foreman threw at him. The match dragged to the 8th round where a tired Foreman fell to the ground and was not able to get back up on time. Muhammad Ali was then crowned world heavyweight champion for the third and final time. Looking back, Foreman said: "I'll admit it. Muhammad outthought me and outfought me."In his excellent autobiography, the champ reveals a good deal about himself. He goes into detail about the strategy he devised to totally "psych out" champion Sonny Liston before their first fight. This book does a great job of going inside Ali's mind. Reading the book feels like sitting with Ali alone and hearing him answer all the questions you ever wanted to ask him.This example of perseverance in the face of impossible odds is a beautiful analogy to what happens in our lives. The way we perceive things is crucial. Life is often a mirror that reflects what we are and what we believe. The more we believe that we can do something the more we can push to achieve our goals. There are difficult and painful moments in everything we undertake, but if we remain relentless, our challenges become more acceptable. Leading us to push our limits and eventually reach our wildest dreams.